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.
Action Family Network C.I.C awarded lottery funding to deliver, Bridges Beyond Words: Helping Young People Feel at Home
For many young people from migrant, refugee, and minority backgrounds, arriving in a new place can feel overwhelming and lonely. Bridges Beyond Words is changing that.
Over the next 24 months, we’re creating welcoming, youth-led spaces where 11–18-year-olds can connect, grow, and be themselves. Our weekly Welcome Circles and fun Language Clubs (two 2-hour sessions each) help young people build friendships and confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Each young person will also be matched with a trained peer mentor—someone who understands their journey and offers guidance with schoolwork, joining activities, or simply navigating life in a new community.
Once a month, we’ll bring families, neighbours, and young people together for community celebrations filled with food, music, and shared stories.
This project was shaped directly by the voices of local young people and their families, who told us they need safe spaces, connection, and help overcoming language barriers. Thanks to funding support from the Community Resilience Team National leading to the Lottery awarding £19,712, we’re ready to build those bridges—and help every young person feel seen, valued, and truly at home’.
Highland Road Allotment Hub Officially Opens!
After months of planning and hard work, the Highland Road allotment group’s vision for a community hub has become a reality. Back in early 2025, the group approached the Community Resilience Team for support in securing funding to create a dedicated space for local residents. Thanks to a successful bid to the National Lottery Awards for All small grants fund, £9,000 was awarded to bring this project to life.
Throughout the summer, volunteers from the allotment group worked tirelessly to assemble the hub, transforming the site into a welcoming space for community activities and events. On October 19th, 2025, the hub was officially opened by Stefan Overson from the Community Resilience Team, marking a proud moment for everyone involved.
The new hub will serve as a focal point for local engagement, offering opportunities for social connection, skill-sharing, and resilience-building within the community.
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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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
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October's Community Stories
Please Support Your Local Food Hub or Food Bank – Support Coventry People in Need this Christmas.
Food hubs and food banks across Coventry are struggling to cope with an increase in demand due to the cost-of-living crisis. The number of people in need has hugely increased whilst donations to these charities have fallen.
The Community Resilience Team are supporting the Christmas food campaign by linking food hubs with businesses that may be able to collect food donations from staff or make a cash donation. We have a collection box in the Coventry City Council Friargate building so council staff... Continue reading