Launch of Coventry's Community Cohesion Awards

Building on previous year's successes the 2012 awards are designed to celebrate the work of local people and businesses in helping to make Coventry a cohesive City. The awards recognise practical activities which demonstrate how projects have achieved cohesion by working with different communities, groups, faiths, age groups, and people from different backgrounds, ethnicity and disabilities.

The awards are run by the Equalities and Communities Theme Group of The Coventry Partnership, together with Coventry Ethnic Minorities Action Partnership (CEMAP).

Sue Bent, Director of Coventry Law Centre and Chair of the Equalities and Communities Theme Group said, "Everyone deserves to live in a strong community, where they feel safe, welcomed, where people get along with each other, where no-one feels excluded and where everyone has the chance to play a full part in local life. The Coventry Community Cohesion Awards have recognised the commitment made by many organisations and groups in the city to ensure that Coventry continues to be such a cohesive city.

The activities that the organisations and groups have been involved in demonstrates how Coventry people are proud of their heritage as a city of peace and reconciliation and how people of Coventry want to continue to build upon the good community relations that exist in our city. We're hoping to build on the momentum from previous awards, which saw some amazing projects recognised for the part they're playing to build cohesion across Coventry."

For more information on the awards, go to:

http://www.coventrypartnership.com/Cohesionawards

This year's awards will take place in St. Mary's Guildhall on 18 October with the deadline for receipt of all applications being 5pm on Wednesday 25 July 2012

You can download an application form for the following categories:

* Voluntary & Community Organisations  large (income above £50,000 per annum)

* Voluntary & Community Organisations  small (income below £50,000 per annum)

* Public Sector Organisations 

* Private Sector

* Young People  (community cohesion activities run by young people aged 18 and under)

There is a separate form for private sector applicants. You can download a form for private Sector applications called "Working with Communities"

You can also download a poster for this year's Community Cohesion Awards 2012

Your activity should demonstrate how it has contributed to at least one of the following in Coventry:

* A shared future and sense of belonging

* A focus on what new and existing communities have in common, alongside a recognition of the value of diversity

* Building strong and positive relationships between people from different backgrounds

You can also obtain a paper copy of the application form from the Coventry Partnership office: The Coventry Partnership, Room 74, Council House, Coventry, CV1 5RR or telephone 024 7683 4355. Closing date Wednesday 25 July 2012. For further information please contact the Coventry Partnership office on 024 7683 4355.