“It's another major event in Birmingham"
Birmingham is seeking 2,000 volunteers to help welcome wounded, injured and unwell service personnel and veterans to the city for the 2027 Invictus Games.
The international sporting event will take place from 10 to 17 July 2027, bringing together up to 550 competitors from 25 nations.
Organisers are looking for volunteers to support the Games, which will be held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
A quarter of the volunteer positions will be reserved for Birmingham and West Midlands residents, while another 25% will be allocated to members of the armed forces community.
The event will mark the first time the Invictus Games have returned to the UK since the inaugural tournament was held in London in 2014.
Maureen Levermore, from King’s Heath, has experience volunteering at major sporting events and is encouraging others to get involved.
She volunteered at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she was among 50 people who pulled the city’s famous Ozzy the Bull during the opening ceremony.
Describing the experience as “awesome”, Levermore said volunteering had given her lasting memories and the opportunity to support her local community.
She plans to sign up for the Invictus Games, highlighting the personal benefits of volunteering alongside the opportunity to welcome military personnel and veterans.
Levermore said: “It’s another major event in Birmingham, and it gives us the opportunity to go and support our service personnel and our veterans – give them the welcome they deserve; it’s important.”
As a Birmingham-born resident, she also explained that volunteering had helped her develop new skills, build friendships and maintain a positive mindset.
The 2027 Invictus Games will feature 12 adaptive sports, including swimming, wheelchair rugby and pickleball.
The competition uses sport to support the recovery and rehabilitation journeys of wounded, injured and unwell service personnel and veterans.
Volunteers must be aged over 18 and should be available for five rostered sessions between 10 and 18 July 2027.
Applications are open until 14 December 2026, with successful applicants expected to be contacted between February and March 2027.
Helen Helliwell, chief executive of the Invictus Games, said volunteers helped create memorable experiences for competitors, their families, friends and spectators.
She added that volunteers would play a role in supporting recovery and creating an inclusive event where every interaction matters.
The Games will give Birmingham residents an opportunity to contribute to an international sporting event while showing support for the armed forces community.
Those interested in volunteering can apply through the official Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 website before the December deadline.
