Partners and funders

The partners and funders that help make our essential work possible. 

Connect2

Connect2 is for people aged 16+ who are unemployed or inactive who live in Coventry.

Connect2 can help you address labour market barriers such as disabilities and mental health issues. The project understands the unique and complex barriers which deters people from engaging in employment focused programmes.

Connect2 can support you in a range of ways, including:

  • getting into education, training or employment
  • one to one guidance
  • employability coaching
  • skills development
  • raising aspirations, resilience and independence
  • skills and confidence building

If you would like further information regarding the Connect 2 project and/or would like our support with employment, please contact Vincentia Mensah: vincentiam@covrefugee.org

Coventry City Council

Coventry City Council provides Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre with essential funding to run our core services. These consist primarily of our Advice Team, Supported Housing Team, Complex Needs Team and Employment Team.

Accelerate Project

Accelerate is a Building Better Opportunities project funded by National Lottery Community Fund and European Social Fund

Managed by Coventry and Warwickshire Co-operative Development Agency in Coventry, the free employment support service offers training and work experience to help clients secure work.

The project specialises in supporting people who would like to work but for various reasons find it hard to get a job and enjoy all the benefits that employment brings. 

This project has finished now

Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation that provides development programmes and humanitarian relief around the globe, regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or belief.
 
It has provided funding to deliver an employability project at Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, which will see 16 people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) communities take part in a 16 week work experience placements. 
 
Participants will have the choice of working in two of the following organisations: West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service and Coventry City Council. 
 
They will have access to employability skills training, a mentoring scheme and their own job role working across multiple services.

Integrate Coventry (funded by Asylum Migration and Integration Fund)

The aim of the project is to help integrate refugees and other third country nationals to rebuild their lives in safety, becoming fully self-sufficient and establish themselves within the wider community in Coventry.

This will be achieved by providing them with English language education, information, advice and guidance; individualised, one-to-one help to remove barriers to progression e.g. housing and benefits advice; self-development interventions; fun activities which help clients to make new friends with people outside of their communities; therapy; opportunities to visit new places and find out more about their new home; access to employment and volunteering; arts/cultural projects/activities and arts and cultural engagement opportunities which have the potential to deepen their relationship to and understanding of their city.

The project has two pathways for clients. Clients may change pathways if their support needs change. Pathway 1 will see the client allocated a caseworker who will support the client over a period of time addressing issues and concerns they experience, educating along the way to ensure they are able to deal with these issues themselves going forward. We will cover all areas of concern, which can vary from benefit maximisation, employment, counselling and social inclusion. We will liaise with other agencies where needed to get the best outcomes for our clients. Specialist provisions are provided for women and unaccompanied minors. Clients will also be guided through the enrichment activities on offer by their caseworker. 

Pathway 2 of the project is for clients who do not require one to one support and they will be able to sign up to the different activities that we have on offer in our enrichment programme. This includes ESOL classes, friendship and hobby groups, volunteering placements and an arts and culture programme.

This project is open to:

  •  Third Country Nationals (non EU/EEA nationals) who have the right to remain in the UK in a long-term stay capacity including spouses and dependants
  •  Those who have been granted refugee/humanitarian protection status in the UK
  •  Those granted Discretionary Leave for 30 months or more in one amount
  • Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)

        Our Partners 

This project is part funded by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.

Making management of migration flows more efficient across the European Union. 

Urban Innovative Actions

Urban Innovative Actions is funding The MiFriendly Cities project. Bringing together 11 partners in Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton will deliver a three-year initiative that looks to develop innovative, community-led and sustainable approaches to enhancing the contribution of refugees and migrants across the region.
 
The foundations of the project will focus on jobs, skills, citizenship, social enterprise start-ups, and long-term community investment. 
 
By working in these areas, the project will empower communities in these areas to come together and drive change at both city and regional levels.
 
In a MiFriendly City, everyone is encouraged to become an active citizen, training and employment opportunities are created, and the contribution of refugees and migrants is supported, enhanced and recognised.

Controlling Migration Fund

The Controlling Migration Fund is funding the Building Bridges project. This is a two-year initiative which is being delivered with partner organisations across Coventry including Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre, Coventry City Council, Positive Youth Foundation, St Francis of Assisi Church, Foleshill Women’s Training and West Midlands Police.
 
The project aims to empower refugees and migrants, and to support the integration of newly arrived communities in Coventry.
 
Some of the areas the project will focus on includes developing and improving the skills of migrant communities, aiding youth integration, giving back to communities and supporting independence.

The Integration Project

The Integration Project was set up in Coventry in 2014, and started out by supporting Afghan interpreters and their families who used to work with the British Army in Afghanistan.

Since then, the UK government launched the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) and Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (RVC), which resettle vulnerable families and children from refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and Turkey.

It is formed of local organisations Coventry City Council, Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre (CRMC), Coventry Citizens Advice, Positive Youth Foundation, Foleshill Women’s Training, and the St Francis of Assisi Church. 

Currently, Coventry has welcomed over 800 refugees on the programme, one of the best responses of any local authority in the country.

Swan Mountain Trust

 
Swan Mountain Trust supports organisations concerned with refugees and asylum seekers, with particular emphasis on the mental health of young people in these categories. 
 
Swan Mountain Trust has provided funding to offer Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre’s six therapists training around mental health issues relating to refugees and asylum seekers.

Garfield Weston Foundation

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded, charitable grant-making foundation, which supports a wide range of causes across the UK, donating over £62 million annually. It was established in 1958 by the Weston family and in 2018 will donate its £1billionth, becoming one of the largest and most respected charitable institutions in the UK.
 
Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre is using The Garfield Weston Foundation’s grant to fund a new human resources worker, a part-time crisis worker and a part-time events co-ordinator.

A B Charitable Trust

The A B Charitable Trust (ABCT) is an independent, UK based grant-making organisation founded in 1990 that is concerned with promoting and defending human dignity. ABCT supports charities that defend human rights and promote respect for vulnerable individuals whatever their circumstances.
 
Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre is using its A B Charitable Trust grant to help fund two case workers. These employees are now managing our Advice Team and our Employment Team.

Michael Marsh Charitable Trust 

Michael Marsh Charitable Trust is a West Midlands funder who provides capital grants to charities who help elderly people, children, the disabled, the poor and educationally needy.
 
It provided funding to support Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre’s relocation to Norton House in September 2017, and to pay for the redevelopment and modernisation of this new home in 2019.

Vinci UK Foundation

The VINCI UK Foundation supports initiatives that promote social cohesion, fight exclusion and isolation in the UK and the Republic of Ireland by combining the skills of VINCI staff, together with financial assistance, to be a long term partner of the community.
 
It provided funding to support Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre’s relocation to Norton House in September 2017, and to pay for the redevelopment and modernisation of this new home in 2019.

Coventry Churches 

Balsall Common Methodist Church, Churches Together Balsall & Berkswell, Hearsall Baptist Church, Hillfields Church, St George’s Church, St Martin’s Finham, West Orchard United Reformed Church all welcomed Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre to fundraise. This was in support of Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre’s relocation to a new home in September 2017, and to pay for the redevelopment and modernisation of this home in 2019.

The Eveson Trust 

The Eveson Trust provides support for the physically handicapped (including the blind and the deaf) the mentally handicapped, hospitals and hospices, children in need whether disadvantaged or physically or mentally handicapped, the elderly, the homeless and for medical research.
 
They provided support to help pay for a dedicated Men’s Group coordinator, new equipment, coaches for workshops, room hire and other essential items for destitute men.

The Saintbury Trust 

The Saintbury Trust is a medium-sized grant-making registered charity with wide ranging interests, which seeks to help charities in its geographical area of the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and North Gloucestershire.
 
They provided support to help pay for a dedicated Men’s Group coordinator, new equipment, coaches for workshops, room hire and other essential items for destitute men.

The C B and H H Taylor Charitable Trust 

A family trust supporting communities and development with a focus on Quaker concerns, including welfare and education.
 
They provided support to help pay for a dedicated Men’s Group coordinator, new equipment, coaches for workshops, room hire and other essential items for destitute men.

Jill Franklin Trust

The Jill Franklin Trust supports charities which offer self-help groups, advice and guidance; bereavement counselling; help to refugees and migrants and prisoners to resettle.
 
They provided support to help pay for a dedicated Men’s Group coordinator, new equipment, coaches for workshops, room hire and other essential items for destitute men.

Thank you

We would like to give a big thank you to our regular donors.

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