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.

Participants are now encouraged to become advocates for St Mary’s Guildhall, helping to introduce more people from diverse backgrounds to Coventry’s cultural heritage sites.

Nor Aziz, founder of Champion Inclusivity CIC, said, “The ladies uncovered many fascinating aspects of Coventry’s history that were previously unknown to them. Their favourite part was learning about the tapestry’s history, as shared by the St Mary’s Guildhall staff. Many were surprised to discover this hidden gem right on their doorstep, and they are grateful for the opportunity provided by the Community Grant to explore and connect with St Mary’s Guildhall.”