EU funding brings hope to Hillfields in Coventry

29 November 2006

Thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), The Hope Centre has been brought to Hillfields in Coventry. The Hillfields Action Plan was awarded £4.9m from the European Union to support projects between 2002-2008.

Over the last four years an under-served area of Hillfields has been transformed from a derelict former printing works into a thriving community facility. It has already received the FOCUS Award for Regeneration.

In addition to the original £766,679 grant from the European Regional Development Fund which made the purchase and redevelopment of the site possible. Money was secured from the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative. Advantage West Midlands helped to refurbish and fit out the 'Learnbase' run in partnership with Henley College and a grant from the Beacon Trust provided a hardship fund to enable local people to access services on site.

The project was designed with long-term sustainability in mind and nursery fees, cafe sales, catering, room and equipment hire charges all generate funds to cover costs. State of the art services such as recording of events provide added attractions and benefits for users of the site.

As a conference venue the Hope Centre has attracted agencies and commercial clients into Hillfields bringing people into the area and challenging the negative stereotypes, which are at odds with the reality for most people living and working in the neighbourhood.

Officially opened in 2004 the site now acts as both a host for community meetings, events and activities and as delivery agent for the provision of services to the community. Hope provides programmes based on an assessment of local needs developed from the Hillfields Neighbourhood Plan outlined by local people. Services include day care for children aged 0-5, Fusion 180, a youth work programme that helps over 60 young people access sports coaching, music, drama and other activities. As well as this there is a Learning Zone which provides English language and computer courses, training in childcare, security, first aid, food hygiene, health and safety and also offers cookery and language taster courses.

Funding from the Social Economic and Environmental Development Programme (SEED) was secured to help ERDF with Interaction, a community led initiative, which aims to use the environment as a focus for community involvement. With assistance from the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Hillfields hopes to improve the local urban green spaces by environmental projects such as building bird boxes or planting bulbs.

Interaction has already changed Hillfields. East Street pocket park now has new paths and benches. A hedge has been laid and fencing erected and recycling bins installed. There has been multiple planting of seeds, bulbs, trees and shrubs and local children have deigned a mosaic. A gardening club is now established and is responsible for maintaining sites throughout the Hillfields area. The village square has been replanted as part of a community scheme involving different groups from the community. The project has been awarded Best Urban Project 2006 at the Environment Agency Action Earth Awards.

European Social Fund (ESF) funding also supports the area's UK Online centre, giving access to computers, help and advice on using computers and access to broadband Internet, a scanner and photography-related software. Beneficiaries are given employment advice and even CD-ROM-based driving theory courses, to help them search for jobs in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Mark Foley, Head of European Funding Unit at Government Office for the West Midlands said:

"The last four years for the project have presented challenges and there are others still ahead, as well as many opportunities. Hope has already set many people free to pursue new directions and new openings and we hope in a transient community that the centre has also provided an anchor. Everything the project has built has been built to last. None of this would have been possible without the help of the European Regional Development Fund."

Notes to Editors:

1. The West Midlands secured £575m in European Structural Funds under the 2000-2006 European Regional Development Fund Objective 2 programme that has been allocated to more than 400 projects across the region. The Objective 2 programme aims to improve infrastructure, businesses and industry, encourage social and community regeneration and support environmental sustainability. An additional £24m was awarded to the region from the European Commission for meeting its spending targets and delivering results.

2. The West Midlands European Social Fund 2000 - 2006 Objective 3 programme has secured more than £316m for projects in the region. Objective 3 funding aims to support adapting and modernising policies and systems of education, training and employment to help combat unemployment. An additional £16m Objective 3 funding was awarded to the region from the European Commission for meeting its spending targets and delivering results.

3. For further information about European Structural Funding in the West Midlands, visit the website at http://www.westmidlandsworkingtogether.org.uk/