VCFSE COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AIMING TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE UP AND RUNNING
26 January 2026
Following an open application process, four members of the Voluntary, Charity, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Collaborative for Coventry and Warwickshire have been awarded winter funding grants from the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care board to deliver creative projects to help keep people well and reduce unnecessary hospital visits over winter.
The initiatives are now up and running and the Collaborative is calling for all local health and care partners to share the information to ensure it gets to the people who need it.
Tara Bhaur (Programme Manager, for the Coventry and Warwickshire VCFSE Collaborative) said:
“Increasing system pressures during winter months place a demand and significant strain on health and care services, these awards enable the implementation of community-led, preventative interventions.
I am pleased to share the details of the schemes from our VCFSE delivery partners, which are now up and running, and would urge both our VCFSE sector and our NHS partners to support the success of these projects by sharing information within the communities you support."
Benn Partnership Centre
Your Health Matters - Benn Partnership Centre
Summary of scheme: Based in Rugby, the Benn Partnership is running a 12-week programme (until March 9) aimed at supporting people with breathing difficulties and reducing winter health pressures. The project will deliver Tai-Chi, walking groups, cooking classes, and mindfulness art sessions, alongside digital training to help participants access NHS apps. It targets deprived communities, Asian/British Asian groups, faith communities, and older adults (80+) in Benn Ward and surrounding areas. The programme focuses on prevention, improving resilience, and tackling health inequalities, with success measured through participant feedback, engagement, and follow-up evaluations
Silas Mkoba Foundation
Winter Companions 2025-26 — Silas Mkoba Foundation
Summary of the scheme: Based in Coventry, running until February 2026. The project aims to support bereaved individuals and those with physical vulnerabilities in Coventry during winter by providing warmth packs, volunteer-led check-ins, and peer support sessions. It focuses on prevention, improving access to health information, and reducing system pressures, aligning with the CORE20Plus5 vision.
Feed The Hungry/Coventry Foodbank
Coventry Foodbank - Helping Local People in Crisis
Summary of scheme: The Stronger Communities programme across aims to be delivered across Coventry. Healthier Winter Clubs in food banks and community spaces provide practical health advice, signposting, and post-hospital recovery support, aiming to reduce unnecessary hospital visits and improve wellbeing during winter. Activities include multilingual resources, specialist speakers, and follow-up calls, targeting vulnerable groups such as deprived communities, parents of young children, older adults, and Asian/Asian British populations. The initiative aligns with the CORE20Plus5 vision by tackling health inequalities, improving access to care, and promoting prevention.
Barnardo’s
Family Space: Coventry and Warwickshire winter wellness workshops | Barnardo's
Summary of scheme: Reducing winter health pressures on families with children under five in Coventry & Warwickshire, focusing on Nuneaton and deprived communities. Delivering 25 online and hybrid workshops plus two expert Q&A webinars. These sessions cover winter illness prevention, immunisations, mental wellbeing, and making homes winter-ready, supported by digital resources and local Children & Family Centres. The project seeks to improve health literacy, confidence, and resilience, reduce unnecessary A&E visits, and tackle health inequalities in line with the NHS CORE20Plus5 framework.
About the ICS VCFSE Collaborative Coventry & Warwickshire
We bring together organisations from the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social enterprise sector (VCFSE) to work in partnership with public bodies, health systems and local authorities. Our mission is to strengthen the collective voice and influence of the VCFSE sector, champion collaboration and ensure communities are at the heart of decision making. By fostering strategic partnerships, sharing insight and expertise and promoting equitable relationships, the Collaborative supports a more connected, resilient and inclusive region. Together, we aim to deliver better outcomes for people and place across Coventry and Warwickshire through shared purpose, innovation and collaboration.
Join the Collaborative
If you’re a VCFSE operating in the ICB footprint, then join the collaborative via this link.