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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October 2025 - 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(External link) or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
Funding secured for Amaraba African Dance & Wellness Project!
We are thrilled to share that the Community Resilience Team have helped support Coventry Empowered African Women Group C.I.C to apply and secure a grant totalling £12,490 from Sport England. This grant supports the... Continue reading
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September 2025 - Community Stories
Settlement Support CIC: Empowering Communities with Coventry City Council’s Resilience Team
We’re thrilled to announce that Settlement Support CIC has received funding from the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme — made possible through the vital support of Coventry City Council’s Resilience Team.
This funding has enabled us to expand our impact across several key areas:
ESOL & Digital Inclusion
We’ve enhanced our ESOL and digital literacy programmes, helping over 30 individuals — including older adults and newly arrived migrants — gain language skills and confidence using digital tools. This dual approach has improved access to jobs, education, and health... Continue reading
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August 2025 - Community Stories
🏅 Community Resilience Team Supports Public Health at Coventry Sports Fest 2025
In August, Coventry’s city centre was buzzing with energy as Sports Fest 2025 brought together residents for six days of free, inclusive sports and wellbeing activities. Among the many contributors, the Community Resilience Team (CRT) were actively supporting Public Health.
Public Health were engaging residents in conversations around the Five Ways to Wellbeing—Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. These simple yet powerful principles are helping individuals and families explore practical ways to boost their mental and physical health.
Families that visited the Public Health... Continue reading
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July 2025 Newsletter
Community Resilience Team Helps Secure Funding for Coventry Peace House Bicycle Workshop
The Community Resilience Team (CRT) has successfully supported Coventry Peace House Education Trust in securing vital external funding to sustain their popular Bicycle Workshop initiative.
The weekly workshop, which focuses on cycle repair and upskilling, plays a crucial role in boosting participants’ self-esteem and employability. It offers hands-on training in bike maintenance while fostering a sense of community and purpose among attendees.
Recognising the value of the project, CRT worked closely with the organisation to develop a strong funding application. Their efforts paid off when the group was
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From Coburg to Coventry: A Cultural Journey Through Art, Heritage, History, and Innovation
Intercultural Roots and MakingCulture e.V. unite Coventry and Coburg through art, heritage, and sustainability in the Bridging Cultures project, marking a historic moment for creative collaboration between the UK and Germany.
Coventry-based artist, Intercultural Roots practitioner, and 12-year resident city host Fatima has become the first Coventrian to witness the reconstructed version of one of the world's very first 4-wheeled electric cars, originally developed by inventor Andreas Flocken in 1888 in Coburg, Germany.
The car was meticulously recreated from a single archival photograph by members of Coburg's Historic Innovation Hub, including Professor Gerhard Kampe, Peter Langendorf, and their team —... Continue reading
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June Newsletter 2025
City Centre Support for People Struggling with Addiction
The Community Resilience Team has been working closely with Dynamo project over the past few months to help them access external funding for their much-needed project. This month they heard they were successful and have just been awarded £19,800 from the National Lottery.
This funding is being used by them to offer an outreach and drop-in support service for individuals in need of day rehabilitation (dayhab) services. It includes a structured detoxification program with medical oversight, addressing the increasing demand locally.
Dynamo commented "To receive this grant is truly amazing and the... Continue reading
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May Newsletter 2025
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Digital Access & Health Advice supporting residents In Willenhall
Community Resilience popped along to see how the Dominion Grace breakfast club was doing at the Hagard in Willenhall this month. They had been helped to access two years of external funding, #Covconnect digital devices and apply for a small Public Health Grant.
They are now offering digital support, with access to laptops and free internet at the club. While also being able to access online support for local people to get help to give up smoking.
This has been going well with volunteers supporting residents to get online to access -
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April Newsletter 2025
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Survivor Sanctuary Launches Therapeutic Yoga Program for Healing and Empowerment
In a significant step towards supporting victim-survivors of sexual violence, Survivor Sanctuary has announced the launch of a new therapeutic yoga program. This initiative, made possible by grant of nearly £8,000 from Sport England, aims to provide a safe and supportive environment where women can focus on their healing journey and connect with others. The Community Resilience Team played a crucial role in supporting Survivor Sanctuary's application for this grant, ensuring this much needed program could go ahead.
About the Program
The yoga sessions at Survivor Sanctuary are specifically designed -
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March Newsletter 2025
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Community Resilience Team: A Year of Impact and DedicationThe Community Resilience Team has had an incredibly busy year supporting the voluntary sector in Coventry during 2024-25. As we approach the end of the financial year, we are excited to share some data highlighting our achievements and ongoing commitment to the community.
Even though we are a small team, our dedication to supporting the voluntary organisations in Coventry has remained unwavering. Our work includes assisting with funding, forming partnerships, engaging with stakeholder groups, and connecting you with other council departments. We recognise the immense value and incredible work you do, -
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Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling & Creative Connections for Community Empowerment (Coventry, UK & Coburg, Germany)
Intercultural Roots (IR) and MakingCulture® e.V. announce their participation in the Cultural Bridge 2025-2026 programme, a UK-German initiative driving cross-border collaboration through arts, technology, and community engagement. Titled "Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling and Creative Connections for Community Empowerment", the partnership will connect Coventry (UK) and Coburg (Germany) in a year-long exchange of hybrid workshops, participatory arts, and digital storytelling, running from April 2025 to March 2026.
Core Activities & Innovation
The project merges IR's PLACES by EcoGPX® app - a geo-tagged storytelling platform - with MakingCulture's experimental arts expertise to reimagine public spaces. Key activities include:
- Hybrid Workshops... Continue reading
