“Towards the end of November, I was pleased to speak as part of Warwickshire’s Cost of Living Summit panel. I’d been asked where I thought we should all focus our efforts in order to help communities and citizens,” writes Grapevine CEO Clare Wightman. “My take is this. “Whatever your focus is – food, warmth or […]
As we close in on the final couple of weeks celebrating our 30th anniversary during 2025, we’re revisiting three themes from our story about three decades of deep social change: Strengthening democracy Building solidarity across divides Collaborating to change public service systems. In focus this week is strengthening democracy and our long-held belief that this […]
This month we’re delighted to feature in UCL Policy Lab’s summer magazine talking about how community organising in Coventry is “rewriting the city’s history”. Writer Maddy Breen visited Grapevine’s Spon End offices earlier this year to interview some of the team—including our CEO Clare Wightman, deputy CEO Mel Smith and community organisers Gemma and Edwin. […]
Grapevine’s work illustrates how people and communities can meet one another’s needs, claim power and take action on what matters to them—transforming services and systems along the way. During 2025, we’re marking three decades by sharing our story of how we’ve gone from a small single-issue charity to an organisation at the centre of work […]
Grapevine has received confirmation from Coventry City Council that the proposed 45 per cent budget cut to our Help and Connect service for people with learning disabilities in the city will now not go ahead. News of the budget cut proposal came at the end of 2024 as the council began its public consultation process […]
Coventry City Council has come up with a list of tough savings proposals to consider ahead of setting its budget in February 2025. Among those proposals, the council wants to cut money for voluntary sector services that help people with a learning disability who do not qualify for council support. Austerity has meant that the […]
Grapevine’s work is about strengthening people, sparking community around them and then shifting power in their lives and the systems that serve them. We do that for two reasons. A lot of what an individual life needs to make a long lasting move forward – things like love, hope, optimism, intimacy – can really only […]
At Grapevine, we believe that people should be in the lead of improving their lives and their communities. Over three decades we’ve been developing this approach, driven by good relationships, to empower and equip individuals, communities and wider systems to thrive. We know the power this can hold in Coventry and Warwickshire and we want […]
Our CEO Clare Wightman receives an Honorary Doctorate today (18 July) from Coventry University in recognition of “her exceptional contribution to enhancing the lives and well-being of marginalised individuals and communities in Coventry and Warwickshire.” As CEO since 2000, Clare has been responsible for shaping our charity strategically and collaboratively. Skilfully bringing us forward from […]