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 Community Wellness Hub secures £20,000 National Lottery Funding
The Fight Academy Community Wellness Hub, with support from the Community Resilience Team, is celebrating after receiving £20,000 in National Lottery Awards for All funding to launch new youth club sessions at Daimler Green Community Centre.
Running every Sunday from 12pm–2pm, the project will provide a safe and welcoming space for young people aged 11–18 to socialise, learn new skills, and take part in positive activities including pool, darts, music, fitness, creative sessions, and chillout spaces.
The programme was developed following consultation with local young people, who highlighted the need for more activities and safe places to meet in the area. Over the next two years, the project aims to support more than 160 young people, helping to build confidence, improve wellbeing, and providing positive alternatives to anti-social behaviour.
Michael Green from the Fight Academy Community Wellness Hub said: “This funding will make a real difference to young people in our community by giving them a safe place to come together, make friends, learn new skills, and access positive activities. We are excited to see the project grow and support brighter futures for local young people.”
The Fight Academy Community Wellness Hub uses the word “Fight” as a positive message about overcoming challenges and building brighter futures for young people across the community.
Young people aged 11–18 are welcome to attend the weekly sessions held every Sunday from 12pm–2pm at Daimler Green Community Centre, 48 Highley Drive, Radford, Coventry CV6 3LR.
For more information, contact 024 7659 6402.
Rooted Group secures funding to continue supporting women in Hillfields
A much-valued community group supporting women in Hillfields is celebrating a boost that will help secure its future and continue its vital work.
Rooted, a grassroots women’s group, has been awarded a £500 donation from St Philip’s to support venue hire costs, ensuring the group can continue to provide a safe, welcoming space for women across the community.
The group, which began nearly three years ago at the Hope Centre on Vauxhall Street, was originally part of a wider National Lottery-funded project. Alongside services such as a community café, foodbank, and social supermarket, Rooted quickly became a trusted and well-known space, particularly for women facing significant challenges.
Over time, the group grew into a vital source of support and connection, offering a place of refuge for local women experiencing vulnerability, homelessness, and social isolation. Rooted was born directly from the team’s deep connection with the community and their understanding of local need.
In July 2025, the wider project came to an unexpected close, giving staff and volunteers just one month’s notice. Despite this setback, the strength and impact of Rooted was clear; both the volunteers and the women attending were determined that the group should continue.
With a short extension granted to remain at the Hope Centre, the team worked quickly to secure a new base. Today, Rooted has successfully relocated to St Peter’s Church on Charles Street, Hillfields, where around 25 women attend weekly sessions.
Since reopening, the group has gone from strength to strength, providing a supportive environment where women can build confidence, form friendships, and take positive steps to improve their lives. The impact has been clear, with many attendees beginning to turn their lives around and flourish.
However, like many community-led initiatives, Rooted has faced financial challenges, particularly in covering essential costs such as venue hire. The recent £500 donation from St Philip’s is therefore a significant and timely contribution, helping to maintain this vital space for women who rely on it.
The group is now taking steps to formalise its structure as a constituted not-for-profit organisation, which will enable it to access further funding and ensure long-term sustainability.
This story highlights the power of community-led action and partnership working in Coventry. With continued support, Rooted is well placed to keep making a meaningful difference to the lives of women in Hillfields and beyond.