In 2007-2008, Groundwork Coventry and Warwickshire worked with local people and partners to deliver nearly 60 different projects across the city and within Warwickshire involving some 2,500 young people and adults.
A key focus for our activities was supporting the delivery of the 'Your Neighbourhood Matters' programme in partnership with Coventry City Council, Whitefriars Housing, the Community Empowerment Network and the Police. Working in some of the city's most deprived communities, we delivered projects that ranged from local environment improvements in Hillfields, taster sessions around skills for like in Spon End and youth play schemes in Stoke Aldermoor to tree festivals in Edgwick. The aims were two fold: to look at ways to get local people more involved in making decisions about the services provided in their local neighbourhoods, and to begin a programme of practical environmental improvements to help tackle the impact of derelict and neglected land and buildings on people's lives.
We continued our work to help young people not in education, training and employment to positively progress in life. Six week personal development programmes were delivered, giving young people the opportunity to engage in outdoor adventure, sports and community project work at the same time as achieving OCN accredited qualifications. The programmes were delivered in Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry and resulted in young people gaining employment and moving on to college for further study.
Our focus on children and young people continued through our work to support education in schools. This ranged from grounds improvements such as new nature study and food growing areas to involvement in community planting days in local parks and green spaces. This work was delivered in twelve schools across Coventry and Warwickshire.
In 2007, our Skills and Learning Team developed a new concept of 'taster' sessions, held in community venues, and aimed at engaging hard to reach groups in learning activities. The tasters involved a wide range of topics being explored and provided a way to build people's confidence and social networks, while helping to identify possible progression routes for their learning.
In partnership with the other three Groundwork Trusts in the West Midlands region, we continued our work to support businesses in improving their environmental performance.
What follows is just a few of the many examples of projects that we delivered this year focusing on our three key schemes of People, Places and Prosperity.
Bob Keith
Executive Director
Groundwork Coventry & Warwickshire
Groundwork Coventry & Warwickshire
Old Hall Farm
Whitestitch Lane
Packington
Coventry CV7 7JE
T 01676 524320
F 01676 524350
E co@groundwork.org.uk
