November's Community Stories

This month we celebrated International Men's Day
The Willenhall Men's Support Group have been providing a safe space for men who are isolated or struggle with their mental or physical health for the last 12 months.
The group meets once a week, to chat and support each other alongside tea and biscuits, with a pizza evening once a month. Each month members take turns creating a quiz, allowing them to focus on their passions and interests. The group works on a principle of simplicity; there are no professionals there, just men sharing their lived experiences to help one another.

With the support of the Community Resilience team, the group have received £1,600 of funding from the Council’s Support and Recovery Grant. This will cover the group's expenses for 6 months and has allowed them to open for a further weekly session on Mondays throughout November.

The group meet every Wednesday night at the Hagard Centre from 5 – 7pm

Support Coventry Food Networks Christmas Appeal

The Community Resilience Team have been supporting the Coventry Food Network by creating their Christmas Donation Campaign and promoting it to local businesses. They are now looking for any support possible with donations to help families in need.

The social supermarkets run a membership scheme and provide approximately £25 worth of food for £5. With the cost of living crisis, the demand for their service is increasing, so any support is greatly appreciated.

We have social supermarkets running in Foleshill, Radford, Hillfields, Henley Green, Cheylesmore, Tile Hill, Canley, Stoke Aldermoor, Stoke Heath, Spon End, Willenhall and Holbrooks.

Find your local donation points here or donate via our just giving page

Survivors Sanctuary

The Community Resilience Team were approached by the charity Grapevine to support a new group that had been set up by one of their members. The group are called the ‘Survivors Sanctuary’ and support women who are survivors of any type of sexual abuse.

The group were looking for funding to support them with the cost of room hire and some equipment for their activities, and a meeting was arranged to discuss how CRT could help.

Since coming up with the idea of starting the group, they have met with a variety of agencies such as West Midlands Police, Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC), Coventry University, and the local MP, to shape how the support would look.

Since lockdown reporting and access to services has more than doubled. Waiting time for counselling at CRASAC is between 12-18 months, and the Survivors Sanctuary provides a safe space for survivors to meet others who share the lived experience of sexual abuse.

An officer from the CRT advised the Survivors Sanctuary to put in an application to their Community Recovery Support Grant. The group were successful with their application and were awarded £1,085 towards room hire costs, equipment, and promotional material.

The group will only grow in numbers in the coming years and the positive impact this project has on its members is immense. CRT will continue to work with the group to apply for external funding to sustain the project in the long term.