This newsletter contains the latest news and messages from Coventry City Council and information about local community groups and partners who are offering local support.

Coventry Carers' bulletin

In this issue:

• Welcome to December's bulletin
• Christmas and New Year Adult Social Care arrangements
• Carers' Trust Heart of England Christmas opening times
• Coventry Dementia Hub Partnership Hub Christmas opening times
• Alzheimer's society dementia support line Christmas opening times
• Christmas and New Year Library opening times
• Coventry Vision Hub Christmas opening times
• Good Neighbours Coventry over Christmas
• Events for those who may be alone or struggling at Christmas 2025
• Warm Spaces this winter
• Coventry Open Christmas - support and activities available
• Carers Trust- Working Carers Support Group
• Carers Trust Working Carers Zoom
• Carers Trust Heart of England – Activities – January 2026
• Carers Trust Heart of England – Drop ins – January 2026
• Discover more books at your local library
• Alzheimer's Society carer information session
• Alzheimer's Society peer support
• Carers Trust Working Carers Survey Results
• Save the date: Carers Trust spring expo March 2026
• Coping with Caring Course
• Sign up or contact us

Welcome to December's bulletin

We can not believe that we are so close to welcoming in 2026. The festive season can bring so much joy, to so many as they celebrate with family and friends, however Christmas can also magnify sadness, loss and isolation for some.

That is why we have included lots of information about organisations who are offering Christmas events and Christmas dinner over the coming days. Please  do reach out, they would love to see you and offer support, even if it is just for a cuppa and a chat! 

We have also included lots of information about Christmas opening times for a range of organisations across the city such as, Adult Social Care, Carers Trust Heart of England, the Dementia Hub and Alzheimer's Society. There are also details about local libraries and Warm Spaces that you are welcome to visit. 

We would like to take a minute to just say a warm-hearted thank you for all the love and support that you give to your loved ones and those you care for. You are all fantastic!

Last but not least, we wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Take care and we will see you in 2026. 

Christmas and New Year Adult Social Care arrangements

Please see key contact information and numbers over the Christmas period for Coventry Adult Social Care:

• it will be business as usual until 5pm Wednesday 24 December 2025
• from 5pm on Wednesday 24 December until 9am on 29 December 2025 support will be provided by the Council's Emergency Duty Team (EDT)
• from 5pm Wednesday 31 December to 9am Friday 2 January 2026 support will be provided by EDT
• the Mental Health Crisis Team will be open throughout

Coventry City Council's Emergency Duty Team (EDT) will be available for out of hours response throughout the Christmas and New Year period.  

From Friday 2 January 2026 all teams will return to the standard 7-day working week.

Relevant contact information for the services during the closure is as follows:

• Community Social Work: (024) 7683 3003
• Hospital Social Work: (024) 7696 5600
• EDT: (024) 7683 2222
• Crisis Team: Public line - 0300 200 0011

Carers' Trust Heart of England Christmas opening times

• Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 December: normal operating hours
• Christmas Eve: 9am to 3pm (Day Break service running as normal)
• Christmas Day: closed (no Day Break service)  
• Boxing Day: closed
• Monday 29 December: normal operating hours
• Tuesday 30 December: normal operating hours (no Day Break service)
• New Years Eve: 9am to 3pm (no Day Break service)  
• New Years Day: closed 

We return to our usual operating hours on Friday 2 January 2026.

Coventry Dementia Hub Partnership Hub Christmas opening times

For your information, The Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub will be closed from Christmas Eve until Friday 2 January 2026.

Alzheimer's society dementia support line Christmas opening times

Alzheimer's Society Dementia support line: 0333 150 3456 Christmas Eve: 10am to 4pm Christmas Day: closed Boxing Day: 10am to 4pm New Year's Eve: 9am to 5pm New Year's Day: closed

Christmas and New Year Library opening times

Tuesday 23 December 2025

All libraries open as usual.

Wednesday 24 December 2025

Central Library open 9am to 5pm.

Holbrooks Library open 8:30am to 3:45pm but all other libraries closed

Thursday 25 December to Thursday 1 January 2026

All Libraries closed.

Friday 2 January 2026

Hillfields Library closed, but all other libraries open as usual.

Christmas opening hours of Community Run Libraries

Please refer to their websites:

• Cheylesmore
• Earlsdon
• Finham

During the closure period you will still be able to access our full range of online resources, such as e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, online newspapers and automated item renewals.

Coventry Vision Hub Christmas opening times

For your information, The Coventry Vision Hub will be closed from Friday 19 December until Monday 5 January 2026.

Good Neighbours Coventry over Christmas

We'll be closed between Monday 22 December & Sunday 4 January for new referrals for our at-home befriending, or signposting to 680 different Coventry social groups for over 50s. You can leave a message by emailing us or by calling us on: 07563 902 904. Our groups for men age 50+: St Martin's Finham group (Fridays 1pm to 2.30pm) finishes on Friday 19 December - back on Friday 9 January ICC Keresley group (Tuesdays 2pm to 3.30pm) finishes on Tuesday 16 December - back on Tuesday 6 January St Paul's Foleshill group (Thursdays 4.30pm to 6pm) finished on Thursday 11 December - back on Thursday 8 January Our groups for people living with dementia & their carers - Memory Lane: Woodside Avenue Methodist - Finham group (fortnightly Tuesdays 10.30am to 12pm) starts back on Tuesday 6 January Lawrence Saunders Road Baptist - Radford group (Fridays 10.30am to 12pm)  finished on Friday 19 December - back on Friday 9 January All groups will welcome new members. Meals & services are available before & during Christmas for anyone who's struggling. You might just want some friendly faces to chat to; you might be bereaved; you might have money issues. Support is available for you.

Events for those who may be alone or struggling at Christmas 2025

Sunday 21 December at 3pm - All Saints Allesley

• Blue Christmas. A service for anyone for whom Christmas is hard - grief, debt, health challenges or anything else. Have space to reflect, be still, and find hope

Sunday 21 December at 4pm - St Andrew’s Eastern Green

• Blue Christmas. A service for all for whom Christmas is hard, for any reason

Sunday 21 December at 4pm - St Paul’s Foleshill

• A Quiet Christmas. A service for anyone not feeling very festive.

Sunday 21 December at 7.30pm - St Mark’s, Coventry city centre

• Longest Night. A contemplative service on the darkest day of the year, for those who find Christmas a difficult time of year for all reasons.

Wednesday 24 December, 11am, until Monday 29 December, 10am - Queens Road Baptist Church, Coventry city centre

• Coventry Open Christmas. Friendship, chat, meals, games & a warm space available 24 hours a day. No booking needed.
• Christmas Day lunch will be served between 12pm to 3pm on Thursday 25 December.

Thursday 25 December at 12.30pm - St Peter’s 

• Christmas Day Dinner. To register call 024 7663 2877 or drop them an email. 

Thursday 25 December at 2pm - All Souls 

• Christmas Day Dinner. Open to anyone who’d like some company and a special dinner. Transport can be provided. Dinner served at 3pm; arrive from about 2pm. Book via Father Paul or call 02476 674161.

Thursday 25 December from 11am to 3pm - The Yard 

• open for a warm, welcoming, and safe space. Free Mince Pies, Tea, and Coffee for everyone! Come for a quiet moment, or to spend some time with friendly faces. All welcome.

Thursday 25 December from 12pm to 2pm - Sky Blue Tavern

• giving out free Christmas dinner (a curry takeaway) to those in need of one. One meal per person, just turn up.

Thursday 25 December at 1pm - St Oswald’s 

• Christmas Day Dinner - this is £20pp, but please contact them if you can’t afford it. More information & booking can be found on their Facebook page. 

Warm Spaces this winter

This winter there’s lots of places all over Coventry that are free to call in to throughout the day where you can find a warm welcome as well as access information, take part in activities, or connect with other support. Please do pop by as the venues range from Libraries, The Job Shop, Community Centres, Family Hubs and The Belgrade Theatre. They look forward to welcoming you.

Coventry Open Christmas - support and activities available

Do you need a hot meal or safe place to go at Christmas?

We will once again be open 24 hours a day from 2pm on Wednesday 24 December through to 29 December this year, closing at 10am.

We will be offering the following services to everybody:

• emergency overnight sleeping for the homeless or anyone in need
• free hot meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner times
• emergency food parcels
• a warm, non-judgemental place for anyone who needs a safe place to go
• entertainment each night, including Bingo during the day, prizes and much more

Venue: Queens Road Baptist Church, Coventry CV1 3EG

Please visit the Coventry Open Christmas website for more details. 

Free breakfast with Santa, Tuesday 23 December at 10am

Everyone welcome. Not only will children have the joy of meeting Santa Claus himself, but they will also receive a free toy and a selection box to make their holiday season even brighter.

Please visit the Coventry Open Christmas website for more details or visit our Facebook page.

Carers Trust- Working Carers Support Group

Balancing work and caring responsibilities can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone.

Our in-person group for working carers offers a safe space to share experiences, get peer support and access advice from the Carers Trust staff. Some sessions also feature guest speakers covering a range of topics, from wellbeing to benefits and finances. 

Join us on the First Thursday of the month from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Central Library, Coventry CV1 1FY

The next group will take place on Thursday 8 January 2026.

For more information please email the team, or give them a call on 02476 632972 option 1. You can also find further information on their website.

Carers Trust Working Carers Zoom

Take a break and join our relaxed online lunchtime session for working carers. Bring your lunch and connect with others for support and practical advice.

This session will include a talk from Carers Trust Financial Wellbeing Advisor, who will introduce the Carer Money Matters project and share information on managing rising cost, fuel poverty awareness and the financial support available to carers.

Please join us on Wednesday 28 January 2026 from 12:30pm -1:30pm on Zoom.

To join this group please email the team.

Carers Trust Heart of England – Activities – January 2026

To attend a session, it is important that you are registered with Carers Trust Heart of England. Most of our groups are based in Coventry City Centre and the location will be confirmed when booking.

For more information please email the team, or give them a call on 02476 632972 option 1. You can also find further information on their website.

Carers Trust Heart of England – Drop ins – January 2026

For more information please email the team, or give them a call on 02476 632972 option 1. You can also find further information on their website.

Discover more books at your local library

Sink into a good book with our staff winter recommendations, discover  a range of books they have recommended.

Alzheimer's Society carer information session

Are you a carer supporting someone with a diagnosis of dementia or concerned about someone’s memory? The key benefits of the information sessions are: enabling carers to have increased knowledge of dementia providing carers with practical information that they can use in coping with living with dementia day-to-day help carers to feel better informed and less isolated empowering carers to access support services and financial benefits and entitlements enabling carers to plan with and for the person they care for, now and in the future We will be delivering the Carer Information Sessions at the St Barbaras Church, 22 Rochester Road, Coventry CV5 6AG (Car park at rear). Refreshments included. Please contact your local office for more information and/or to book a place call 024 7665 2602 or send them an email.  These information sessions are for carers.

Alzheimer's Society peer support

Do you care for someone with dementia? Our peer support group offers a safe place to talk about how dementia affects your life. You will also receive helpful information to take away with you. All sessions take place at: St. Barbara's Church Hall, 22 Rochester Road, Coventry CV5 6AG (car park at the rear) Date Time Thursday 5 February 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 5 March 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 2 April 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 7 May 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 4 June 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 2 July 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 6 August 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 3 September 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 1 October 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 5 November 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Thursday 3 December 2026 11:45am to 12:45pm Please contact your local office before attending. Contact 024 7665 2602 or email for more information.

Carers Trust Working Carers Survey Results

Thank you for your valuable feedback Exciting changes are coming for our Working Carers’ Support Group! First of all, we would like to thank everyone who took part in our recent Working Carers survey. With over 40 responses, your feedback has provided us with valuable insights into how we can improve our monthly sessions and better meet your needs. Your responses have highlighted a number of key themes that will help shape the future of the group and we’re excited to share some of the changes we’ll be implementing based on your suggestions. What we’ve learned Guest speakers and broader topics: Many of you expressed an interest in hearing from guest speakers from outside organisations, alongside the peer support from fellow carers and advice from Carers Trust Heart of England staff. Some of the topics you’re keen to learn more about include: Carers’ rights at work and carer passports Wellbeing support for carers Time management and self-care strategies Benefits, financial advice, and fuel poverty awareness Understanding the social care system and accessing respite care Managing assets and planning for the future Support for specific conditions such as dementia, autism, and addiction We’re excited to announce that we’ll be incorporating these topics into future sessions, bringing in expert speakers to share knowledge and practical advice on these important issues. A Balance of Face-to-Face and Online Meetings We know that many carers face challenges when it comes to attending in-person meetings, particularly after a long workday. Some of you suggested the option of a lunchtime session, and we’re happy to say that starting in November, we will be offering both a monthly face-to-face evening session and a lunchtime Zoom session. Written Summaries of Sessions Several carers mentioned that it would be helpful to receive a brief written summary of the topics covered during each meeting, as well as any useful information or signposting. This is a great idea, and we’ll make sure to send out these summaries after each session, so those who are unable to attend don’t miss out on the support and resources shared. What’s next? We’re excited to announce that from November onwards, we will be offering 2 types of support group sessions: Monthly Face-to-Face Evening Session – on the first Thursday of the month, next meeting on Thursday 8 January, 5:30pm to 6:30pm at the Central Library in Coventry Monthly Lunchtime Zoom Session – on the last Wednesday of the month, next meeting on Wednesday 28 January, 12:30 - 13:30 on Zoom, 12:30pm to 1:30pm Our new schedule will alternate between peer support sessions and guest speaker and/or topic sessions, based on what you told us. Keeping you informed If you’d like to receive notifications about upcoming sessions — including details of the focus or topic for each group — please get in touch. You can email us or call 024 76 632 972 (Option 1) to be added to our mailing list. We’ll also use this list to share brief summaries after each session, along with any useful links or signposting information, so you can stay informed even if you aren’t able to attend. Thank you again for your participation. We’re excited about the positive changes ahead and look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming sessions. Your feedback has helped us create a more supportive, inclusive, and accessible environment for all working carers.

Save the date: Carers Trust spring expo March 2026

Join us at the Carers Trust Spring Expo – a welcoming event celebrating and supporting carers. Discover information and advice from local organisations, explore interactive stalls and take part in fun activities! More details coming soon – we hope to see you there! The event is taking place on: Tuesday 3 March 2026 from 2pm to 6pm at Coventry Cathedral.

Coping with Caring Course

The Coping with Caring course aims to raise awareness and understanding of how the caring role can impact on many aspects of your life. The course looks at ways you can look after yourself as well as continuing to support and promote the independence of the person you care for. Learning outcomes: to increase awareness of the roles and responsibilities of being a Carer in the UK and to look at how these roles affect us to consider and develop some techniques for coping and helping ourselves as well as those we care for to look at your rights as a Carer and places to seek additional support   Aimed at: anyone who is currently caring for a friend or family member and is experiencing increased stress. Course tutors: staff from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Heart of England Carers Trust. When: Thursday 5 March 2026 from 1pm to 3pm online. Course duration: 2 hour session.

Are you carer aware?

Would you like to know more about adult carers and young carers?

If so we have two courses that are available to help increase your knowledge. Both courses are free and you can access them in your own time. Please take a look and we hope you find them helpful:

• Adult Carer Training
• Young Carer Training 

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