Welcome

 

Welcome to the website of Coventry Community Empowerment Network (CEN)

More about CEN

Events and Latest News

 

 ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TRACING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY ... ?

... then come along to Coventry Family History Week - 16th-21st August 2010 

Coventry Family History Week takes place this year from 16th - 21st August.  Family History Detectives.co.uk is planning an exciting new initiative - Coventry Family History Week - six days in August to promote Coventry Libraries and other community venues as the places to go to trace family history.  

FREE taster sessions will take place at venues across the city, so if you are interested in your family history come along and find out more - your family history is only a click away!

For more information telephone 0121 528 3853 or visit: www.familyhistorydetectives.co.uk

Full details of all the venues taking part are shown on the flyer below. 

 

  

 

 

London 2012 - a once in a lifetime opportunity – be part of it!

London 2012 Open Weekend Olympic & Paralympic Games Community Information Fair, 24th July 2010

London 2012 Open Weekend is an annual UK-wide celebration counting down to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Open Weekend 2010 took place from 23-25 July and  included hundreds of events across the UK – from sport to art, dance to exhibitions. 

As part of Open Weekend 2010 and to celebrate Coventry’s recent announcement of becoming a Host Olympic City for 2012 Olympic Football, Coventry CEN held an Olympics and Paralymics Community Information Fair hosted by The Ricoh Arena Community Space on Saturday 24th July.   

The Information Fair was opened by David Moorcroft, Olympian and 2012 Ambassador and provided the perfect opportunity to learn more about the projects and events happening locally in Coventry, regionally and nationally, find out how to get involved, and obtain details of what funding might be available to support potential projects and activities.  Those attending were challenged to use the London 2012 Games as an inspiration for change and to encourage working together to add value to Coventry's community cohesion strategy.  

There were presentations about local, regional and national 2012 projects.  Key areas included Coventry as a Host City, London 2012 Inspire Programme, 2012 Volunteering, Community Games, People Dancing, Get Set Education Programme and the Cultural Olympiad.  There was also free time to browse the information stands, get more details on particular areas of interest and have an opportunity to ask questions directly.

This very successful event was organised with a number of partners, including Coventry CEN, Coventry and Warwickshire 2012 Partnership (CW2012), Coventry City Council, the Coventry Partnership, Ricoh Arena, The Ricoh Arena Community Space and West Midlands for 2012 (WM2012). 

London 2012 Open Weekend CEN Community Information Fair Report can be downloaded below:

Details of the information available and presentations made at the CEN Community Information Fair can be viewed and downloaded here.

For more information on London 2012 and what is happening Coventry and Warwickshire please visit:

 www.cswp.org.uk/london2012

 

 

 

THE BIG LUNCH

Sunday 18th July 2010 ... are you taking part this year ... ? 

 

 

The Big Lunch is a national event that happened for the first time in 2009.  The idea was started by The Eden Project in Cornwall and around a million people took part last year, sharing lunches in streets, parks, gardens, car parks.  They loved it and now The Big Lunch is back!

This year, CEN is working with the Coventry Partnership to promote this event across Coventry and we hope it will happen all over the city.  The BIG Lunch is not just one lunch, but many small ones.  It’s an opportunity for a one-day get together with your neighbours, friends on Sunday 18th July 2010. 

It can be anything from a simple lunch in the garden to a full-blown street party with music and a hog roast. Or you could organise a party in a park or anywhere else where there is enough space for what you want to do. The only requirement is to invite people from your local community and to make sure you involve some people you don’t already know.

When people get together, we become more positive. By simply having some fun and sharing some food on one day in July, we can build new friendships that we can enjoy for the rest of the year.

The Big Lunch is a chance for different generations and backgrounds to hear each other out and share stories, skills and interests.

Try food you haven’t tried before.

If you grow fruit and vegetables, show them off and share them with your neighbours.

If you grow flowers, take a bunch to decorate the table or could you make bunting to decorate your street?

Do you play a musical instrument or sing (in tune!). If so, you could entertain your neighbours

Do any of your neighbours find it difficult to get out? Make sure they know that there will be something happening and try to find ways to make sure they can join in and get a chance to get out of the house

It's the start of a journey into rebuilding or strengthening our communities.

If you want some inspiration on organising YOUR Big Lunch, have a look at www.thebiglunch.com.

Once you’ve decided to have a Big Lunch, please register it on the Big Lunch website. That way, we’ll all be able to see how many Big Lunches are being planned in Coventry. We’d like to be able to keep in touch with you as well, so please let us know what you are doing. We’ll keep in touch as things develop. We’re also keen to spread the word, so if you wouldn’t mind being interviewed about your plans on the radio or for the papers, please let us know.

So go on…don’t be shy, take the first step. Be the first person in your street to suggest a Big Lunch – and then start inviting all the people that you don’t already know.  

 

For more information and resources for planning your Big Lunch visit www.coventrypartnership.com/thebiglunch2010. 

Resources available include: 

To find a Big Lunch near you or to start a Big Lunch of your own visit www.thebiglunch.com.

Whether you go to someone else's Big Lunch or organise one of your own have a great time, make some new friends, and let us know how it goes. 

  

 

 

Excellence Academy/Coventry Back Boys Can Summer School returns for 2010

Coventry Black Boys Can / Excellence Academy is a community led organisation,  that aims to provide black boys, Caribbean, African, and of mixed heritage; between the ages of 8yrs to 16yrs with educational opportunity, valuable life skills, and the self-esteem, confidence and determination to succeed. All these qualities are essential if they are to overcome disadvantage and make the most of their formative and adult years. We work in partnership with other educational bodies to help the boys overcome some of the barriers which many of them face, and empower them with strategies for overcoming those barriers.
 
The main objective of the Summer School is to stimulate and develop the student’s literacy, numeracy, ICT and social skills. This is achieved by placing them in age defined classes, as well as workshops designed to foster positive contributions to their communities; all of which ultimately aid the development of social and co-operative skills. Summer School also enables students to explore other learning opportunities outside the curriculum in order to inspire and promote learning and achieving. The theme of the 2009 summer school was DIY - ‘Do It Yourself’. This gave the children and young people the opportunity to express themselves and think about their own lifestyles and attitudes, whilst also learning the importance of responsibility, sportsmanship and giving them a sense of pride.
 
This year the theme is ‘I Am Powerful’, and the aim is to get the children to draw power from their everyday interactions, by learning more about their culture and their environment. We have already begun to devise lessons plans which include    exercises such as creating a family tree and inventing an everyday household item. Again the children’s classes will be age specific, as follows:
 
·         5 - 7 years
·         8 – 11 years
·         12 plus
 
For Summer School sessions we invite boys and girls from all cultural backgrounds, and regularly have quite a large turnout. We also like to arrange a trip for the children, to allow them to unwind but still keep it educational. Last year the children visited Sandringham Castle.  This year the students will be going to Fantasy Island.

This year's Summer School will be held from Monday 2nd August to Friday 6th August and Monday 9th to Friday 13th August, 9.00am - 3.00pm daily at Barrs Hill School and Community College, Radford Road, Coventry
Registration is £10 per week, Fantasy Island trip is £10 per person and the trip to Coombe Abbey: £3

For more information please telephone 024 7655 1258   

 

 

 

Community Empowerment Network (CEN) receives Coventry Compact Award

The Coventry Compact Awards Ceremony took place on 11th June 2010 at The Welcome Centre, Coventry.  Nominations for these first ever Compact Awards were invited in April for partnership working for the Coventry Compact Awards from organisation's whose work involves co-operation between sectors in the following catagories:

Joint working between a statutory organisation and a voluntary or community organisation/group to achieve more together than each could have achieved alone

Actual working practices which reflect the good practice set out in Coventry's Compact codes

Initiatives or ways of working that enable voluntary and community organisations to thrive

Initiatives to embed the Compact codes within internal working practices

Sixteen nominations were received from a wide range of organisations.  Work had to be jointly nominated by both a statutory and a voluntary/community organisation. 

In 2009 Coventry CEN worked with the Community Safety Partnership to enable community knowledge and expertise inform the 2009/10 Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment, which identified community safety priorities in Coventry.  The work also included the review of Safer Neighbourhood Groups and development of an induction pack for all new Safer Neighbourhood Group members which is being distributed by the city's Community Safety Officers.  Coventry CEN and the Community Safety Partnership were jointly nominated for this work and were successful in receiving a commendation for good examples of Compact-style working.   

Other nominees receiving a commendation for good examples of Compact-style working are:

• the MAMTA Project's work with NHS Coventry and UHCW around infant mortality
• Foleshill Women's Training's work with the City Council on preconception care and joint working on employment
• the Children's Society's work with the Police on the Reunite project
• the Innovation and Development Fund delivered by Voluntary Action Coventry for and with NHS Coventry
• the City Council's dissemination of the Coventry Compact Procurement & Contracting Code within its procurement systems
• Coventry Carers Centre and the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust for Caring for Carers
• the United Reformed Church's partnership working with Henley College to run a cafe whilst providing work experience for students with learning disabilities

The following nominees receive a special commendation for particular strong examples of Compact-style working:

• Alzheimers Society & UHCW for the wider partnership behind the Dementia Care Group
• Coventry MIND and NHS Coventry for their joint working in delivering the Increased Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme
• NCT and the City Council's Health Development Unit for Positive About Breastfeeding
• Age Concern Coventry and the Older People's Partnership for Contact & Connect

The awards show the continued commitment of the voluntary and community sectors to working with colleagues in the statutory sector to improve the lives of Coventry people and to achieve more together than could have been achieved separately.

 

  

 

 

Coventry Community Cohesion Awards 2010

The Coventry Community Cohesion Awards were officially launched at the Annual Coventry Partnership Conference at the Ricoh Arena Community Space on Thursday 3rd December 2009.

The awards are designed to:

It is also an opportunity to share any difficulties you have experienced and how these have been overcome.

Applications were invited in the following five categories:

The closing date was April 30th 2010 with 35 confirmed nominations.

Shortlisted/winners in each category will have a profile of their project uploaded to the Coventry Partnership website; an article on their activity in Citivision and press releases issued to ensure wider coverage of the winners.  They will also be invited to the Lord Mayor's Award Ceremony. 

For full details of the shortlisted projects and for more information please go to to Community Cohesion Awards 2010 on the Coventry Partnership website: www.coventrypartnership.com

 

 

 

ALWAYS WANTED TO RUN A FARM?

“BBC2 is preparing to shine a light on the demanding, unpredictable and diverse world of smallholding by challenging 10 novice couples to take on their very own small farm.  The series will feature ten couples or pairs (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who would like to grasp the opportunity to change their lives forever and run a farm/small holding. 

Filmed over the summer the programme will see the couples learn just the basics they need, before decamping to a farm in the beautiful British countryside where they will be discovering all areas of farm life, from animal husbandry to coping with the often not so glorious summer weather.  The series will culminate in the winning pair getting the opportunity to live and work on their own small farm more permanently, forging ahead with smallholding towards their owns dreams. 

Applications are being welcomed from couples of all ages and relationships (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who are serious about wanting to change their lives and who will relish farm life.  Whether it’s a love of animals, a passion for gardening, an interest in sustainability and food provenance or a general lust for all things outdoors, they want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to take on this lifestyle-transforming project.  However an obvious passion for growing food, caring for animals, sustainability or food is must for the show, as the BBC would like it to be a credible and hopefully successful small holding partnership that comes out of the project.  They certainly won’t be shying away from showing just how tough smallholding can be or underestimating what a test this will be for the rookies, however for the right people it should be a wonderful and life changing opportunity.

Applications are being welcomed from couples of all ages and relationships (married couples / siblings / friends etc.) who are serious about wanting to change their lives and who will relish farm life.  Whether it’s a love of animals, a passion for gardening, an interest in sustainability and food provenance or a general lust for all things outdoors, they want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to take on this lifestyle-transforming project.  However an obvious passion for growing food, caring for animals, sustainability or food is must for the show, as the BBC would like it to be a credible and hopefully successful small holding partnership that comes out of the project.  They certainly won’t be shying away from showing just how tough smallholding can be or underestimating what a test this will be for the rookies, however for the right people it should be a wonderful and life changing opportunity.

They are especially looking for people who may already have some experience in working or volunteering with animals, food or nature - just some kind of demonstrated interest that would make them a credible and hopefully successful small holding partnership.  So, if you are involved in self-sufficiency, sustainability, growing, business or nature now or in the past, and would jump at the opportunity to take your breeding, growing or craft skills to another level with the assistance of this project send your name and contact details by email to farm@splashmediatv.co.uk so an application form can be emailed out. 

 

 

 

VOICE YOUR VIEW

Public Spaces and You

Have you ever noticed anything in a public area or open space that captured your attention because you liked it or because it concerned you? Do you know how you can currently report your concerns, ideas, suggestions and opinions regarding public spaces? Or do you have suggestions how you would like to report such issues?

The VoiceYourview project (www.voiceyourview.com) is interested in finding out how people’s knowledge of public areas and open spaces can be captured in order to create safer and more inclusive spaces. Please fill out our questionnaire and voice your view!

 Click here to take survey 

 

 

CLOCK IS TICKING IN ITV CENTRAL REGION TO ENTER THE PEOPLE'S MILLIONS 2010 TV CONTEST

There is now just one week left for communities in the region to put in their bids to win up to £50,000 Lottery funding in The People's Millions 2010.

Entries into the TV contest, which awards funding to communities to improve facilities or help people get more enjoyment from their local area, must be received by noon 14 May 2010.

Five bumper Big Lottery Fund grants are on offer in ITV Central with a total of £250,000 to be awarded to community projects in the region.

The People's Millions, a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and ITV, aims to improve communities across the UK and gives the public the opportunity to vote on which local projects should receive lottery good-cause funding.

Shortlisted projects will be showcased on local ITV evening news where they will have to convince the public why they most deserve the cash. It will then be up to the public to vote for groups to win the funding.

To date the contest has awarded hundreds of thousands of pounds in the ITV Central region, funding a wide range of community projects from the renovation of a scout hut to a new vehicle to increase capacity for search and rescue assignments and installing a new play area, themed to promote the history of the site.

John Taylor, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the West Midlands, said "With just one month left before the deadline, time is running out to get your applications in to The People's Millions contest. If you've got a brilliant idea which will improve your community, it's time to take this unique opportunity to get funding for a special project that you know will make a real difference to the people around you."

This year a new streamlined online entry form means that applying to the contest is even simpler. Entry forms are available from www.peoplesmillions.org.uk

ITV Central presenter Sameena Ali-Khan, said "The People's Millions gives us a fantastic opportunity to do some real good in the community. Over the years we have seen some great projects benefit, and make genuine changes to the lives of those they support. It is great fun to do and very rewarding to see the projects completed and working."

For more information please call the Big Lottery Fund Press Office on 020 7211 1888

Full details of Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

 

  

 

"Grow Yourself a Better Future"

The new ‘GROW Yourself A Better Future’ booklet, covering the period April – June is out now and available from all Libraries and all project partners.

It includes various courses and events including Adult Learners Week and Positive Images Multicultural Festival.

 

 

 

 

For more information please contact:

Marjata Döll, 'GROW Yourself A Better Future' Project Officer

FWT - Foleshill Womens Training

70-72 Elmsdale Avenue, Foleshill

Coventry, CV6 6ES

Tel: 024 7663 769

www.fwt.org.uk/grow 

 

 

 

HARAMBEE MAMA: Healthy Mums - Healthy Babies Art Group Project 

Mothers from new communities can support each other and share cultural traditions and values at the Art Group Project on Thursdays from 10.00am to 12 noon at The Peace House, Coventry.

Baby and Health themes will run in three sessions, complete a set of three and gert a certificate.

All are welcome and childcare is provided.

SESSION 1: MAY 13TH -20TH – 27TH  

SESSION 2: JUNE 2ND – 9TH -16TH

SESSION 3: JUNE 23RD -30TH & JULY 7TH  

SESSION 4: JULY 14TH – 21ST – 28TH JULY 

AUGUST 4TH - CELEBRATION PARTY!

For more info, contact Sarah or Barbara: 07575 438 580 coventryakimbo@googlemail.com  

 

 

 

Coventry Sporting Futures - URBAN NETBALL LEAGUE - Starting June 2010

In association with Coventry Sports and Development and Coventry Sports Trust, Coventry's new and only Indoor Youth Netball League starts in June at Coventry Sports Centre.

For more information please contact Nicola or Laura on 07944 707 642 or email: urban.netball@coventry.gov.uk to receive a form for free registration.   

 

 

 

Need help with debts and budgeting?

Coventry Jesus Centre are offering free of charge one to one support on advice for dealing with debts and help with budgeting.

For further information or to make an appointment please contact Coventry Jesus Centre, 7 Lamb Street CV1 4AE, telephone 024 7655 0033 or email info@coventryjesuscentre.org.uk 

 

 

The Writers Hub

BBC Open Centre, Priory Place, Coventry,

The Writers' Hub has been created to help provide a supportive platform for new and emerging writers in a friendly and accessible venue between 2.00 - 4.00 pm every third Wednesday each month.

It is somewhere for writers to meet and exchange ideas and a place to help encourage, motivate and inspire those just starting writing as well as the more experienced.

Starts Wednesday 17th March 2010 and all sessions are Free

For further details of to reserve a place email: thewritershub@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 02476 551000 

  

  

 

 

Vote for The Herbert - YOUR MUSEUM NEEDS YOU!

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has now been shortlisted for the Art Fund Prize - the largest museum prize in the country. The museum has been shortlisted against three massive national museums - The Ashmolean Museum, Blists Hill Victorian Town and The Ulster Museum. The Art Fund Prize has a £100,000 top prize and for a chance of winning this prize the museum needs your vote. Show the museum your support by visiting http://www.artfundprize.org.uk/2010/shortlist3.php

The Herbert work with the Performing Arts Service (PAS) to do some tremendous work for the children of Coventry and it would mean a great deal to the children and PAS if you could vote for them!

For more information regarding the Performing Arts Service please contact: Zoe Stokes, Arts Administrator, Performing Arts Service. telephone: 024 7678 8584, mobile: 07961035811

For more information regarding the Herbert please contact:  Jamie Perry, Head of Marketing and Communications, Coventry Heritage & Arts Trust
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP, telephone: 024 76 294734, mobile: 07971 869030, email: jamie.perry@theherbert.org  or visit: www.theherbert.org

 

 

BBC Blast Reporter Scheme 2010

The BBC are hosting summer placements though for people looking to build their skills in the media.

What is the BBC Blast Reporter scheme? 

BBC Blast Reporter scheme is an opportunity for budding reporters to learn the tricks of the trade in hands-on work experience that will enable them to build on their knowledge of the media along with providing fresh and exciting opportunities in Sport and Music areas.

There is opportunity to work alongside BBC staff to create content for BBC's local websites and radio stations, which will be something outstanding for CV's and future career plans.

The application deadline is Friday 30th April 2010 and there are posts available around the country.

You can find out more information on the scheme and last years placements by visiting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/reporters/

or contacting: Rachael Smith, New Media Producer, BBC Local English Regions, Level 10, The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1RF, telephone 0212 567 6790 or email:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/local/ 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio

 

 

BETTER CiC, a new Community Interest Company based at the Enriched Life Centre, Coventry

Better CiC is different in the way in which it seeks to stimulate economic growth in local communities making these a better place to live, work and learn.

In March, Better CiC launches its Better Home Services brand aimed at encouraging local residents and local tradespersons to better support each other. Presently, Better CiC is creating a network of experienced tradespersons; plumbers, electricians, builders and so on, to fulfil customer orders following direct marketing activities initiated by Better CiC.

To support this, Better CiC is creating its first dedicated Business Support Centre based at the Enriched Life Centre to help small tradespersons spend more time working and less on paperwork and administration. To this end, Better CiC is harnessing the power of modern technology to add real value to the way tradespersons work; improving the customer experience in areas such as order management, job management and accounting management.

Additionally, Better CiC will create new jobs at its Business Support Centre, especially for the long term unemployed. Already Better CiC, through its association with the Enriched Life Centre, is a participant in the current Employment Placement Scheme and Future Jobs Fund programme. Better CiC aims to work closely with Regeneration Services, Job Centre Plus, Business Link, Coventry Chambers of Commerce and local agencies and associations, particularly those supporting small businesses.

In addition, the Company will officially launch the City’s first “Better” Affinity Card, aimed at giving residents improved access to information on local services via their mobile phone.

Please follow Better CiC at www.bettercic.co.uk to learn more about this ground breaking Community Interest Company in the heart of the City.

You may wish to register your interest by SMS text. To do so, send BETTER followed by your post code to: 02476 60777.

e.g.: BETTER CV12 3AB to 60777

If you would like more information about how Better CiC can support your organisation, or would like more detail about Better Home Services, please contact Shelly Renwick either at the Better Business Support Centre, telephone 0845 5084722 or email: better@bettercic.co.uk

Better CiC, helping to make Coventry a better place to live, work and learn.  

  

Community Based Champions - Building Caring Communities

Community Based Champions provides a unique opportunity for volunteers within Migrant & new communities to offer advice to individuals from their own communities.  The project is funded through the Department for Communities & Local Governments Migration Impact Fund and managed by Voluntary Action Coventry on behalf of Coventry Partnership.

The project is funded through the Department for Communities & Local Governments Migration Impact Fund and managed by Voluntary Action Coventry on behalf of Coventry Partnership.

The project will:

The results will be that:

The service will encourage volunteering within Migrant and new communities living in the city taking a grass-route approach to addressing some of the needs of Migrant and new communities as well as reducing the pressure on services.

Community Based Champions aims to raise Migrants awareness of their rights and responsibilities.

The service is designed to work in Partnership with the West Midland Fire Service, PCT, Whitefriars Housing Association, Coventry Law Centre, Coventry Refugee Centre, Friends Programme and the Coventry Partnership.

How can I get involved in the Community Based Champions Project?

Community Based Champions will act as key individuals to break down some of the barriers between Migrants and the services on offer.

If you are interested in getting involved please contact Sabir Zazai, Migration Impact Fund Manager at Voluntary Action Coventry on 024 7622 0381 or email s.zazai@vacoventry.org.uk or download the application form below:

 

 

Green Communities - turning energy saving ideas into action

Green Communities is a programme from the Energy Saving Trust that aims to support. facilitate and promote community based energy projects. 

From free training and advice focussed on project planning and funding, to technical support and a website packed with resources - Green Communties exists to help you make a success of your ideas and projects.  For more information and to sign up for free membership visit the Green Communities  website.

To view Green Communities latest e-newsletter click  here.

For more information go to: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/community  

 

 

 

Switch It Off 2009 ... Thank you for pledging

Thank you to everyone who helped make 2009's Switch it Off campaign a huge success.  Switch it Off is an energy saving campaign covering Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.  Its aim is to make more people aware of the energy that is wasted by leaving electrical applicances on standby or not switching them off when in use.  Ten percent of all the electricity we use is concumed by applicances left of standby which is energy and money being wasted. 

Last year, the Coventry Partnership encouraged everyone in Coventry to get behind the Switch it Off campaign to show how easy it is to save money on electricity as well as reduce our carbon footprints.  The event ran from Monday 9 November to Friday 13 November 2009, culminating with the Big Switch Off on Friday 13 November between 4.30pm - 6.30pm.

For those five days everyone was encouraged, whether at home, work or school to turn off all unnecessary lighting and electrical appliances that are normally left on stand-by.  There was enourmous support from community and voluntary organisations, businesses, shops, householders and schools who all made the effort to Switch it Off to save energy and money.  During the Big Switch Off Central Networks measured a 1.7% reduction in power consumed in Coventry over the two hour period; a brilliant result considering the terrible weather at that time.  This was roughly the equivalent of everyone in Coventry turning off a 60W light bulb for one hour!

If you have taken part in an energy awareness campaign or decided to monitor or measure your energy use please let us know info@covcen.org.uk and let us know how it went, if it was a success and if you changed your energy use as a result. 

Further help and advice can be obtained from:

www.carbontrust.org.uk

www.envirowise.org.uk

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

www.business-sustain.com

For the latest news from Green Communities - click  here for the latest Energy Saving Trust e-news letter.

For more information and to find out about ways of saving energy contact Coventry City Council at: climatechange@coventry.gov.uk or telephone: 024 7683 3539.

 

 

 

Sowe Valley Project

The launch of the Sowe Valley Project took place on the weekend of 24/25th October with a choice of two venues; Saturday 24th October at The Haggard Community Centre, Remembrance Road, Willenhall, and Sunday 25th October, 2.00pm - 4.00pm at The Marquee, The Green, opposite Bell Green Children's Centre, Roseberry Avenue, Bell Green.

Free activities included:

• Making bird and bat boxes
• Bug Biscuits
• River Private Scavenger Hunt 

There was also a display from the Eco Way To Go environmental community group whose membership includes children and their families from the local area who have been involved with many positive environmentaql projects in the area.  Many members of local residetns groups joined Anna Squires from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust on a walk along part of the Sowe Valley Way to identify the areas of the river that the project For more information about the project please contact Anna Squires at Warwickshire Wildlife trust on 024 7630 2912

For more information contact: Anna Squires at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust on 024 7630 2912

 

  

Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment 

As part of work carried out during 2008/9 by Coventry Community Empowerment Network with the Community Safety Partnership, CEN provided a number of opportunities for community groups and residents to discuss their concerns regarding crime and safety in their neighbourhoods.  In January six focus groups were held across the city to enable community knowledge and expertise inform the 2009/10 Community Safety Strategic Assessment, which will identify community and safety priorities in Coventry for the next twelve months. 

CEN commissioned Kelly Hunt from M.E.L. (an independant research company) to facilitate this work.  M.E.L. has now completed the final report summarising the findings of the six focus groups.  This report was passed to the Community Safety Partnership to feed into Coventry's Strategic Assessment and can be viewed   

The next stage of the work looked more specifically at Safer Neighbourhood Groups (SNG's) and the development of an induction pack for all new SNG members (whether a Community Representative or from a Statutory agancy), based on feedback from a dedicated workshop held in February with SNG Community Representatives past and present.  A further workshop was held in March to finalise work on the pack's information sheets.   

The induction pack was completed in June and copies delivered to the relevant Community Safety Officers for distribution to new SNG members.  Copies of the induction pack and thank you letters have also been sent to all Community Representatives and residents who took part in the workshops and whose comments and feedback informed its production.

For further information contact: info@covcen.org.uk 

  

 

Eat Your ART Out update ...

People of Coventry make giant food sculpture of city and Eat It

On 5th September 2009 BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, Arts Council West Midlands and Coventry City Council collaborated on a unique gastronomic and artistic project "Eat Your ART Out" and produced an edible food sculpture of Coventry city.

Community groups from across the city met at Coventry's Lower Precinct Shopping Centre to create a large outdoor sculpture made from assorted foods that represented their vision of 21st century Coventry.  The people of the city were then invited to feast on the culinary creation and discover the true taste of Coventry.

The six community groups involved in the project are:

• Green Garden Café who worked on a theme of peace and reconciliation using fair-trade vegan produce.
• Coventry Rugby Club Fans who reflected the many different sports clubs in the city with an obvious focus on the groups' passion for Coventry Rugby Club.
• Nettica, Coventry Youth Service worked on the theme of Industry.
• BBC Listeners Group called Black Boys Can who chose to reflect Whittle Arches and the green spaces in their sculpture.
• The Godiva Sisters represented Lady Godiva, Coventry's most famous icon using mostly chocolate.
• Healthy Hearts Group from Wood End Family Project and Grapevine's H Team and Healthy Buddies who decided to focus on famous people from Coventry and represented through food Clive Owen, Pete Waterman, Marion Devonish, The Specials, Frank Whittle and Mo Molam.

All the groups worked for eight weeks with specialist food artist Prudence Emma Staite experimenting with various food produce and choosing six different themes that they felt embodied their city.

 

 

For more images from the day and the creations - please visit Tim Burke’s gallery - click  here

 

Siobhan Harrison, Creative Project Manager, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire commented:

"This has been an incredibly exciting project because it brings together totally different community groups. It has been fascinating to watch how each group's experience of life in Coventry has informed the themes they had chosen to represent. 

Food is a shared human experience and this project was all about a shared vision of the city that everyone, regardless of age, race or gender could relate to. "

Aileen Muir, Arts Council's Head of Broadcasting says:

"Eat Your Art Out is one of many Made In England regional arts projects developed with the BBC.  Each one is taking a unique look at what it is about England that inspires people's creativity. We're very excited to be using the arts to encourage people to reflect on our customs and identity."

Personal accounts of the project can be heard on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire DAB Digital Radio or 94.8/103.7/104FM - click  here

 

This activity is part of the Made In England project - a collaboration between Arts Council England and BBC English Regions which celebrates the way the English landscape and its population enable creativity, in a rich exchange of ideas that migrate, visit or reside in England. 

For more information contact Becky Jones-Owen on 121 567 6274 birminghampressoffice@bbc.co.uk (weekdays, 9am to 5.00pm) or 0208 576 1865 press.office@bbc.co.uk (outside of the hours above)

 

 

Wood End Advice and Information Centre relocates to new premises

Wood End Advice and Information Centre have moved to new offices at Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre, Winston Avenue. 

  

  

11 Million Takeover Day 2009

The National 11 Million Children and Young People Takeover Day took place on the 6th Nov 2009. 

The aim of 11 Million Takeover Day is to provide opportunities, for children and young people, to learn about and shape the services they use as well as participate more in community life.  Added benefits from previous years involvement with 11 Million Takeover Day have been:

Services and organisations got involved in a variety of ways, and in previous years activities have included:

                                                                                                and many more............   

Community and voluntary organisations were also encouraged to get involved, all ideas welcomed.

If you would like to know more please contact:

Sheila Bates, Children's Champion, Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, Coventry City Council, SS17, Civic Centre 1, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RS

Telephone: 024 7683 1432

Email: sheila.bates@coventry.gov.uk

 * 11 Million, formerly the office of the Children's Commissioner for England , support the 11 million children and young people in England to have their voices heard.   The Children's Commissioner for England was established under The Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice of children and young people and to champion their interests and bring their concerns and views to the national arena. 

 

  

 

North East Area Voluntary Sector Forum Relocates and Relaunches

The North East Area Voluntary Sector Forum has recently sampled the downstairs meeting room at the new Moathouse Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre in Winston Avenue.  The Forum liked the facilities and will be holding future meetings at the same venue.

The monthly Forum meetings offer the following:

The next meeting is being held on 2nd September from 12.30 - 14.30.  The guest speaker will be P.C. McGinty, the subject, Drugs in North East Coventry.

For more information please contact Ralph Bamber on 024 7668 9779.

 

Coventry City Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan

Coventry City Council has published its Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

To download from Coventry City Council's website click  here.

Alternatively, if you would like to receive a paper copy please contact the Rights of Way Officer - Traffic and Design at sustainabletransport@coventry.gov.uk or write to:

Coventry City Council, City Development Directorate, Planning and Strategic Transportation, Civic Centre 4, Much Park Street, Coventry, CV1 2PY

 

NHS Coventry - Consultation on the NHS Coventry Single Equality Scheme

For more information and to download a copy of the draft scheme click  here

 

City Centre Health Facility

Introducing your new city centre health facility

NHS Coventry, your local primary care trust, has unveiled exciting plans to build a new £20million health facility in the city centre.

The health facility will provide new and improved accommodation for local existing GP practices, as well as the city’s NHS Walk-in Centre, the new GP-led Health Centre, the GP Out of Hours Service and a wide range of community and city-wide services currently based on the Coventry and Warwickshire site.

The new facility will also have a pharmacy, community café and space for a wide range of clinics and services to serve the health needs of local people.

Pending planning approval, work is due to start on site in late 2009 and all being well the new facility should be open by the winter of 2011.

It will be served by excellent transport links, with regular buses running past the site from Pool Meadow Bus Station.

For more information on the Coventry City Health Facility click  here

 

West Midlands Culture Programme for 2012

For the latest newsletter with information about plans for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands click  here.

  

City Centre Regeneration

Following extensive consultation with local people Coventry City Council has now unveiled the Jerde masterplan to redevelop Coventry's City Centre.  An exhibition of the initial designs drawn up by architects The Jerde Partnership was held over a six week period in the autumn of 2008 at 2 City Arcade.  Over 3,000 people took this opportunity to look at the designs in detail and talk to the designers, council officers and councillors about the plans.  For further details click  here

 

Coventry - the next twenty years

The Sustainable Communties Strategy, Coventry's twenty year plan for the future which CEN members contributed to through consultation, has been formally launched.  Following approval by Coventry City Council's Cabinet and subsequently by Rt. Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communties and Local Government, the strategy is now being acted upon through a three year short term plan called the Local Area Agreement (LAA).  For a copy of the final strategy visit the Coventry Partnership website  here

 

Consultations - did you know?

You can find out about the latest issues on which City Council are consulting by looking on the front page of their website - top left hand corner "Consulting Coventry".   Click  here for more details.

 

Funding News...

For details of the latest funding and how to access advice. Click here for more.

Disclaimer: no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information on this site - you are advised to check important information at source. Information given here does not necessarily reflect the views of Coventry Community Empowerment Network (CEN). If you have any concerns, please contact us.