With systems - Grapevine

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We help people embrace their power and agency. Because when they do problems get solved, lives become better and futures become more shapeable. But we don’t stop there.

We want to get at the root causes of the most difficult problems – not just treat the symptoms. So we work intensively with systems and services like the NHS and local authorities to understand issues together, shift power and solve the real problem – for good.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more on shifting power.

Healthy Communities Together

An ambitious programme to tackle deep-rooted health inequalities in Coventry in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire Primary Care Trust, Coventry City Council and Coventry and Warwickshire Health and Care Partnership.

One of five national partnerships, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund with learning support from The King’s Fund, the programme aims to improve links between health and care services and the communities they serve – and ultimately, their health and wellbeing.

A group of women with children put a large foam mat jigsaw together on grass — “Deeper relationships aren’t just nice to have. They’re the making of all that our governments and communities want to see change. Grapevine are the relationship experts.” (Matthew McStravick, Deepr Design)

Experts by Experience Co-Production Service

Experts by Experience is an opportunity for autistic people or people with a learning disability (and their parent or carer, where applicable) to influence decision-making and have a say on new services and strategies that have or will have an impact on disabled people.

They might be involved in designing, reviewing and evaluating different services, as well as supporting recruitment of the right people to work for the local authority or in the NHS.

This project is commissioned by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board and contactable at ebe@grapevinecovandwarks.org.

Coventry Youth Activists

A campaign group changing young people’s lives in Coventry. CYA members decide on the issues that matter to them and set about making things better for themselves and others.

Lily performs a speaking song — “I’m surrounded by people free of judgement and full of kindness… to reassure me… and encourage me to share my ideas and show me they have worth and value and are genuinely heard.” (Joey, member of CYA)

Get behind CYA

Follow and support CYA’s campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Coventry Grows

Through Coventry’s Strategic Energy Partnership, E.ON has provided funding to Coventry City Council to create community growing spaces in the city.

The project is in partnership with E.ON, Grapevine, Garden Organic and Citizen and will create up to three new community growing spaces within some of the most green deprived parts of Coventry – including Stoke Heath and Hillfields.

Our previous community organising work with Coventry Urban Eden and Roots In Nature – both community-led initiatives supported by our Connecting for Good movement against isolation and marginalisation – has led to our involvement in Coventry Grows, helping communities take ownership of “unloved” pieces of land towards a greener future and taking into account how climate change has a greater effect on more deprived populations.

Find out more here.

Neighbours tend to a community garden — Credit: Neonbrand on Unsplash

Place Based Social Action in Stoke Aldermoor

One of twenty national partnerships funded by DCMS and The National Lottery Community Fund. It’s about people-led solutions that help young people and families thrive in a hard-hit Coventry community. It’s about changing the way public services and communities work together.

Women gather to plan community action — “One person can make minimal changes on their own, but a group of people can add more weight to the actions needed – to give those actions more power.” (Kath, Stoke Aldermoor Social Action Partnership member) Photo by Stuart Stabler.

Live locally?

Anyone living or working in Stoke Aldermoor can bring their passions and ideas to improving the neighbourhood. Contact Rose at Grapevine rgicovi@grapevinecovandwarks.org or by sending a text or WhatsApp message to 07478 096019 to join in.

Walks and Talks

Walks and Talks are a story-telling technique that involves having a conversation while walking somewhere. But in our case we share stories, watch performances, listen to ideas, feel inspired and spark change. It’s a chance to bring services, systems and communities together to get at the root of a problem.

#socialactionhubcovandwarks launched at a Walk and Talk as we are a recognised hub of best practice nationally for Community Organisers.

Walk and Talk in action — “An extraordinary example of a community taking responsibility for its own support networks and mutual help is right here in Coventry.” (Gill Phillips)

Ideas Factories and Collaboration Stations

Ideas Factories and Collaboration Stations are two activities through which we co-create innovative actions and solutions, building the capacity for change from all sectors and communities. Contact us to find out more.