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.

Reform the Norm

The pandemic brought to light inequalities that have existed in society for a long time – issues around benefit payments, isolation, food poverty, access to mental health support and other services, freedom of movement and much more.

This awareness, spurred on by community willingness to act, led four Coventry organisations (Grapevine, Central England Law Centre, Positive Youth Foundation and Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre) to create ‘Reform the Norm’ to look at how we don’t just return to the way things were, but think about how we ‘reform the norm’ and make things more equal.

Working together to amplify under-represented voices, this programme has different opportunities and events throughout the year, including ‘The Story of Us’.

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)

Mental Health Transformation Plan, co-produced with Rethink

Grapevine and Rethink Mental Illness are working together in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, local citizens and people with lived experience to develop a co-produced Mental Health Transformation Plan for Coventry and Warwickshire.

We will do this by engaging and facilitating input from community and grassroots organisations to ensure our strategy is designed and delivered in a way that listens to, draws from and mobilises as many people as possible who are or have been affected by mental illness.

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

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 Clinical Commissioning Group.

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.

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 the partnership. Contact Kyla at Grapevine kcraig@grapevinecovandwarks.org to join in.

Ignite

One of three national ‘system change’ programmes – helping Coventry help families earlier, in partnership with Central England Law Centre.

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.