Looking for ways to get involved with your local community but not sure where to start? Voluntary Action Coventry's Chat Central project aims to reduce isolation and build confidence by connecting people to community groups and volunteering roles throughout Coventry.
We’ve got some great activities to enjoy this month. Book your session on Get Involved Coventry or call for more details.
🚮 The Big Clean Up! Join Coventry BID and Nat West Bank to help clean up the city centre.
🎨 Intro to Chat Central and card making session – come and meet Chat Central staff and learn how you could benefit from the project whilst enjoying creating greeting cards.
🚮 Litter pick. We walk, we talk and we clean up Cov! A great way to join with the local community and make a positive impact on the environment. All equipment provided. 🙋♂ Visit to Holbrooks Community Care Association Volunteer Open Day. Find out how you could get involved and benefit from volunteering opportunities whilst building a stronger community. 🌷 🙌 The People’s Patch One Year Celebration. Learn more about this incredible project led by Groundwork which has transformed an used green space into a much loved community garden.
Chat Central is here to connect you to community groups and volunteering in Coventry.
• Friendly, supportive space to try new things and build confidence
• Join group volunteering sessions
• Connect with community groups
• Personalised activity programme of your interests
*For 18+, living in Coventry These sessions are FREE and open to anyone who lives in Coventry aged 18 or over. As we get to know people, we plan events and activities that they want to try out, meaning that no two months are ever the same at Chat Central.
Joining in is simple! Browse ALL our activities for April and beyond - head over to Get Involved Coventry:
.uk/o/Utopia271151-Chat-Central-Team
@LotteryGoodCauses
#TNLCommunityFund #TNL #TheNationalLottery #GetInvolvedCoventry
👏 Huge thanks to award winning artist Chary who reached out to Voluntary Action Coventry and generously gave his time to lead Chat Central participants through a soft pastels workshop. It was a wonderful session and incredible to experience how he guided participants in creating their own amazing artwork.
🎨 Chary was informative and supportive, creating an atmosphere where people felt relaxed and fully immersed, with participants expressing that they felt uplifted and more positive at the end.
😃 One participant said, “I felt anxious coming somewhere new and by the end I felt a lot less anxious. It was good to feel present in the moment.”
Chat Central encourages participants to try new things, build confidence and make connections with community groups and organisations throughout Coventry.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining Chat Central, then create an account on Get Involved Coventry and sign up for one of our sessions.
.uk/o/Utopia271151-Chat-Central-Team
If you have a skill or passion which you would like to share with Chat Central participants, then please contact [email protected]
Alternatively call the team on 07541 343491
#TNLCommunityFund #GetInvolvedCoventry #klickartstudio
🎉Happy International Volunteers Day to our incredible Chat Central volunteers! Today is a global celebration of the kindness, commitment and impact of volunteers everywhere. This day shines a light on the people who give their time to make communities stronger and more connected.
🙌Our Chat Central volunteers lead incredible sessions, help promote the project and offer a warm welcome to new members, keeping us topped up with tea! We couldn’t do it with out you! 💛Thank you!💛 Thank you! 💛Thank you!💛
#TNLCommunityFund #internationalvolunteersday #communityspirit #coventry
Chat Central is a great place to try new things, make new friends and get involved in Coventry. Last month we enjoyed a tennis taster session, wellness through singing and our regular pool meet up at Rileys. We had inspiring and interesting talks with local photographer Atmos , who shared his passion of abstract photography, and John Greatrex, who shared his knowledge about Joseph Paxton. We took advantage of the Heritage Open Days with visits to Holy Trinity and St John the Baptist Churches and enjoyed Dame Goodyvers Daye, joining the procession and being entertained by singing, dancing and sharing a community picnic. We had incredible numbers for our regular litter picks and supported at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s River Festival where we took part in walks, crafts and listened to poetry and incredible live music. Another fun filled month with Chat Central and there’s lots more to look forward to in October!
Whether you're curious to try something new, connect with others, or get involved in your community, give Chat Central a go, you can browse all Chat Central activities here:
.uk/o/Utopia271151-Chat-Central-Team
#voluntaryactioncoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #community #getinvolvedcoventry #historiccoventrytrust #trinityhouse #sherbournevalleyproject #godivacoventry #HeritageFestival #RiverFestCov
Chat Central has something for everyone and our highlights from June show just how much there is to get involved with in Coventry. We’ve canoed with Mercia Canoe Club - Coventry and enjoyed George Wagstaffe and Michala Gyetvai’s art exhibition at Coventry Cathedral. Our new Coventry History group got underway with a very special visit from Pru Porretta (aka Lady Godiva) and our Wellbeing Wednesday at the Anglican Chapel also started with a wonderful Tai Chi session. During Volunteers’ Week we visited St Francis Employability to find out the variety of volunteering roles they have available and the amazing work they do. We also returned to CROW Recycling to volunteer in the community garden which we helped to create last year. We met incredible volunteers at the Weaver’s House who told us all about the history of weaving in Coventry and let us to have a go at spinning thread. Fran Egan led a powerful motivational workshop giving us tools and techniques to support us manage negativity. We had time for a few games of pool and rounded off the month with a litter pick, enjoying time in the sunshine with each other, whilst making a positive impact to our environment. July’s schedule is now out, so why not take a look and plan your next (or first!) visit to Chat Central!
If you or someone you know would like to join Chat Central, to try new things, to meet new people and get involved, then please visit our website: .uk/chat-central/
You can find details of our events at Voluntary Action Coventry’s community engagement platform: .uk/
#voluntaryactioncoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #community #getinvolvedcoventry #visithistoriccoventry #historiccoventrytrust #mericacanoeclub #trinityhouse #crowrecycling #teamspingboard #weavershouse #coventrycathedral #godivasisters #stfrancisemployability
Huge thanks to our Chat Central volunteers who braved the heat to lend a helping hand at the beautiful The Coventry Peace Orchard, getting it ready for upcoming events. The team joined Heather S Davison to sand down and re-varnish benches, some of which have poignant quotes about peace written by children. The results look fantastic!
The Orchard, in Coundon Hall Park, the dream of D-Day veteran Dennis Davison, is a legacy to the apple orchards of Normandy where he and many others fought for peace in 1944 as part of the D-Day Campaign. They hold an annual peace picnic and will be marking 80 years since VE Day with a lantern lit peace walk from the Orchard to the Cathedral ruins.
Alongside this, Coventry City Council are holding a VE Day Street Party in Broadgate on Thursday 8th May. This free event will feature live entertainment, a big screen and plenty of nostalgic fun.
Chat Central are inviting participants to meet outside Holy Trinity Church at 7:30pm to join the celebrations in Broadgate. Why not come along?
If you or someone you know would like to join Chat Central, to try new things, to meet new people and get involved, then please visit our website:
.uk/chat-central/
You can find details of our events at Voluntary Action Coventry’s community engagement platform:
.uk/
#voluntaryactioncoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #community #getinvolvedcoventry #coventrypeaceorchard
The historic Anglican Chapel at Paxton’s Arboretum (London Road Cemetery), was the perfect venue for Chat Central’s creative wellbeing day. Participants created gorgeous spring wreaths and were able to enjoy a sound bath led by Sanctuary of Sound. In the afternoon Fran Egan delivered a ‘wellness through singing’ workshop which was fantastic fun and Arboreal Seeds concluded the day with a relaxing mindfulness session which made the most of the stunning surroundings and building.
Huge thanks to Jennie and Gianni from Historic Coventry Trust, Lynne from @sanctuary_of_sound23 , Jane from @arboreal_seeds and Fran Egan for making it such a wonderful and memorable occasion for everyone.
Some participants shared their thoughts on the day, “I loved the sound bath, it gave the feeling of peace and all the pain drifting away.” Another told us, “I really enjoyed the singing and smiling! So many smiles and learning I can sing!” The spring wreath making was very popular and the creations made were stunning! “I loved creating a wreath and arranging leaves and flowers. It was relaxing and mindful. All this in a lovely atmosphere!”
If you or someone you know would like to join Chat Central, to try new things, to meet new people and get involved, then please visit our website: .uk/chat-central/
You can also find details of our events at Voluntary Action Coventry’s community engagement platform: .uk/
#voluntaryactioncoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #community #getinvolvedcoventry #visithistoriccoventry #charterhousecoventry #coventry
Thanks to everyone who took part in the fantastic drama workshop led by Fran Egan, as part of the National Lottery Open Week. The confidence building session featured games, mime and role play which we all thoroughly enjoyed. One participant said, “It was something completely different for me. It was fun!” whilst another added, “Fran was amazing and made me realise that I want to get back into acting.”
We are grateful to The National Lottery, who fund Chat Central, allowing participants to join for 20 free sessions so that they can try new things and connect with people and opportunities throughout Coventry.
#ThanksToYou #NationalLotteryGoodCauses #voluntaryactioncoventry #community #getinvolvedcoventry
March is nearly here, and we’ve got a bumper month planned at Chat Central. What will you join us for in March?
💐Visit to the National Trust Supporters Group to watch flower arrangements being created based on paintings from National Trust properties
🌳Mindfulness Made Easy with Jane from Arboreal Seeds
🤞Drama workshop open to Chat Central participants and anyone with a National Lottery ticket as way of thanking those who play the Lottery and support the National Lottery Community Fund
🎵Songwriting Workshop hosted by Underground Lights (Chat Central spaces are limited so please book with us by 7th March)
🕍History talks at The Herbert and with Greyfriars Society
🎤The People’s Show Choir, join for 5 FREE taster sessions – no audition or experience needed
Remember, Chat Central is open to all adults (18+) living in Coventry. All events are free to Chat Central participants and completely beginner friendly.
See flyer for further details, dates and times or call us on 07541 343 491
Come and join us to try new things and make new friends.😄
#voluntaryactioncoventry #chatcentral #getinvolvedcoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #thankstoyou #TheHerbert #Coventry #arborealseeds #undergroundlights #thepeoplesshowchoir #community
Chat Central is a great place to meet new people and try new things. Over the past few weeks we’ve enjoyed nature crafts with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, yoga with Rossana, a juggling workshop at Central Library, creative writing at Holbrooks Library and a tour of Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the project, which aims to reduce loneliness and isolation by introducing participants to a wide range of activities and organisations, then email us at [email protected] or call us on 07545 343491
*Participants must be aged 18 or over and live in Coventry.
#getinvovledcoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #holbrookscommunitycare #yogawithrossana #sherbournevalleyproject #coventrylibraries
Last week, Chat Central visited the Charterhouse, Coventry for the National Trust volunteer recruitment event. It was wonderful to hear about the plans for this historic building and to find out about volunteering opportunities available in the house, beautiful gardens and surrounding parkland. Our fantastic volunteer guide gave us a tour of the former monastery, which houses 15th and 16th century wall paintings of national significance. Participants were able to talk with current Historic Coventry Trust
volunteers about volunteering in the house and garden which National Trust and Historic Coventry Trust plan to open in Spring 2025. Such a special place to visit and volunteer at. If you missed this event but are interested in volunteering at Charterhouse see National Trust's website for details of how to apply.
#getinvolvedcoventry #nationallotterycommunityfund #visithistoriccoventry
What a great start to our first week back at Chat Central! Much fun was had by all at the ‘Lantern Lit Wassail’ organised by Food Union and @flawedmandraketheatre The puppets and lanterns looked amazing, the band were incredible, and the crowd made lots of noise with bells and pans as we scared away the dark spirits and hung our wishes for the New Year on the apple tree. Thanks to everyone involved!
#wassail #cultivateconnectchange #puppets #community #getinvolvedcoventry
