Aura Up CIC – transforming lives through movement, community and opportunity
“This isn’t just a room it’s a dream come true, a calm from chaos, and proof for young people that their community believes in them.”
Established in 2023, Aura Up CIC is a Birmingham based Community Interest Company breaking down barriers to physical activity and positive engagement for young people in the city’s most deprived areas. Through free mixed martial arts, fitness sessions, education and opportunities, they tackle youth crime, mental health challenges, social isolation and racial inequality head on.
A Better Youth Spaces grant to build a new interactive classroom represents a vital moment in Aura Up’s growth, evolving from a sports provider into a youth development hub. The funding supports their holistic approach and demonstrates that investing in communities works. Aura UP CIC is one of three ‘Up’ organisations based in Birmingham to receive Better Youth Spaces Grants to improve and enhance their services.
Suhail Mohammed, Aura UP CIC Director, said: “We’re more than a sports project. We deliver a whole-family approach, supporting everyone from age 4 upwards through our expanding services. In 2025 we supported over 600 different young people from BAME and low-income backgrounds, and now we have the space to offer more.”
Building a better youth space
The newly built interactive classroom marks an exciting evolution expanding Aura Up’s intervention with educational placements, workshops, and a quiet reflection space where the community can learn, develop skills, and become a stronger collective force.
“Demand from young people and families was overwhelming; we knew the need existed, but we didn’t have the resources to respond. The Better Youth Spaces grant has been blessing, enabling us to build our interactive classroom facility, which is a much need, positive space. The funding has allowed us to increase our impact and offer more than just physical activity.”
Shaped by community
Equality and inclusion sit at Aura Up’s core. Their youth-led forum ‘Hear My Voice’ ensures young people shape the services they access, giving them genuine ownership and influence.
Young people and the community were involved in all areas of the project, from initial discussions on the idea to supporting with planning and designing the space. Suhail explains: “The project was born out of direct feedback from discussions with young people and their families. They identified the need for the classroom and how to use the space.
“And the ‘Hear My Voice’ forum continues to have meetings in this space, ensuring young people keep central and still have a voice over how the classroom develops and what activities are prioritised; this is not just a one-off consultation. We found that using this approach, young people haven’t just benefited from the space they’ve genuinely shaped it.”
Multi-use space
The new space provides a place for academic and skills development, including digital skills, study space, career support and training. Personal development and wellbeing will be supported by providing a safe, supervised space where peer mentoring, life skills and conflict resolution can take place. Community connection will be fostered with guest speakers, local employer links, parent and family engagement sessions, and teamwork and leadership activities. Creative and cultural expression will be supported with youth-led projects, heritage workshops, achievement celebrations, and creative arts sessions with physical activity.
The space will offer flexible access with drop-in sessions, before and after-school support for working families, and expanded holiday programmes.
Life-changing impact
“We can now offer access to homework support, tutoring, and quiet study space which means improved academic outcomes and better future prospects”, Suhail explains. “It will be a safe haven, offering a positive alternative to street culture and negative influences during crucial after school hours
“Seeing investment in their community tells young people they matter and deserve opportunities. It will break cycles, supporting skills development, mentoring, and employability support create pathways out of disadvantage. And it’s not just for young people; parents can access support too, creating stability at home that helps young people thrive.”
Hear My Voice…
“This place gets me off the roads and gives me somewhere positive to be. I’ve made better choices since I started coming here. It’s changed my whole mindset, for real.” (Adam aged 14)
“Before this classroom, I had nowhere quiet to do my homework. My house is too loud and the library shut down. Now I can come here after wrestling class, use the screen, and actually concentrate on my coursework. It’s made a massive difference. (Natahsa aged 14)
“I come here straight after school and chill in classroom before training, my mum knows I’m safe here, I’ve got mates who study here too so we push each other. Without this space, I don’t know where I would study and have fun. (Idris aged 16)
“We’ve gone from being a sports provider to a genuine youth development hub. That’s the approach our community desperately needed, and the Better Youth Spaces grant made it possible.” Healthy Body Healthy Mind Manager
Suhail explains that without the Better Youth Spaces grant, the classroom would have remained an aspiration rather than reality. “This grant didn’t just help us; it made the entire project possible. Without it, hundreds of young people would continue missing out on vital educational support and safe spaces they desperately need; this will truly change young lives.”
In addition to funding Aura Up CIC, Better Youth Spaces grants were awarded to 5 Up and 9 Up CICs, based in Birmingham. Through martial arts and physical programmes, they provide, facilitate, and support various community-focused activities for young people. The grants will help to refurbish 9 Up’s new premises, and refresh and upgrade 5 Up’s sporting equipment. The refurbishment and safety upgrades will accommodate increased demand, making the new space safer and more accessible to even more young people; while the new equipment will help to accommodate more participants, promote safe practice, and maintain a welcoming, professional environment for everyone attending sessions.