March's Community Stories

The Roma Project - Secures funding for next 3 years

The Community Resilience Team worked with the Roma Project to develop a bid which secured almost £400,000 from the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund. The project based at Broad Street Meeting Hall in Foleshill, will use this funding to continue their much needed advice service for the next 3 years, it will also help them to introduce specialist immigration sessions, cost of living support and the provision of a warm welcome space that is open to all during the colder months. The project now employs 4 full-time staff, primarily supporting the estimated 12,000-15,000 Roma living in Coventry, however they are non-discriminatory in their approach and will continue to help anybody in need.

Bernie Flatley, the Project Manager for the Roma Project stated “It is hard to put into words the impact the Community Resilience Team has had on our project over the last 10 years. We work with families that remain the most discriminated against race in Europe, this in itself is a major issue which impacts on the lives of our clients and the demand for help and support continues. The Community Resilience Team has now helped secure over £1m in grant funding for the project, allowing the continuation of our services, strengthened our organisation and ensured that our staff are fully equipped with the skills and qualifications to carry out their job”

To find out more about what the Roma Project does please visit https://www.theromaproject.org/

Community Resilience Team secures funding for Tile Hill Food Hub

A new social supermarket to open in Tile Hill.

The Community Resilience Team at Coventry City Council has supported Tile hill Food Hub to write a successful funding application to the National Lottery. The Seventh Day Adventist food hub has been awarded £19,700 over two years to support the purchase of food and volunteer costs within their church/community building in Jardine Crescent (old youth centre) Tile Hill. The social supermarket is open Wednesdays, 1-3pm.

The Tile Hill Food Hub aims to benefit local residents who are struggling to feed themselves and their families due to the cost of living crisis or struggling on a low income. They help families, lone parents and older people. People pay £5 for approximately £25 worth of food.

Pastor Patrick Herbert commented “We cannot thank the resilience team enough, this support will make sure we can help residents in Tile Hill who need it”. If you need food support Please contact sdasocialsupermarket@gmail.com or check out Coventry City Council https://www.coventry.gov.uk/householdsupportfund