Projects

Canley Community Centre

Completed: 2023
Location: Coventry
Region: West Midlands
Other local partners: Dulux, Sport England, Think Active

About the project

Refreshing Canley Community Centre, a rundown centre in a highly deprived part of Coventry tackling the drug trade and knife crime, was the first of six projects working in partnership with Think Active – working together to help more local people become more active across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire.

The project

Over 2 weeks, we painted & decorated the whole centre to increase appeal/use of the centre for external groups to use for physical activity, private and community events.

“As a charitable organisation ourselves, the centre hasn’t been painted in 10 years due to slim resourcing and funds. In order to be able to best serve our community, through our food bank, local youth groups tackling knife crime and soon, local sports activities like yoga, dodgeball and fitness classes, we need to be looking our best to attract more people to use the centre and our services, whilst feeling comfortable to be in a bright, welcoming space, when they’re here. This full redecoration of the centre will do just that.”Anne-Marie Corbett, Centre Manager, Canley Community Centre

See our full Think Active partnership here

The young people: 10 local young volunteers, from Coventry College and Hereward College

The impact:

  • Targeted local impact into an area and community space that need help the most

  • More usage and financial stability through private hire reported through greater interest from groups including a dance school, social gatherings, community groups and increased youth activity

  • Increased engagement from young people, elderly people and people from low socio-economic backgrounds

  • Four partner volunteers involved from the technical team at our Trade Partners, Dulux

Accreditations gained: 7 Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations in Painting & Decorating and Health & Safety

The Community Centre is now seeing more people using the centre for activities because we have had greater interest in private groups using the space. These include use by a dance school and by individuals for social gatherings, community groups. Youth activity at the centre is also increasing since the work has been undertaken. Anne-Marie Corbett, Centre Manager, Canley Community Centre
It’s great to partner with VIY in supporting young people across Coventry and Warwickshire to attain City and Guilds qualifications, whilst giving local community spaces much needed TLC. Be it a face lift through brightening a room with a new coat of paint, or upgrading facilities to make them more appealing and welcoming to the local community, we’re excited to see the impact of this on the usage of the facilities, the community and how we can all come to volunteer and work together to enhance community hubs. Lijana Kaziow, Partnership Manager, Think Active