Swifts are one of Britain's most remarkable birds — spending almost their entire lives in the air, migrating thousands of miles to Africa each year, and returning faithfully to the same nest sites season after season. Yet their UK population has fallen by more than 60% in just 25 years, making them a Red-Listed species in urgent need of support.

In response, the RSPB launched the West Midlands Swift Academy, an innovative community engagement project funded by Natural England's Species and Habitats Seedcorn Fund. Running from September 2025 to March 2026, the project worked with five community organisations across Birmingham and Walsall — from a football club foundation to specialist colleges supporting students with disabilities — to raise awareness of Swifts and inspire direct conservation action.

At the heart of the project was a 'Train the Trainer' model: rather than delivering activities directly, the RSPB equipped community organisations with knowledge and resources, then gave them the freedom to engage their own audiences in ways that felt relevant and meaningful. The results were striking — over 500 participants took part in Swift-themed events ranging from football drills to poetry performances, wildflower planting to nestbox building.

This independent evaluation, carried out by BVSC Research, examines what worked, what proved challenging, and what this model could mean for the future of urban conservation. It offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to connect communities with nature in creative, inclusive, and lasting ways.

Read the full West Midlands Swift Academy: Evaluation Report here