Links

Websites with useful resources for your group

Facilities for Community Groups

 Voluntary Action Coventry: offers a dedicated room available for members to use that includes a library and use of laptops with internet access. They have a range of equipment available to hire such as display boards, OHP's and Multi-media projectors. CVSC also offers regular mailing opportunities for groups and use of photocopier and fax machines.

 The Ricoh Arena Community Space: offers a high quality venue for conferences, workshops, training courses and general meetings and is available to community groups city wide.  The venue will accommodate up to 150 theatre style and a range of equipment for presentations is also available.

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - a once in a lifetime opportunity - be part of it ... !

 The Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games, (CW2012):

The Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games (CW2012) was a unique combination of public, private and voluntary organisations working together to maximise opportunities for the sub-region arising from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Since 2005, Coventry and Warwickshire has been leading the engagement and co-ordination of the 2012 Games, arguably resulting in our sub-region securing and achieving more 2012 activity than any other region outside of London.  Due to recent changes as of June 13, 2011 CW2012 will no longer exist in its current capacity.

October 31, 2009 marked a significant milestone in the countdown to London 2012 as we celebrated 1,000 days to go. To celebrate this landmark CW2012 launched several milestones of its own which it aimed to achieve in time for the start of the Games.

Here, with just over 12 months to go until London 2012 and as a result of the recent changes, those milestones have been revisited and proudly listed against them is all that has been achieved by CW2012 and its partners over the past six years in the report below.

From 13th June 2011 the contact details of both the C&W 2012 Partnership Manager and C&W 2012 Partnership Assistant have changed to the following:

Tom Clift, Operations Manager, 2012 Games, Coventry City Council, Tel: 024 7683 1202, Mob: 07985 627 508, Email: tom.clift@coventry.gov.uk

Will Bastin, Project Officer, 2012 Games, Coventry City Council, Tel: 024 7683 1119, Mob: 07983 600 332, Email: will.bastin@coventry.gov.uk  

To keep up to date with the latest information, events, news and success please visit www.coventry.gov.uk/london2012 

 London 2012: is the Official website of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and includes latest news, schedule, venue and sport information.

 West Midlands Leadership Group for 2012: is the lead strategic body in the West Midlands for London 2012. 

The Leadership Group has just launched a brand new regional plan in response to 2012. The plan outlines five key priority themes for the region:

Sustainable Transport in Coventry

 Coventry City Council's Sustainable Transport Team: is dedicated to promoting sustainable travel to schools, businesses and local communties. 

Whether travelling to school, to work, from home for business or pleasure, they can provide you with information on alternatives to your car such as public transport, cycling or walking.  A cycle map and guide is also available for downloading.

 Transport Direct Info: is the only website that offers information for door-to-door travel for both public transport and car journeys around Britain. The website's aim is to provide you with comprehensive, easy-to-use travel information to help you plan your journeys effectively and efficiently.

 Walking and cycling in Coventry in on Facebook:  Sign up to connect with Walking & Cycling in Coventry. 

Links to local police neighbourhood teams

 Coventry Local Policing Unit: Here you will find information relating to your local neighbourhood, as well as news, feedback and police surgery dates. 

 My Neighbourhood: detailed information on your local neighbourhood from West Midlands Police. Find out about crime prevention and how you can have your say.

Coventry Trading Standards

 Coventry Trading Standards: provides advice and support for consumers and businesses, information about rogue traders, dooorstep crime and current scams.  Find out more and keep up to date with the latest scams and warning information  here.  

Media resources

 Coventry and Warwickshire Media Community: (CWMC) is a not-for-profit social enterprise company, limited by guarantee (No. 064613333) established in 2007.  CWMC's vision is to provide a Christian media voice in Coventry and the surrounding areas and help build understanding and cohesion on behalf of the churches of Coventry to the wider community. The desire of the directors is to see the whole of Coventry prosper spiritually, economically and socially and to foster collaboration among the media community.  CWMC provides Media Training, Marketing and Advertising, Sales and Promotion, and Radio Plus.

Broadcasting on 101.5FM, Radio Plus is a community radio station established in December 2010 that serves Coventry and the surrounding areas.  Radio Plus provides responsible and entertaining radio in the Coventry, Warwickshire and surrounding areas in association with voluntary organisations, local authorities, local residents, community groups and businesses in a common effort to strengthen society.  It also provides a Christian media voice in the community on behalf of all the churches in the city and helps build understanding and cohesion in the wider community.  Visit the  Radio Plus website and listen live  here. 

Technology resources

 AbilityNet:  a charity that helps disabled people use computers.

 Donate a PC:  free computers for charities, and a free 'matchmaking' service for individuals and organisations to donate their unneeded computers, printers etc.

 Illuminate ICT:  a not-for-proft organisation offering low-cost help with the technology needs of community and voluntary groups, such as setting up internet access, websites and databases.

Training and community engagement

 Adept: a community development agency providing, amongst other things, training on working in community organisations.

 Common Purpose:  courses for leaders in organisations and the community, and useful resources for groups on topics such as engaging communities.

 ContinYou:  a community learning charity, offering amongst other things, consultancy and training for communities engaging in decision-making processes.

 Coventry and Warwickshire Co-operative Development Agency:  aims to enable people to take a full part in economic life. The site contains business planning tools, advice on setting up co-operatives and community enterprises, and information about credit unions.

 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.

 Neighbourhood Initiatives:  a charity specialising in community participation. The site includes access to hands-on tools for topics such as building design, planning and evaluation, and training. They also offer project work with  the innovative "Planning for Real"® tool that can help communities engage with planning issues.

 Quest-net:  links to many Community Empowerment Networks around the country, plus Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs). This website also has links to many resources for community groups.

Advice, Guides and Toolkits

 Ask NCVO:  this section of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations' website contains very useful factsheets covering a wealth of issues including funding, trustees and governance, financial management and strategic planning. Also contains details of their helpline.

 Charity Commission:  The Charity Commission is established by law as the regulator and registrar for charities in England and Wales. The aim is to provide the best possible regulation of charities in England and Wales in order to increase charities' effectiveness and public confidence and trust.

 Community Development Exchange:  library of resources relevant to community development; everything from managing a community building to asylum issues.

 Community Matters: a nationwide federation for community associations. The site contains useful information sheets on everything from running community buildings to chairing meetings. There are also details of publications, training, consultancy and an advice line for queries related to community group issues.

 Voluntary Action Coventry:  an umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector, providing training, support and advice. This site also contains good practice guides for community and voluntary groups.

 Directory of Social Change:  information and training for the voluntary sector, including publications and training courses on fundraising, communication, law, management and finance.

 FunderFinder: FunderFinder is a small UK charity producing software and other resources, mainly for grant-seekers. Some of the things they produce are free, or available at Coventry Voluntary Service Council.

 Renewal: a guide to what works in neighbourhood renewal, covering housing and the environment, health, education, worklessness and local economies. Includes how-to guides, toolkits and case studies.

 Urban Forum:  an umbrella body for community and voluntary groups with interests in urban and regional policy, especially regeneration. Publishes a guide to England's planning system, and to Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs).

Funding organisations

 Awards for All:  lottery grants scheme for local communities.

 Football Foundation: funding for football facilities and small grants for projects that use football and sport as a force for social change.

 Heart of England Community Foundation: funding for community groups and charities in Coventry and Warwickshire.Government and Strategic Partnerships

 The Scarman Trust: funding and practical assistance for individuals and groups wanting to bring about change in their community.

Strategic and Policy making groups

 Communities and Local Government: policy and information from the Government department responsible for communities, equalities, housing, planning and local government. This site also contains consultation documents and discussion forums.

 Coventry City Council: information about events and all aspects of the council's work.

 Coventry Partnership: information about members of Coventry's Local Strategic Partnership, the Community Plan to improve quality of life in the city, minutes of meetings and useful research.

 Neighbourhood Management: how Coventry City Council works in local communities. Includes details of your local Neighbourhood Manager.

 Neighbourhood Renewal Unit: part of the Communities department, this unit is responsible for New Deal for Communities, Neighbourhood Management and Neighbourhood Wardens. The website includes access to statistics about your neighbourhood, and factsheets and toolkits on topics related to renewal.

Other useful websites

 Arts Pages:  if you are looking for artists to commission, workshop leaders, venues or arts organisations, the Coventry City Council Arts Pages are designed to help.

 Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership 2012 Games:  find out the latest on Coventry and Warwickshire's journey to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 Council of Disabled People:  a charity run for disabled people by disabled people. The site contains resources and advice, plus information on the charity's services.

 Federation of Stadium Communities:  offers information, support and advice to community groups living in the vicinity of sports stadia.

 The Hillz Radio:  community radio in Hillfields - listen live over the internet!

 Care For The Family: is a charity that has been supporting and encouraging families in the UK since 1988.