Community Stories
A celebration of your stories
Welcome to community stories, a place to share news and celebrate what is happening in your community. If you have any stories you would like to feature on our page or in next months newsletter please get in touch at communityresilience@coventry.gov.uk or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
The Community Resilience Team has had an incredibly busy year supporting the voluntary sector in Coventry during 2024-25. As we approach the end of the financial year, we are excited to share some data highlighting our achievements and ongoing commitment to the community. Even though we are a small team, our dedication to supporting the voluntary organisations in Coventry has remained unwavering. Our work includes assisting with funding, forming partnerships, engaging with stakeholder groups, and connecting you with other council departments. We recognise the immense value and incredible work you do, from friendship groups to food hubs, community events, debt advice, training, activities for young people and families. Over the past year, we have supported 79 groups with 119 funding applications, securing a total of £677,061 for Coventry organisations. The majority of these groups are run by volunteers, showcasing the dedication and expertise of the people living and volunteering in Coventry. Their commitment to helping others is truly inspiring. As we move into the next financial year, we will continue to support you in every way we can, prioritising projects that target neighbourhoods and groups that need support the most. We are excited to announce that we will be again offering training through our funding workshops, with dates to be shared soon. Thank you for your continued efforts and dedication to making Coventry a better place for all. Together, we can achieve great things! |
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Every Saturday from 10am to 1pm, the Dominion Grace Breakfast Club at the Hagard Community Centre in Willenhall is making a significant impact on the local community. Run by dedicated volunteers, including some with learning difficulties, this initiative provides a welcoming space for residents to enjoy a free breakfast and socialise. The club's unique waitress service allows volunteers to connect with attendees and foster a sense of community. Each week, up to 120 residents, ranging from 1 to 90 years old, gather at the breakfast club. For many, this is their only opportunity to socialise, especially given the current cost of living challenges. The club not only addresses food insecurity but also combats social isolation, making it a vital resource for the community. The Community Resilience Team (CRT) has played a crucial role in supporting Dominion Grace by securing much-needed funding. Thanks to a generous grant of £18,970 from the National Lottery, the project will continue for the next two years. This funding will cover room hire, food, plates, and cutlery, ensuring the breakfast club can keep serving the community. Additionally, CRT helped Dominion Grace obtain a £2,000 Public Health Grant. This grant will be used to establish a Smokefree table at the breakfast club, where trained volunteers will offer advice and resources to help residents quit smoking, promoting healthier lifestyles within the community. Volunteer Voices: "Being part of this project has helped me build my confidence and make new friends," said one volunteer. Dominion Grace commented, "We cannot thank the Community Resilience Team enough for their help with this project. Their support has been invaluable in ensuring we can continue to serve our community." Dominion Grace is also working to enhance digital inclusion. They have recently applied to #Covconnects for laptops, which will help residents access online resources and complete necessary forms. This initiative offers comprehensive support, combining friendship, food, advice, and digital access. The Dominion Grace Breakfast Club is a shining example of community resilience in action, bringing people together and providing essential support to those in need. |
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Coventry Empowered African Women – Celebrating International Women's Day This month, Community Resilience has been actively supporting the Coventry Empowered African Women's Group by assisting them in applying for external funding for room hire, cultural events, and activities. To celebrate International Women's Day, the group held an event on 8th March at The Windmill Hotel. This year’s event was more than just a gathering; it was a powerful reminder that when women rise, society rises with them. Display stations were set up around the venue, showcasing the work of inspiring women and setting the stage for an empowering night ahead. Ninety-five women attended the event, including the Mayoress, who marked the occasion with official recognition and support. The Mayor led a toast, symbolising unity and commitment to the cause, before delivering a heartfelt welcome speech. Throughout the evening, guests were inspired by a series of speeches, poems, songs, and other performances. Dr. Abi from Warwick University introduced the Clarity+ Project, a ground breaking initiative focused on empowering women through research, education, and policy development. This event was more than just a celebration; it was a movement. It reinforced that empowerment is not just about providing opportunities but about breaking down barriers, amplifying women's voices, and supporting one another in every way possible. Together, we can achieve great things. |
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Previous Stories
Welcome to community stories, a place to share news and celebrate what is happening in your community. If you have any stories you would like to feature on our page or in next months newsletter please get in touch at communityresilience@coventry.gov.uk or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
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Share Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment (Coventry, UK & Coburg, Germany) on Facebook Share Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment (Coventry, UK & Coburg, Germany) on Twitter Share Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment (Coventry, UK & Coburg, Germany) on Linkedin Email Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment (Coventry, UK & Coburg, Germany) link
Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment (Coventry, UK & Coburg, Germany)
Intercultural Roots (IR) and MakingCulture® e.V. announce their participation in the Cultural Bridge 2025-2026 programme, a UK-German initiative driving cross-border collaboration through arts, technology, and community engagement. Titled "Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling and Creative Connections for Community Empowerment", the partnership will connect Coventry (UK) and Coburg (Germany) in a year-long exchange of hybrid workshops, participatory arts, and digital storytelling, running from April 2025 to March 2026.
Core Activities & Innovation
The project merges IR's PLACES by EcoGPX® app - a geo-tagged storytelling platform - with MakingCulture's experimental arts expertise to reimagine public spaces. Key activities include:
- Hybrid Workshops... Continue reading
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February Newsletter 2025
... Continue readingCoventry Spires U3A Secures National Lottery Funding
The Coventry Spires University of the 3rd Age (U3A), a group dedicated to supporting individuals past retirement age, has successfully secured £8,500 in funding from the National Lottery Awards for All small grants fund. This significant achievement will help the group continue offering a wide range of activities, including rambling, table tennis, book clubs, quizzes, bowling, and friendship groups across various venues in the city.
The group, formed in 2002, was seeking external funding to cover venue costs and purchase essential equipment such as microphones, projector screens, and a new table tennis table. -
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January Newsletter 2025
Congratulations to Sing for Change community group who have been awarded £1,000 from the General Charities (Coventry). The group contacted the Community Resilience Team for support to keep the group sustainable and help remove financial barriers to participation for those members who need it.
Sing for Change is an exciting, intergenerational community choir, building strong relationships between diverse people across Coventry. Established six years ago, the group members share the belief that we need to create a kinder, more compassionate, inclusive world - a fundamental principle of Sing for Change. The group is open to all, singing songs with messages... Continue reading
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Decembers Community Stories
Coventry Food Network Christmas Campaign 2024
A huge thank you to everyone who has supported this year's Coventry Food Network Christmas campaign. Local businesses and staff have collected much needed food donations which have been given to Coventry Food Network organisations.
Here's a shout out to some local organisations who have worked with the Community Resilience Team to support this year's campaign.
Capita support Feeding Coventry at Foleshill Community Centre
Elena Frangu and Capita staff was one of the first organisations to offer their help with the Coventry Food Network Christmas campaign.
They collected approximately £400 worth of food for... Continue reading
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November's Community Stories
Please support your local Food Hub or Food Bank this Christmas
Christmas is a time of giving, and what better way to help your community than by supporting a local food hub near you during the festive season?
Coventry Food Hubs –
A network of 15 social supermarkets across Coventry. The Food Hubs (Social Supermarkets) offer discounted food parcels, which typically equate to £25 worth of food for a cost of a £5 membership per week. Food hubs differ from food banks, in that the food is not entirely free, but provides a wide range of food for a very... Continue reading
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October's Community Stories
Local businesses support the Tile Hill summer community event
As part of Coventry City Council’s ongoing commitment to social value, the Business Development and Community Resilience Teams have been working closely with local businesses to support charitable initiatives and community-focused events.
The Tile Hill Community Partnership (THCP), reached out for support in hosting a community event for local residents. The event featured a treasure hunt designed for young people, encouraging them to explore community spaces and council buildings, including the library and family hub. At each stop, participants collected clues and stamps, and upon completing the hunt, they received back-to-school... Continue reading
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Share New Connections, Meanings, and Practices: EcoGPX® External Evaluation Highlights Transformative Impact in Coventry on Facebook Share New Connections, Meanings, and Practices: EcoGPX® External Evaluation Highlights Transformative Impact in Coventry on Twitter Share New Connections, Meanings, and Practices: EcoGPX® External Evaluation Highlights Transformative Impact in Coventry on Linkedin Email New Connections, Meanings, and Practices: EcoGPX® External Evaluation Highlights Transformative Impact in Coventry link
New Connections, Meanings, and Practices: EcoGPX® External Evaluation Highlights Transformative Impact in Coventry
Intercultural Roots is thrilled to unveil the External Evaluation Report of its Innovate UK-funded EcoGPX® Launchpad Coventry and Warwickshire project. Authored by Dr. Jo Scott, the report celebrates the project’s groundbreaking achievements in fostering creative connections, re-imagining urban spaces, and pioneering innovative practices in place-based art and technology.
Access the visual version of the report here: EcoGPX® Evaluation Report
A Project of New Connections
EcoGPX® has brought together artists, practitioners, and communities in Coventry, creating a dynamic and inclusive creative network. Through four artistic residencies, the project has:
Connected artists and practitioners: Diverse artists from various disciplines... Continue reading
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September's Community Stories
Malaysian Ladies Community Group
Champion Inclusivity CIC, with support from the Community Resilience team, successfully secured grant funding from St Mary’s Guildhall, provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding facilitated community workshops for the Malaysian Ladies Community Group, aiming to engage diverse audiences with Coventry’s cultural heritage and build connections with underrepresented groups.
The workshops, led by a local artist Daya Bhatti, offered participants the chance to learn new skills through creative textile sessions inspired by the stories of St Mary’s Guildhall. These hands-on experiences also helped foster a lasting relationship between the participants and the historic site.
... Continue reading
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Share EcoGPX®'s Second Coventry Residency: Connecting Art, Nature, Community and Technology! on Facebook Share EcoGPX®'s Second Coventry Residency: Connecting Art, Nature, Community and Technology! on Twitter Share EcoGPX®'s Second Coventry Residency: Connecting Art, Nature, Community and Technology! on Linkedin Email EcoGPX®'s Second Coventry Residency: Connecting Art, Nature, Community and Technology! link
EcoGPX®'s Second Coventry Residency: Connecting Art, Nature, Community and Technology!
Coventry, UK - September 2024 – The EcoGPX® project's second residency was more than a gathering of artists and nature enthusiasts; it was a transformative event aimed at enhancing community well-being, creating unity, and promoting mental health through creative expression and environmental engagement. Hosted at Coventry Food Union and Fargo Village, this two-day residency brought together diverse individuals to explore the profound connections between art, nature, community and an innovative use of technology!
Day 1: Human-Nature Connection at Coventry Food Union:
The first day centred on the River Sherbourne and the Food Union community’s inspiring efforts in sustainable food growing... Continue reading
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July's Community Stories
Let’s Get Crafty Group - Willenhall
Let's Get Crafty is a community project in Willenhall. The group has successfully secured funding for a two-year project with a £12,000 grant from the National Lottery following support from the Community Resilience Team. The grant will help to secure regular venue hire, will provide quality craft supplies, and enables the group to hire skilled demonstrators to lead creative workshops.
The Let's Get Crafty group brings together women through shared interests in crafts and design. Through crafting activities, the group facilitates social inclusion for participants, encourages new friendships and builds peer support networks, helps... Continue reading