Make Your Voice Count in Coventry

The Voices of Care Council (VOC) is open to all looked after children and young people as well as care leavers.

It’s a great opportunity for you to influence important people in Coventry City Council, find out about your rights and help us know what your views and concerns are. We are looking for all ages to join our group.

• Get involved in lots of fun activities
• Meet new friends
• Have your say for LAC in Coventry 
• You could help us decide what we do next!

Email: voices@coventry.gov.uk 
Tel: 024 7683 1432

Disrespect Nobody

There’s a person attached to every body, respect both.

Healthy relationships are all about respecting each other. You should feel loved, safe and free to be yourself.

Relationships can be confusing and it can be difficult to understand what is and isn’t normal behaviour.

But disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour can come in many forms. It isn’t limited to just physical behaviour; it can also go way beyond that. For example, it’s not OK for someone to try and pressure you into sending a nude pic, or to expect the same things to happen that they’ve seen in a porn film. If someone makes you do something you don’t want to, makes you feel scared, intimidated or tries controlling you, it’s not acceptable and is never OK.

Read up on the different types of abuse, get advice and have a look at the organisations that can help.

Report online abuse

Have you seen something online that makes you feel uncomfortable?

Find this symbol online and click on it to report your concerns to the police.

Latest updates on jobs, training and apprenticeships.

We are currently supporting Amazon with recruitment for their new distribution centre based at Browns Line, opening in summer 2018. If you are looking for full time warehouse work please visit the Job Shop. Successful customers will be permanently employed on full time contracts, directly by Amazon.

City Council Parks: Information and recruitment event for Seasonal Parks Assistants working in War Memorial Park and Allesley Park. 17 April.

National Express: Information and recruitment session for candidates interested in becoming a bus driver, with initial assessment on the day. 18 April.

First Impressions Count: Workshop to help clients with how to approach employers, and make a lasting impression, particularly at jobs fairs such as the upcoming care event. 18 April.

Providing Support in a Home Environment: Introductory workshop to alternative roles in health & social care based in your own or others’ homes, including childminding, shared lives, fostering, and working as a personal assistant. 23 April.

CV Workshop: Advice on what a CV should contain and what employers are looking for, with guidance to create or update a CV during the session. Every Tuesday.

Interview Skills Workshop: Accredited interview skills training course for anyone hoping to better understand the process and practice their interview skills. Every Wednesday.

Sample of current vacancies

35932 Steel Warehouse Operative
35836 Café Kitchen Assistant
35823 Call Centre Operative
35729 Trainee Turbine Engine Mechanic

35120 Cafe Assistant
35309 Customer Service Apprentice
34747 Sales Cashiers
34450 Site Service Apprenticeship

A full list of current Job Shop Vacancies is available online: www.coventry.gov.uk/jobshopvacancies

***Clients will still need to visit the Job Shop if they wish to apply.

For further details please contact the Employer Hub on 02476 785 609 or employerhub@coventry.gov.uk.

Back to Top

University: Unite Foundation Scholarship

The Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme provides free accommodation for three years of undergraduate study at one of the universities in the Unite Foundation Network. Please find more information here.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the ALL the criteria below:

• You are a care leaver 
• Starting or studying your first undergraduate degree.
• Under 25yrs old
• Hold UK home fee status

Check out this list of the Unite Foundation’s 28 partner universities to see if they match with your university choices.

In the West Midlands, that is Aston University, (Birmingham) and De Montford University, (Leicester).

How to apply

To apply, simply download and complete this application form.

Applications need to be submitted through your chosen university NOT DIRECT to the SMF or the Unite Foundation and their deadline will be in late May 2018.

The window to submit your scholarship scheme application for 2018/19 is open.  Check your university approach and then start filling out the form and collecting your evidence now!

Applications must be submitted via your current or firm choice university in plenty of time to be checked and forwarded to the Unite Foundation before the June deadline.

For further information, please email info@unitefoundation.co.uk.

Sky Blues Accelerate

Work alongside Sky Blues in the Community coaches towards a Level1 Qualification in Sports Leadership (SL1)

 - Explore and access employment & training opportunities with Coventry and Warwickshire 
 - Develop your confidence and learn valuable employability skills in a fun, sociable & positive atmosphere 
 - Receive personalised support from our Training & Skills Officer & Accelerate Journey Guides

When: 25th April – 31st May 2018
3 days/week for 6 weeks
Venue: Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre, Winston Ave, CV2 1EA

For more information, contact Andrew Hopcroft on 024 7678 6349 or andrew.hopcroft@ccfc.co.uk

Confidence for Women: 6 Week Course

Foleshill Women's Training is an award winning women only organisation with 28 years experience of removing SHE (Social, Health & Economic) barriers facing women from across communities in Coventry and the surrounding areas.

We offer a place for all women to access Education, Training, Healthcare and Employment Opportunities, and be empowered & enabled in moving forward.

Improve you self-esteem in our 6 week course:

•  Develop your positive thinking
•  Deal with negativity
•  De-stress yourself
•  Identify pathways forward

Starting Tuesday 17 April, 09:30 - 11:30am.
70-72 Elmsdale Ave, Coventry CV6 6ES
FREE crèche will be provided.

To book your place or for further information, Contact Tirth Hyare or Faye Pettitt on: 024 7663 7693

Email tirth.hyare@fwt.org.uk or faye.pettitt@fwt.org.uk  

Back to Top

The Coventry Family Orchestra and Chorus

Coventry Virtual School have reserved 5 pairs of tickets for The Coventry Family Orchestra and Chorus. This is an ensemble for all ages, instruments or ability, as well as singers.

It's a chance to make music together, joining members of the BBC Concert Orchestra in a series of fun, friendly workshops. You don't need to be able to read music to take part.

Participants will have the opportunity to work with members of the BBC Concert Orchestra to create a brand new piece of music, ready to perform to a wide audience.

It's FREE to take part and open to anyone aged seven and above. All participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a carer/parent or guardian aged 18 or above. See further details.

Rehearsals
- Saturday 19 May, 11.30am – 4.30pm at Stoke Park School, Dane Road, Coventry CV2 4JW
- Saturday 26 May, 11.30am – 3.30pm at Stoke Park School.

Performance (to be filmed)
- Saturday 26 May, 4.00pm at Stoke Park School. (Please ensure that the correct levels of permission from social care have been secured).

Anyone involved in the rehearsals and performance will be offered a ticket to the BBC Music Biggest Weekend event. 

To secure your place for two participants please email: virtualschool@coventry.gov.uk by Friday 20 April 2018.

Independence Workshop 

Tuesday evening 24 April 2018, 6pm until 8.30pm at Old Southfields, South Street.

We look at budgeting, sensible food shopping, what to do if something goes wrong and at the end of the session… pizza!

Please let Jo Imms or Caroline Bevan know if you will be attending. We look forward to seeing you there!

30 hours' free childcare

Working parents of young children could be entitled to up to 30 hours of free childcare

Working parents of three and four year-olds could reduce their childcare costs with up to 30 hours of free childcare, thanks to a government scheme.

​Every three and four year-old is entitled to up to 15 hours of free early education over 38 weeks the term after their third birthday, but working parents could be entitled to an additional 15 hours as well.

Read more...

Building Blocks

Parents in receipt of benefits or those who are referred directly to us will be able to hire baby equipment and toys.

Running term time Wednesday afternoons 12 – 2pm from Coventry City Mission in Deedmore Road. A FREE Stay and Play session will also be available.

We are pleased to be able to distribute Free Baby Boxes* (from The Baby Box Co) to any new and expectant parents at the same time!

Football at AT7

Football Training at the AT7, Coventry. Every Monday 5-6pm.

All abilities welcome, open to male and females from 16yrs +

Sports coaches and talent scouts visit regularly and you will have the chance to join the Through Care league side to play in local competitions.

Remember: No jeans! Wear sports gear with trainers or moulded boots.

Any questions, contact Joe Campbell or Joshua Burnell at Through Care.

Food for Thought

Get your Bake On! with a FREE six week healthy cooking course. Includes a free healthy taster.

All welcome from 18-25 yrs old.

All sessions will be at Old Southfields School, from Tuesday 10 April to 15 May, 2-4pm.

We aim to improve your independence, cooking skills and confidence.

Demand is high - if you want a place contact Cheryl McDonnell before next week!

The Real Junk Food Project - Coventry

We aim to highlight the issues of food waste in our community. Our Volunteers collect unsold surplus food from local businesses and turn it into healthy snacks and meals. 

We are open from 12:00pm to 2:30pm on Mondays and Fridays for you to come along and enjoy great food, freshly made that morning by our volunteers, at Foleshill Baptist Church.

If you have any questions or would like to join our volunteer team, please contact us at hello@therealjunkfoodprojectcoventry.org

Back to Top

Through Care Office/Duty: 024 7678 7808
Emergency Duty Team (Out of hours): 024 7683 2222
Council Tax: 02476 831111
Customer Services: 024 7683 4333
customer.services@coventry.gov.uk
3 Upper Precinct, Coventry, CV1 1FS

Housing Benefits: 024 7683 1800
benefits@coventry.gov.uk
http://www.coventry.gov.uk/myaccount

Whitefriars: 0300 906533
9 Little Park St, Coventry, CV1 2UR

Homefinder: 02476 834024
Discretionary Housing Payments: 02476 832727
Homelessness: 02476 834025

NHS England: 111

Crisis Team (Mental Health): 02476 967900

Integrated Sexual Health Service: 03000 200027
2 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, CV1 4FS

Compass: 0800 121 4043
coventry@compass-uk.org
12 Warwick Row, Coventry CV1 1ED

Police General Enquiries: 101

Citizens Advice Bureau: 024 7622 3284
Kirby House, 15 Little Park St, Coventry, CV1 2JZ

Law Centre: 024 7622 3053
Oakwood House, St Patricks Road Entrance, Coventry, CV1 2HL

Samaritans: 116 123 (Free)
Childline: 0800 1111