The Blackbridge Sports and Community Hub, a brand new, community-owned facility in the heart of Podsmead, Gloucester, is offering a fresh, vibrant space for sports, leisure, and wellbeing activities.

The hub, which has just opened, cost more than £6m and includes a fitness gym, studio spaces for dance, yoga and pilates classes, a 3G sports pitch, and a hireable social space for community activities. 

But it's not just a facility; it's a hub for the community, providing a home for a dedicated youth work team and fostering a sense of connection and inclusion.

Years of hard work and collaboration from local sports clubs and community development charities led to the creation of the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society (Blackbridge CCBS) in 2021. The society was established to ensure the project remained focused on benefiting the local community.

Local Gloucester-based mural artists Mint + Mabel, known for their creative expertise, worked closely with Blackbridge CCBS to bring the hub's branding to life, alongside designing stunning internal murals and wayfinding graphics.

In a remarkable community-driven collaboration, the local youth group Synergy worked with FWP to contribute ideas for the internal signage, which Mint + Mabel then brought to life through bespoke illustrations. These designs reflect the vibrant energy and welcoming atmosphere of the new space, making it a place where everyone can feel at home.

The vibrant murals and wayfinding graphics are more than just functional — they're works of art. Created in the hub's bold brand colours, these designs create a fun and inviting atmosphere that resonates with both young and old. They guide visitors effortlessly through the space, ensuring no one feels lost and that the hub feels like a place of belonging from the moment you step inside.

This project has had years of strategic planning and support from key local stakeholders such as Gloucester City Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Sport England, The Youth Investment Fund and local sports clubs. The facility is the result of ongoing collaboration and investment from these groups, and it promises to be a community cornerstone.

As the hub opens, local people will be invited to join the initiative by purchasing shares, ensuring they have a say in the ongoing development of the project. With community ownership at its core, the hub will thrive through shared investments, social contributions, and support from local charitable trusts.

Mint + Mabel's vibrant designs help show that Blackbridge Sports and Community Hub is more than just a place for sports — it's a dynamic and welcoming space that reflects the creativity, unity, and spirit of the community it serves.

Mint + Mabel would like to give special thanks to the Blackbridge CCBS team; Richard, Rebecca and Debbie for choosing them to be part of this amazing project.