Projects led by community leaders in Coventry was put into action as part of Coventry City of Culture 2021.
A group of 10 Community Connectors co-created cultural projects within their communities, developing and collaborating on projects which create meaningful participation opportunities for community members, following the success of the first cohort launched last year.
The programme, was delivered by Coventry City of Culture Trust and 64 Million Artists, it gave community leaders the platform to engage with their local area by improving and using community spaces, putting on a community event, or creating a piece of art.
It was part of the Love Coventry programme, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, which took Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 to neighbourhoods and streets across the city.
This round of projects aimed to work directly with people living in Wyken, Foleshill, Longford, Bablake, Upper Stoke, Canal Basin, Binley, Willenhall, Stoke Aldemoor, Whitley, Cheylesmore and other city communities.
The first group of participants delivered projects in Foleshill, Henley Green, Finham and Stivichall, Earlsdon, Stoke Aldemoor, Holbrooks and the city centre.
Keep scrolling to find out more about each of our 18 Connectors, and the projects they are working on.
Produced by the Coventry City of Culture Trust and 64 Million Artists with support from The National Lottery Community Fund.
If you would like to know more about the Community Connectors programme click the 'Email Us' button to get in touch and we'll get back to you.
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Video: Community Connectors: Meet the Second Cohort
Video: Community Connectors: Introduction to the Programme and First Cohort
Credit: Mindriot Productions
Audio Described Version
Have you ever wanted to grow your own fruit and veg organically or become part of an allotment community but don't know where to start? Then help is at hand. We would like to invite 6 local family groups (this includes single parent families) to join us at Henley Mill allotments in the CV2 area of Coventry.
This project is part of the Community Connectors programme.
25th June 2022
From February to May 2022, creatives predominantly from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds have created postcards. Come along to Inini Initiative and see the 200+ postcards created.
This project is part of the Community Connectors programme.
6th - 10th June 2022
Stylusboy, Coventry singer-songwriter Steve Jones, will be sharing the songs he has written at an intimate live performance at The Welcome Centre in Coventry. You are invited to come and hear the songs and find out more about Good Neighbours.
This event is part of the Community Connectors programme.
30th May 2022
Have you ever desired a creative space of self-expression and self-exploration through your fertility journey? Or maybe a creative, safe space where you can practice self-care?
This project is part of the Community Connectors programme.
7th to 26th May 2022
Visit the floating village hall at the heart of the canal basin and find out more about our spring celebrations.
Supported by the Community Connectors programme.
29th April - 16th May 2022
A FREE family fun day with live music performances, free sports sessions, a rap workshop with MC Liburd, creative writing activities, bouncy castles, food and drink and postcard making.
This event is part of the Community Connectors programme.
30th April 2022
Image of Emilie Lauren Jones by John Whitmore
South West
Mark will launch a cooking project for men with mild mental health issues to build confidence and make friends whilst learning about global cultures and cuisines.
Mark won the Local Hero Award at the Creative Lives Awards for his work on Coventry Men's Shed. Find out more
North East – Foleshill
Boyanka supports the Bulgarian Community in Coventry across the city.
What are you most looking forward to during your time on the Community Connectors Programme?
I am looking forward to sharing Bulgarian Culture with the people of Coventry and beyond. I hope to develop relationships with other communities, connecting and building bridges to motivate the community. I am looking forward to laughing together! During this difficult time I want to share humour from my culture and learn British humour.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I am excited about being on the programme and I am looking to actively promote and raise awareness among other communities about the diversity of the Bulgarian Community, and how this is reflected in our lifestyle, language and cuisine. This year we have many new people in the community, and we would like to ensure that we share and treasure our Bulgarian heritage, music, folklore, history, literature and traditions.
North East – Henley Green
Mel volunteers at the Foleshill Social Supermarket and is a key member of the community-led allotment.
What you are most looking forward to during your time as a Community Connector?
I am looking forward to meeting new people, improving my social skills and being outdoors. I want to do something nice for my community and make a mark on the local area.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I am excited to see the end result and for people to drive past in a car or on the bus and see how vibrant it looks. I want to show myself that I can achieve something if I put my mind to it. I also want to support the community centre, make us more self-sufficient and grow and produce more food. I am excited to empower my community.
South West – Finham & Styvechale
Emilie is a poet and will be working with local people in the Styvechale/Wainbody area to share their stories.
What are you most looking forward to during your time on the Community Connectors Programme?
I am looking forward to working with my community to create a lasting piece of work that reflects the positive aspects of our area and the people who live and work here – it’s history, diversity and the green spaces it contains.
I hope to learn from the team and developing my creative practice. I am experienced at creating poetry and organising events; however, I have not previously worked with a specific community to make a creative piece.
Taking an active part in City of Culture, something which as a Coventrian, I can be proud of and will remember forever.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I hope this project will bring people in our community together, I am hoping that it will create new friendships, increase the sense of community and inspire people to explore their creativity.
I want people to be excited that we are a City of Culture and to know that they can be part of it because their voices and creativity are important.
I hope people will take pride in the finished piece as well as enjoying the creative process that takes us there.
South West – Earlsdon
Kieran has set up a project called Guardian Ballers Life Stories, a basketball and mental health project which has a focus on the mental and emotional well-being of children and young people aged between 11-18yrs.
What you are most looking forward to during your time as a Community Connector?
My excitement is two-fold. I am excited to work in collaboration with the other Community Connectors and the Producers to get to know their areas of expertise and the DNA of the communities they represent. Equally, I am excited to explore and capture information about Guardian Ballers participants within a creative piece that broadcasts the individuals and their extended communities. I believe we will be able to make Coventry proud be showcases a small collective of its residents.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I feel very honoured about being on the programme. As Founder and Director of Guardian Ballers, working in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Mind, we are launching the programme in January 2021. We will be reaching young people in Schools all across Coventry throughout the year. Thus, I feel as though also being a Community Connector, I will truly be able to ‘connect’ a diversity of cultures and people!
I hope to achieve a creative piece that captures ‘life stories’ of young people from a diversity of cultures in our City of Coventry.
South East – Stoke Aldermoor
Kevin has previously put on an event to celebrate the Italian Job being filmed in Stoke Aldermoor and wants to organise an even bigger event in the coming year.
What are you most looking forward to during your time on the Community Connectors Programme?
I want to represent Coventry and the area I’m from and put Stoke Aldermoor on the map as a tourist attraction.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I am excited to finally bring to fruition an event I have been planning for 3 years, this project means so much to me and I am looking forward to sharing it with the local people from Stoke Aldermoor and inviting not only local people from Coventry but sharing it with people from the rest of the UK and maybe further afield!
South East – City Centre
Theo supports refugee communities and supported Coventry Welcomes (Refugee Week activity), with a focus on communities in which English is not their first language.
What you are most looking forward to during your time as a Community Connector?
I am mostly looking forward to sharing knowledge, experience and expertise with like-minded people who share my passion for community development and/or the arts. I am also looking forward to delivering the cultural project that I want to organize as I know that this experience will be fulfilling and gratifying.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I am very excited to be on the programme and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better and familiarize myself with their work. Through this programme, I am hoping to develop my skills in production and community development and become better networked with other people who organise similar activities and their communities.
North West Coventry
Priya is a personal development coach with a great deal of experience in youth empowerment. As well as coaching and mentoring, Priya has organised youth conferences and comedy nights to engage and inspire young people across the city.
What you are most looking forward to during your time as a Community Connector?
I'm most looking forward to being part of a network of other community connectors and producers and being supported to build up my skills and knowledge to run my own project.
How you feel about being on the programme, whether you are excited and what you are hoping to achieve
I am very excited to be on the programme and I'm hoping to create a lasting impact with my project with the support of the producers and fellow community connectors.
North West – Holbrooks
Kelly is a local teacher and Lead Arts Ambassador for the Future Trust.
What are you most looking forward to during your time on the Community Connectors Programme?
I am looking forward to meeting and networking with new people in both my local and wider community. Putting Coventry in the spotlight and re-engaging people with arts.
How do you feel about being on the programme, are you excited and what are you hoping to achieve?
I am extremely excited and feel very privileged to be part of the programme. I am keen to learn new skills and give opportunities to others.
COMMUNITY CONNECTORS COHORT 2 PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT
STORIES FROM OUR STREETS: FINHAM AND STYVECHALE – EMILIE LAUREN JONES
SANCTUARY OF OUR CITY - THEO IOANNOU
STORIES FROM NEXT DOOR CV5-6 – KELLY WALSH
