November's Community Stories

FC Sensory - Blind & Visually Impaired Football Club in Coventry

In October 2022 Dave Allcock was registered blind, his football team couldn't make the necessary adjustments which led to Dave having to leave his football team, impacting his physical and mental wellbeing. Dave looked for football groups for blind and visually impaired people, but found the nearest club was over a 45 minute drive away. Refusing to be defeated, Dave supported by Bernie Swain, decided to set up their own football group in Coventry for people with vision impairments.

They created FC Sensory and came to the Community Resilience Team for support with their idea and the goals they wanted to achieve. An initial small grant enabled the group to set up, purchase equipment and fund the pitch hire.

The group supports adults, young people, and children with vision impairments to meet and play football.

FC Sensory offers training sessions, competitive games, and social events. Training sessions are held at the Xcel Leisure Centre in Coventry. It’s a great way to build confidence and improve fitness levels. In addition to the physical benefits, the club has provided a sense of belonging for its members which can help combat social isolation. FC Sensory are also involved with running the Sensory Room at Coventry City Football Club, and fit sessions in between home games.

The Community Resilience Team have supported FC Sensory to secure £9,970 from the National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will be used to expand the number of sessions to support more people, and fund additional equipment.

Through FC Sensory, people in Coventry have connected with others who understand the unique challenges that come with being visually impaired whilst having fun, making new friends, getting support, and sharing their passion for football.

For more information or to get involved email fcsensory@protonmail.com, call Bernie on 07493 159918 or follow the club on Facebook or X @FC_Sensory

Earlsdon Methodist Church Prayer Shawl Group

The Prayer Shawl Ministry began at Earlson in October 2007. A core group of knitters meet in the Wellspring Café, located in the extended entrance to the Church, on Thursdays. The group members come from various churches, both Methodist and other denominations.

The group brings together people who knit shawls, many are knitted 'to order' by request. The shawls give comfort to people going through challenging times, such as illness, bereavement, or stress but are also created to mark a key celebration or for new challenges. The Prayer Shawls are also known as Comfort Shawls or Peace Shawls.

The shawls are often made with soft and warm yarns, and are imbued with the prayers, positive thoughts, and good wishes of the knitters and the finished shawls receive a blessing in church before being given to the recipient. The shawls are meant to wrap the recipients in love and comfort, and can act as a reminder that they are not alone. The act of receiving a prayer shawl can be very meaningful and reassuring.

In addition to providing comfort to those who receive them, the prayer shawl group is also be a source of community and support for those who participate in the knitting group.

The Community Resilience Team helped the group to secure a small grant of £660 to fund equipment and yarn. The group are currently financially self-sustaining but know they can contact the Community Resilience Team if they need support applying for funding in the future.

For more information about the Prayer Shawl Ministry or to find out more about the Wellspring Café please visit https://www.earlsdonmethodist.org.uk/Groups/347102/Prayer_Shawl_Ministry.asp

Peggies Park Community Centre - Food Parcel Deliveries

Peggie’s Park Community Centre is based in Bedlam Lane, Foleshill and has been running for 28 years. It has supported many people in that time and is currently a thriving centre that relies solely on volunteers. The Community Resilience Team has supported the centre over the last few years. This support helped the centre to access funding for various projects aimed at helping the homeless and other vulnerable members of the community.

The Community Resilience Team has recently supported Bernice Higgins, the centre manager, on a successful £10,000 National Lottery Awards for All grant which will cover the running costs for the centre, the cost of food for the parcels, and volunteer expenses to deliver the food. This service will be essential to the people who benefit from it, especially during the colder winter months.

The funding has made it possible for Peggies Park Community Centre to continue delivering groceries, and hot meals to vulnerable members of their community.