Local elections are happening in Coventry on Thursday 7 May and every seat on the Council is up for election.

Anyone who has a disability can bring someone with them into the polling station to help them to vote. The person helping you must be aged 18 or over and will need to fill out a form.

A number of accessibility options are available at Polling Stations to help everyone have their say.

Change, Live Grow our Drug and Alcohol Service offer a “Loving an Addict” peer support group.

The group provides a space to feel heard and valued. We use peer support and find that speaking to like-minded people, who are going through similar circumstances provides a powerful shared experience.

To book your place please leave a voice message/text on 07909 464875 or email Poonam and someone will get back to you asap.

The group is free and takes place at 1a Lamb Street, Coventry CV1 4AE

Ona a Wednesday at 6pm to 8pm and a Saturday at 11:30am to 1:30pm

Carers Trust Heart of England support carers from all communities, backgrounds and walks of life.

Maybe you are from the second generation, and want to connect to likeminded carers? This drop-in is for you! Come along and get involved in fun activities and chat to helpful professionals. Light refreshments available.

They meet at Broad Street Hall, 124 Broad Street, Foleshill Coventry CV6 5BG every second Tuesday of the month.

The next session is taking place on Tuesday 12 May from 11am to 1pm.

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.

A friendly creative arts group for carrers where they can relax and share ideas. 

The session will take place at Broad Street Hall, 124 Broad Street, Foleshill Coventry CV6 5BG on the last Tuesday of the month.

They will meet on Tuesday 26 May from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

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.

This month, our sessions focused on friendships, stress management, and inclusivity. To mark the Easter period, all young carers who attended a group received an Easter egg, which was well received.

During our Focus and Flourish sessions, we began exploring next steps with young people, including discussions around GCSEs, college and sixth form options. We also introduced practical strategies to support stress management, with young carers making their own stress balls and taking part in light, engaging activities such as bubble breathing.

The following week, we celebrated Easter across our groups with a range of activities, including an Easter egg hunt and making chocolate nests. We also delivered a “friendship bingo” activity, which supported young carers to build connections and strengthen peer relationships.

At Templars Primary School in Coventry, we marked National Pet Day by watching The Secret Life of Pets, using the film as a springboard to explore themes such as jealousy, belonging and changing relationships. Across our other groups, young carers took part in activities including biscuit decorating for St George’s Day, as well as bingo and quizzes, creating opportunities for fun, creativity, and social interaction.

Finally, we were pleased to reintroduce our Young Adult Carers session, led by Shannon in her new role as Transition Lead. The session provided a relaxed space for young adult carers to connect, with pizza, games and plenty of positive engagement throughout.

Are you a carer looking after someone with a life-limiting illness?

Would you like to attend our 5 week 'Listening Ear' carers support group?

Our person led group is facilitated by trained nurses and volunteers and provides a safe space outside your circle of family and friends where you can speak honestly.

It is an opportunity to gain support from others in the same situation as you. The group is held at all 3 Myton Sites in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick on Fridays from 10am to 11:30am.

All support provided is free of charge and no referral is needed. We are here to help you!

To find your nearest venue and when the next course starts visit our website, email the team or give us a call on 01788 550085.

In collaboration with Marie Curie, The Myton Hospices support line provides general practical and clinical information, as well as emotional support for people living with or caring for someone with a life-limiting illness.

Support is also available for people experiencing bereavement following the death of a loved one with a life limiting illness.

The service is available to anyone with a life-limiting illness, their families or carers, you do not have to be known to Myton to access this free support, but it is also available to those who have accessed Myton Service, and their loved ones.

The Support Line is operated by a multi-disciplinary team of information and support officers, registered nurses, bereavement support specialists and trained volunteers.

Call 01926 351761 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (Bank Holiday 10am to 2pm) and Saturday 10am to 4pm.

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 Barbara's Church, 22 Rochester Road, Coventry, CV5 6AG. Car park at rear and 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.

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)

Please contact your local office before attending. Contact 024 7665 2602 or email for more information

Do you need support with an NHS complaint? Unsure of the process? Don’t know who to contact? Then the Independent Health Advocacy Service (IHCAS) is for you.... 

They can help you: 

• Understand what it is that has happened 

• Identify what you want to achieve by complaining 

• Discuss your options with you 

• Help you with the actual complaints process 

• In certain circumstances, they can submit a complaint on your behalf  

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:

Wednesday 10 June 2026, 10am - 12pm, online.

Course duration:

Two hour session, 10am to midday.