The Active Wellbeing Society gets Birmingham moving with free bikes and new leadership

Some of the most uplifting wellbeing stories in Birmingham do not happen in a gym. They happen on a borrowed bike on a sunny afternoon, or in a conversation that finally gets someone to a health check. That is the territory of The Active Wellbeing Society, a charitable community benefit society based at the Stanhope Wellbeing Hub in Highgate.

The organisation began life as the Wellbeing Service within Birmingham City Council, where it pioneered schemes such as Gym for Free, Be Active and Big Birmingham Bikes. It became independent in 2017 to extend that work. Its free Be Active leisure scheme has been cited by the NHS Confederation as one of the top twenty interventions to support prevention and improve wellbeing in some of the most deprived households.

Free bikes remain at the heart of its work. Big Birmingham Bikes has been renewed by the city council for a second phase, supported by Cycling UK, Wheels for All, Saheli Hub and Raleigh Bikes. Participants receive a brand-new Raleigh bike with a lock, stand, pump and helmet, plus training, maintenance skills and group rides. An evaluation by Volterra found free bike schemes deliver a social return of £12 to £16 for every £1 invested.

One recent project shows the difference this makes. Working with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the society provided 12 new bicycles to patients living with severe mental illness who had completed their annual physical health checks. "Having a bike has given me a positive reason to get outside, be more active, clear my mind, and take some time away from everyday stresses," said recipient Ash.

The society has also welcomed a new chief executive. Megan Smith, who joined in 2019 and oversaw projects including Big Birmingham Bikes, takes over from founder Karen Creavin, who stays on the board as a trustee. "Karen has built something remarkable, and I'm proud to carry it forward," said Megan.

Karen reflected: "When I founded TAWS in 2017, I could not have imagined where we would be today."

To find activities, support or details of the free bikes scheme, visit The Active Wellbeing Society's website.