Community Stories
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.
Fight Academy Boxing Gym Brings Warmth and Hope to Coventry’s Homeless This Christmas
This festive season, Fight Academy, a community boxing gym based in Radford, is stepping beyond the ropes to make a real difference in Coventry City Centre. In a heartfelt act of solidarity, the team is reaching out to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents by distributing warm blankets, essential hygiene packs, and Greggs food vouchers.
Partnering with local social enterprise Get Fruity, the initiative will also provide fresh, nourishing soup on Christmas Eve, ensuring that those experiencing homelessness feel supported and cared for during what can be an especially challenging time of year.
This outreach reflects Fight Academy’s commitment to using sport as a force for good — championing not just physical strength, but community spirit, dignity, and kindness. Together with Get Fruity, the team hopes to shine a light on the power of local organisations coming together to create meaningful change.
As we celebrate the season of giving, this initiative is a timely reminder that small acts of generosity can have a big impact. Coventry’s community spirit is alive and thriving — and this Christmas, it’s making a difference where it matters most.
Stoke Aldermoor Stitchers – Exciting News!
With the support of the Community Resilience Team the Stoke Aldermoor Stitchers have received over £14,000 in funding for new equipment! This means we can continue running our sewing group and make it even better.
The group is open to all ages and is a great way to:
- Learn sewing skills
- Upcycle old or damaged clothing
- Meet new people from the local area
If you’re interested in joining or want more information, please contact:
Aldermoor LIFE Centre
78 Roundhouse Road
Coventry
CV3 1DA
024 7645 4010
Generosity Shines This Christmas
We’re proud to share the incredible impact of donations and support across our community this festive season:
- £450 worth of food donated to Feeding Coventry and World Food Hub
- Three wheelie bins full of winter coats delivered to Clothing Coventry, helping families stay warm
- A huge collection of toys and presents for families struggling at Christmas
A Heartfelt Thank You
Dani from Carriers of Hope shared this message:
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the toy donations from the council. Without them, our Christmas celebration for many of our families simply would not have been possible. Your support helped turn a very real worry into joy for so many children. Huge thank you from Carriers of Hope."
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 EcoGPX® Coventry Residency Report: A Creative-led Response to Community Achievements and Issues on Facebook Share EcoGPX® Coventry Residency Report: A Creative-led Response to Community Achievements and Issues on Twitter Share EcoGPX® Coventry Residency Report: A Creative-led Response to Community Achievements and Issues on Linkedin Email EcoGPX® Coventry Residency Report: A Creative-led Response to Community Achievements and Issues link
EcoGPX® Coventry Residency Report: A Creative-led Response to Community Achievements and Issues
The EcoGPX® residency, launched by Intercultural Roots in May 2024 with support from a £100,000 Innovate UK grant, commenced its first eco-arts residency in Coventry on July 17th. Integrating artistic creativity, ecological advocacy, and digital technology, EcoGPX® aims to highlight and address local social and environmental issues as well as celebrate the valued heritage, culture and achievements of Coventry and Warwickshire.
Context and Background
Before arriving in Coventry, Intercultural Roots had already made significant strides via an Innovate UK Creative Catalyst 2023 Award for EcoGPX®, completing a successful pilot phase in Ilkley, Bradford in January 2024... Continue reading
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June's Community Stories
Canley Parade and Big Lunch
Congratulations to the 'Playing Out Canley' community organisations for organising the fantastic Canley Parade and Big Lunch event! And congratulations to all the volunteers and supporting organisations who generously donated their time or resources to make the event such a success.
The Canley Parade took place last Saturday and featured vibrant performances from the Canley Samba Band and the Standard Triumph Pipe Band. Canley community groups came together in creative costumes and showcased props crafted by local residents, all reflecting this year’s theme: ‘Nature and Nurture’.
After the parade, hundreds of local residents gathered at... Continue reading
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Share Intercultural Roots Awarded £100,000 Innovate UK Grant for EcoGPX® Launchpad Coventry and Warwickshire on Facebook Share Intercultural Roots Awarded £100,000 Innovate UK Grant for EcoGPX® Launchpad Coventry and Warwickshire on Twitter Share Intercultural Roots Awarded £100,000 Innovate UK Grant for EcoGPX® Launchpad Coventry and Warwickshire on Linkedin Email Intercultural Roots Awarded £100,000 Innovate UK Grant for EcoGPX® Launchpad Coventry and Warwickshire link
Intercultural Roots Awarded £100,000 Innovate UK Grant for EcoGPX® Launchpad Coventry and Warwickshire
Coventry, UK — July 3, 2024 — From May until October 2024, the Intercultural Roots project team are working with local community builders, artists, creatives, cultural and ecology practitioners to enable positive social and environmental impact in Coventry, Nuneaton, and Bedworth. This is being made possible through an award of £100,000 from Innovate UK that recognises the importance of a creative-led approach to improving people's quality of life.
From May to October 2024, EcoGPX® will engage deeply with communities including Hillfields, Swanswell, Holyhead, Paradise, and Spon End in Coventry, Bedworth, and Camp Hill, Jasmine Babes, Kingswood, and Grove Farm in... Continue reading
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May's Community Stories
Back & Forth - Men's Mental Health Support Group
Back & Forth Support Group was founded by a police officer who realised he needed a space to talk about how he was feeling to support his mental health. Finding no natural outlet, he teamed up with colleagues to create the walking group "Back & Forth." The group organise weekly walks in local parks, and their membership has grown from just 3 members to over 900, extending beyond the police force to the wider community.
To support the further development of the group, the Community Resilience Team helped to formalise their... Continue reading
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April's Community Stories
Asian Blind Association Receives Awards For All Grant to Continue Community Support
The Community Resilience Team has helped the Asian Blind Association secure £10,000 in funding from the National Lottery. This funding will support the association's efforts to continue their vital work in Coventry, providing support to blind and partially sighted people and their caregivers.
The Coventry Asian Blind Association plays a key role in the community, organising weekly meetings and offering a diverse range of social, recreational, and cultural activities. Their mission is to enhance the lives of visually impaired individuals, foster independence, and create a supportive environment where... Continue reading
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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... Continue reading
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February's Community Stories
Spotlight on Wild Earth Group
Wild Earth is a not-for-profit social enterprise in the Coventry, committed to helping people find positive destinations by connecting people with nature. Their aim is to reduce isolation and promote development by connecting people with nature and their own local environment and communities.
Wild Earth is delighted to share the good news that they have secured £16,670 from the Severn Trent Community Fund. The grant will help with core running costs to ensure continued support to children, young people and vulnerable adults in the community through nature based therapeutic activities.
If you'd like to know... Continue reading
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January's Community Stories
Baby Godiva gets a helping hand from England Rugby International, Coutney Lawes
In November England Rugby International, Courtney Lawes, visited the charity ‘Baby Godiva’ to discuss the work they do. He visited the charity along with representatives from the ‘Save The Children’ charity. He met with Isabelle McCabe, the charities founder, to talk about the work they do, and why she set the charity up and the support they offer to families in need.
Courtney and Belle engaged in conversations about the families that the charity extends assistance to, shedding light on the daily challenges these families face. Belle... Continue reading
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December's Community Stories
Food kindly donated by Severn Trent Water employees
Over the last few weeks leading to Christmas staff at Severn Trent Water Coventry’s Head Quarters have been collecting food to help Coventry residents struggling with rising costs.
The Council’s Community Resilience Team supported Severn Trent in handing over this generous donation to Coventry Food Network to distribute across Coventry require during the festive season.
Dianne Williams Trustee of the Coventry Food Network added: “huge thanks to Severn Trent staff, donations at this time of year make a real difference”
Paul Evans from Severn Trent said “Coventry Food Network comprising 15 social... Continue reading
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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... Continue reading
