A growing sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis has arrived in Coventry, with Moat House Community and Leisure Centre now offering Pickleball sessions to residents. The sport is played on a smaller court using paddles and a perforated ball, making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities. It’s an […]
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The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is celebrating one year of its popular Doze Under Dippy sleepover events, which have welcomed families, Scouts, Brownies, and schools to a unique night spent under the gaze of the iconic Dippy, the Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur. Since the launch of the programme in November 2023, hundreds of participants have […]
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This week CV Life’s Alan Higgs Centre played host to BBC CWR as presenters and producers from the station took part in a mammoth swimming challenge for BBC Children in Need. The Thousand Mile Challenge has seen presenters from each radio station across BBC Local Radio in the UK form special swim teams in an […]
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CV Life has officially pledged its support to the Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. This week, CEO Paul Breed attended a signing ceremony held at Shire Hall in Warwick to mark the occasion, joining businesses and organisations dedicated to ensuring fair treatment for those who serve or have served in the […]
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In one of the most deprived areas of Coventry, Sleiman Mbarouk, better known as Sully, is on a mission to guide young people away from the dangers of gang culture and knife crime. A former Coventry City footballer, Sully grew up in and around the neighbouring areas of Henley Green and Wood End. This part […]
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The Wave marked its fifth anniversary on Friday, 25 October with a special celebration event attracting hundreds of visitors. The milestone event featured a colourful balloon arch, a specially-made cake, games and a fully booked session – not to mention the unveiling of a new mascot. Opened in October 2019, The Wave quickly made a […]
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Last weekend Coventry city centre played host to “Covopoly,” an event organised by Girlguiding Warwickshire based on popular board game Monopoly. The event saw around 80 groups, each with six members, exploring the city by completing challenges and following clues at different locations. The participants, ranging from young Rainbows to adult volunteers, used QR codes […]
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CV Life, the biggest provider of swimming lessons for schools in Coventry, is utilising a new software designed to simplify the administrative aspects of school swimming lessons. It is believed Swimphony will reduce paperwork and improve the efficiency of managing swimming programmes across CV Life’s centres. Swimphony is a cloud-based platform that allows schools and […]
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A 16-year-old who is growing up in Coventry’s care system has secured school holiday work after a mix-up at CV Life’s Xcel Leisure Centre. NK, who we cannot name fully, signed up for the organisation’s Holiday, Food and Activity not realising the programming is primarily aimed at children aged up to 11. When she arrived […]
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CV Life’s Engage! programme has received £35,000 in funding to continue its work in promoting positive mental wellbeing among Coventry’s young people. The funding will enable the programme to continue delivering its Values and Flourish sessions, alongside the School 2 Club Programme as well as a series of festivals and competitions. The initiative, which uses […]
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A CV Life member has shared how an Xcel Centre rehab group and other exercise classes helped her ‘get back to some sort of normality’ after a breast cancer diagnosis meant she needed a double mastectomy. Lea, an assistant headteacher in a Coventry school, had always loved exercise and being active. A synchronised swimmer in […]
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This year’s Heritage Open Days saw two CV Life venues welcoming 268 visitors across two event-filled weekends. The events showcased Coventry’s cultural heritage through a series of tours and hands-on experiences at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and the Lunt Roman Form. Heritage Open Days is an annual event in England, dedicated to celebrating […]
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In recent months CV Life has given staff the opportunity to learn the basics of British Sign Language (BSL). In partnership with Coventry City Council’s Adult Education Department, CV Life has hosted two free Sign Language Workshops which were made available to all our staff as part of our employee benefit opportunities The initial session […]
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Thousands of Coventry youngsters enjoyed an action-packed, educational and adventurous summer holiday thanks to CV Life’s HAF (Holiday, Activity and Food) programme. Children across the city attended sessions at leisure venues Xcel, The Wave, Centre AT7, Alan Higgs Centre and Moat House, as well as culture venues Coventry Transport Museum (CTM), Herbert Art Gallery and, […]
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A Coventry Walking Football club has started the city’s first ever women only sessions of the fast-growing sport. Coventry and District Walking Football Club have been holding mens sessions for a number of years, but the club now proudly puts on weekly sessions aimed at women aged over 35. The sessions are held at CV […]
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CV Life is excited to welcome Eilis O’Donnell as Social Impact Director and new addition to the organisation’s Senior Leadership Team. With an extensive background in education, Eilis’s previous role saw her working at the widening participation charity IntoUniversity. She brings a wealth of experience in supporting social inclusion and driving initiatives that empower young […]
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A Coventry sports centre is now home to a stunning new display which tells the industrial history of the area it is located in. CV Life’s Centre AT7 has been serving the local community since 1987 – but while visitors and members are familiar with swimming, badminton and other sporting activities, a corridor-long wall display […]
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A man who has struggled to break his way into working life due to complex additional needs is ‘like a different person’ after completing 10 weeks of work experience at CV Life’s Centre AT7. Dal Singh, from Bedworth, began his stint at the site with a tentative one-day a week placement. But his confidence has […]
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CV Life is celebrating the recent National Lifeguard Appreciation Day by shining a light on an individual member of our diverse and dedicated team. Among the many lifeguards that make swimming a possibility across our sites is Mick, a 58-year-old based out of the Alan Higgs Centre, who embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and […]
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With less than a week to go tickets are selling fast for Coventry’s biggest celebration of all things Roman. The Lunt Roman Festival in Baginton, set to take place across two days on the 3rd and 4th of August, promises to be a fun and memory making event jam-packed with a host of activities for […]
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With the start of the school holidays, CV Life is delighted to announce the return of the HAF (Holiday, Activity and Food) programme, backed by an exciting funding grant of £167,000. This initiative aims to provide essential support and entertainment for children across the city during the holiday period and has proven a lifeline for […]
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CV Life is pleased to share news of the appointment of Idora Musa as the new Community Projects Coordinator, spearheading the Go Willenhall and Go Canley projects. With a substantial amount of funding allocated for these initiatives, Idora is set to make a significant impact in the Coventry areas of Willenhall and Canley by encouraging […]
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It was a proud day for CV Life on Saturday (29 June) as the organisation took part in the National Armed Forces Day event held in Coventry. This annual celebration honours those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and it provided an excellent platform for CV Life to engage with the community, […]
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CV Life’s The Wave has recently hosted a series of successful Lifeguard Recruitment events to make sure the much-loved attraction is ready for what promises to be a busy few months, The initial event held last month saw dozens of potential candidates showcasing their dedication to joining our team. Twenty candidates undertook the pool test, […]
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The family of a dinosaur-mad boy who tragically died after bravely fighting a rare genetic condition recently marked what would have been his tenth birthday with a celebration dinner beneath Dippy the Diplodocus. Little Ewan Knox from Carlisle was born in 2014 with Hallermann–Streiff syndrome – so rare it affects only about 150 people worldwide […]
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June can be a stressful month for students with a flurry of exams to contend with. But the young people of Coventry are being offered the chance to get their summer underway with a splash at The Wave To celebrate the end of exams, this Friday (28 June) CV Life is hosting a free event […]
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CV Life’s Community Development team have been granted £79,748 to continue delivering the widely respected and successful Coventry Moves programme for another 12 months. This substantial grant, awarded by the Commonwealth Active Communities organisation, will enable the program to expand its efforts to promote physical activity and improve community wellbeing in Coventry. Coventry Moves, launched […]
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Coventry’s much-loved Sports Fest event is set to return with six days of free activities this summer. The event, which is held in Broadgate, is back from Tuesday 6 August – Sunday 11 August from 10am – 4pm each day. As always, Sports Fest will feature a wide range of sports and wellbeing activities that […]
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A CV Life Lifestyles member has shared how she turned her health around with multiple weekly classes. Mel Gregory has rewritten her health narrative with determination and resilience, showcasing how dedication can lead to remarkable transformations. With motherhood, Mel found herself in a decades-long habit of putting the wellbeing of others before her own, something […]
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CV Life’s Roman Sports Day at the Lunt Roman Fort in Baginton saw a wonderful fusion of historical education and physical activity this week. This unique event, held across two days, aimed to engage children across CV Life partner schools in a creative learning experience that combined Roman history with sports. Ben Tidy, Education Manager […]
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More than 100 of the most talented swimmers in the UK – as well as representatives from Spain and Ireland – competed in Coventry in a major championships. The British Junior Para Swimming Championships 2024 took place at the Alan Higgs Centre over the course of the weekend with around 130 athletes aged eight to […]
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Around 1,000 pupils from schools across Coventry descended on the city’s War Memorial Park this weekend for the annual Coventry Children’s Mile. Primary school children of all abilities come together to embrace fitness and fun, supported by their families and the wider community. Organised jointly by Coventry City Council, CV Life and Coventry School Games, […]
Read OnA key feature at one of Coventry’s Roman sites is re-opening to the public for the first time in a decade at a major festival on the outskirts of the city, which is aiming for a record attendance this summer. The 30ft viewing platform on top of the Lunt Roman Fort’s gatehouse is re-opening to […]
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A partnership between two of Coventry’s most iconic visitor attractions will help an upcoming play make a splash this month. Swim, Aunty, Swim! a new Belgrade Theatre production written by the city’s Siana Bangura, is a poetic story of friendship, loss, sisterhood, motherhood, and the sublime power of water. With water being a key part […]
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CV Life’s Alan Higgs Centre was buzzing with excitement recently after hosting Day Three of the 2023-24 Boccia England Super League. Teams gathered at the venue to prepare for the final round of fixtures, each aiming for victory and a chance to secure their place in the Finals Day competition in Nottingham come July. But […]
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CV Life’s Mana Spa is in double celebration mode this week after winning two prestigious awards just days apart. Management at The Wave-based venue were already jubilant after winning its second consecutive Spa of the Year title at the recent English Hair and Beauty Awards. The venue fought off competition from some of the biggest […]
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The British Kabaddi League came to Coventry for the first time recently allowing fans to support Coventry Chargers in their inaugural home games. The action-packed event was held at CV Life’s Centre AT7 from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May. Spectators were treated to 14 matches over the weekend as the teams battled it out […]
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The Alan Higgs Centre, operated by CV Life, has proudly received a ‘Very Good’ rating in its recent Quest accreditation. Quest is a Sport England-recommended Continuous Improvement Tool for leisure facilities in the UK. It is designed to measure how effective organisations are at providing customer service. The rigorous assessment, which was conducted last month […]
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Mana Spa is set to defend its title in an upcoming national beauty awards. The popular venue was crowned Spa of the Year in the English Hair & Beauty Awards 2023 last spring and has been nominated for the same category again for the 2024 awards. It is hoped they can secure enough votes to […]
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A Coventry man who once made appearances for Coventry City Reserves has been given a ‘sense of purpose’ after being diagnosed with Dementia two years ago. Peter Marchi was always a talented athlete. He appeared for Coventry School Boys as a child, before he playing football at a high level as a young man, including […]
Read OnAs Neurodiversity Celebration Week approaches CV Life is excited for the opportunity to recognise and celebrate neurodivergent talent. In a world that too often values conformity, neurodiversity stands as a beacon of celebration for the uniqueness of human minds. Running from March 18 to March 24th, Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges […]
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CV Life’s Jordan Morbey has been on a whirlwind journey since joining the organisation as a teenager. Jordan, now aged 23, was a modern apprentice but his dedication and ability was so evident management plucked him from the scheme, elevating him to a permanent staff position. From then, he has flourished, taking on numerous roles, […]
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p and coming local artists are being given the opportunity to work with curators at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and have their work promoted by the venue. The Herbert regularly supports local artists through its Micro-Commission Programme, which sees artists receive a fee of £700 and the opportunity to create a piece with […]
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A Warwickshire school pupil will represent the Midlands after winning a regional competition aimed at building confidence and a love of art among teenagers. Articulation is an acclaimed nationwide competition designed to promote the appreciation and discussion of visual culture, while instilling a sense of confidence in participants aged 16 – 18. The final for […]
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Coventry and Warwickshire artists have banded together to show what talented individuals in the region can achieve as part of a free exhibition which launched at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum this week. More than 250 paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textile work and other creations are on display at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum […]
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This week an 82-year-old woman was reunited with an electric vehicle made by her father way back in 1948. Charlie Ridley worked among Coventry’s iconic motor trade industry, but he used the shed at the bottom of his Cheylesmore garden to invent and build vehicles from old scrap. One item in particular was a battery-powered […]
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A group based out of CV Life’s Alan Higgs Centre says being stationed at the venue is helping them grow their membership. Coventry and District Walking Football Club has been playing the ever growing sport at the venue for a number of years. But with a long term home base so central to the city, […]
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Xcel Centre’s Aquarius Swim School is now taking online enrollments. Previously new swim students were required to book on to lessons onsite which could be inconvenient and occasionally led to long queues at reception. But from Wednesday 24 January, parents will be able to enrol their young swimmers from the comfort of their own homes. […]
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Meet Ellie, the CV Life fitness instructor whose colourful career includes treading the boards of London’s West End and entertaining families at Disney Land Paris. Ellie has been performing since she was a toddler. She took her passions and turned them from hobbies into a career, performing professionally around the country. Such was her love […]
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Gone are the mince pies and festive drinks, January is here, a time many see as the perfect opportunity to try and be healthier. Many make a return to the gym to sweat out the excess, but a lot of people are back to old habits come the start of February. If you’re looking for […]
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Coventry’s Herbert Museum & Art Gallery needs your help! The venue’s popular ichthyosaur skull has been wowing prehistoric enthusiasts for decades, particularly after some much needed conservation work last year – the process brought to the surface a host of never before seen features. Now it seems only right the specimen is given its own […]
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Hundreds of pounds have been raised for a worthy local charity after an event at CV Life’s Alan Higgs Centre. Dozens of people gathered at the venue last month to take part of a series of specially chosen fitness classes to raise funds and awareness for Coventry Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (CRASAC). CRASAC is […]
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CV Life is celebrating one year since the post-Covid re-launch of its popular Sporting Memories initiative. The programme, part of the Coventry Moves project, aims to tackle isolation and loneliness among the older generation by reminiscing about Coventry through the lens of sport. Compered by city athletics legend Dave Moorcroft, the sessions have been attended […]
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CV Life’s Xcel Leisure Centre held a launch event for its new advanced technology gym equipment last week. Biocircuit by Technogym is top of the range exercise apparatus that adapts to the user’s settings at the swipe of a membership band. It is now available at the centre – the only venue in the Midlands […]
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Voting for the People’s Choice Award for Wildlife Photographer of the Year is now open. The 59th edition of the Natural History Museum’s renowned competition is on tour now at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. More than 50,000 images are entered into the competition every year but the panel of judges can only select […]
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“We were doing patrols out of a police station in Afghanistan, being overrun by the Taliban. I was on a resupply run back to camp, but there was only one route in, one route out. “This made us highly vulnerable to enemy attack. So we were going fast over rough terrain, making ourselves a harder […]
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This weekend four generations of the same family led by a 102-year-old great-grandmother rode Coventry’s famous Vintage Santa Sleigh Ride. May Chinnock was joined by son Colin, daughter-in-law Viv, as well as their children and grandchildren, at the city’s Transport Museum on Saturday (9 December). Remarkably, May has been going on the ride since the […]
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Curators at a Coventry gallery are building on one of their busiest ever years with three new exhibitions arriving in the first half of 2024. The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has revealed a trio of exhibitions running from February to June, working alongside renowned international artists and celebrating the most talented creatives in the […]
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A group of CV Life members who meet regularly at Xcel Leisure Centre say friendships they have made are proving a lifeline. Made up primarily of those over the age of 55, the group has grown organically over a number of years. Over cups of tea, biscuits and home-baked treats, the diverse group of Lifestyle […]
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A community partnership initiative means art is reaching new audiences in Coventry Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is working with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) to put colourful exhibitions based on the museum’s collections in hospital corridors. It is hoped the initiative will bring interesting and enjoyable new displays to hospital users and visitors, […]
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An event in Coventry will aim to bring people together to show their support for victims-survivors of sexual violence and abuse while raising vital funds for a local charity. Coventry Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (CRASAC) is teaming up with CV Life’s Alan Higgs Centre to host a series of fitness classes in one day […]
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25 years is a long time to stay with one organisation. In a modern age where people change careers much more often, staying in the same job for decades is becoming rarer and rarer. But for Slavica Stojsavljevic, duty manager at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, a quarter of a century working for Culture […]
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Families from around the country gathered in Coventry this weekend for a prehistoric slumber party. Doze Under Dippy at the city’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum saw dino-loving families pack into the venue on Saturday (18 November). Designed for inquisitive and adventurous children aged 6-11, the event included late night torch-lit tours of the museum, […]
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A Coventry man who had a knee replacement in March recently undertook a stunning trilogy of challenges. Ivans Garbacevics, aged 42, has always enjoyed staying fit and active, but the past month has been particularly unique even for him. The logistics warehouse operative travelled to Nepal in October to tackle Everest before returning to the […]
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The first ever CV Life School Partners Football League kicked off Centre AT7 last week. Years Three and Four boys from six Coventry schools donned their boots and shin pads last Thursday and will compete to be the first team to lift the trophy for the first time. It is hoped adding a competitive element […]
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A new initiative which aims to help families with young children have fun and learn at the same time at CV Life’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum this week. ‘50 Things To Do Before You’re Five’ is packed with fun, low-cost, or no-cost activities to enjoy with children. It’s a great way to support their […]
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Coventry author, Aaron Ashmore, is teaming up with the famous Coventry Sleigh Ride to bring a special gift to children this festive season. His new festive book, “Help! Santa’s Sleigh Has Broken,” will be given to young visitors of the Coventry Sleigh Ride at Coventry Transport Museum this Christmas. Aaron Ashmore, a proud Coventry resident, […]
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Coventry City Council and CV Life has been awarded £216,000 after a successful partnership bid for a share of Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund. The fund is in place to give local people the opportunity to become more active by 2030. A total of £20m was available for local authorities across the country to […]
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A presentation lunch celebrating this year’s graduating Modern Apprentices (MAs) took place at the Alan Higgs Centre this week. But as well as acknowledging the new, it was also an occasion to celebrate the original, with apprentices past and present in attendance – including the organisation’s original inductees going back to 1987. Founder, Trustee and […]
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CV Life’s Moat House Community and Leisure Centre has been awarded a ‘Good’ rating in a recent Quest accreditation. Quest is a Sport England-recommended Continuous Improvement Tool for leisure facilities in the UK. It is designed to measure how effective organisations are at providing customer service. After weeks of internal preparation to ensure all was […]
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Three paintings from the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum have been loaned out to two major exhibitions at renowned UK galleries. ‘If Mary Came to Greenham’ by Jacqueline Moreau has been collected for the Tate’s forthcoming exhibition ‘Women in Revolt’. Elsewhere two paintings by Gavin Jantjes, a major South African-born artist, from his ‘Korabra’ series have […]
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A world-renowned photography exhibition showcasing stunning wildlife from across the globe has opened in Coventry. Incredible images from the Natural History Museum’s 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition are now on show at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The Coventry venue is the only one in England besides the Natural History Museum to have […]
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Get on your dancing shoes – the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is hosting monthly Tea Dances. These retro afternoon social events will be a chance for participants to step back to a simpler time with nostalgic music and screened images from the 1940s. Amid dancing, attendees can enjoy refreshments in the form of tea […]
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A lost painting by a world-renowned artist has been located forty years after it was purchased by a private buyer. The work of art by Dutch-born Arthur Benjamins is of Thrust 2, once the fastest car in the world. Pilot and spearhead of the Thrust project Richard Noble was this week reunited with the painting, […]
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The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has been working with a local specialist school to help children with autism create online computer games starring the Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur. Students from the Island Project School based in Meriden have been working with the Herbert’s Creative Media department and a local immersive technology company called BOM to […]
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A new display celebrating Coventry’s Jewish population through the centuries is now open at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The Coventry’s Jewish Community display is the latest of a series in the museum’s History Gallery Your Coventry section. This display features an array of fascinating objects which help tell the story of how Coventry’s […]
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The Wave has been hosting female only swim sessions for people who have recently arrived in Coventry, fleeing conflict and persecution in their home country. As a City of Peace and Reconciliation, Coventry has a longstanding reputation of welcoming people from across the world looking for a safer and happier life. CV Life, which runs […]
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A unique Jurassic virtual reality experience is available now at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The Dipp-E VR experience, which takes users on an interactive and fun learning journey, is sure to be a smash with dino-lovers. The experience proved a sell out hit during the summer holidays, but is now back for a […]
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Dozens of velocity fans turned out at Coventry Transport Museum this week to meet the individual who forty years ago became the fastest man on earth. Along with a team of engineers, Richard Noble was the driving force behind the Thrust project. He himself piloted Thrust 2 as it sped through the Nevada desert on […]
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A programme is being rolled out by CV Life to help Coventry youngsters gain a better understanding of their positive mental health. The Engage! Flourish Programme will see the organisation work with schools delivering sessions to try and stem the rise of issues caused by mental health problems later in life. The is based on […]
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Tickets for Coventry Transport Museum’s iconic Santa’s Vintage Sleigh Ride are on sale now. The much-loved attraction has been thrilling the city’s children for almost seven decades. Such is its popularity, the ride sells out every year, so booking early is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. The mechanical ride sees children ‘flying to Lapland’ to visit […]
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Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum will host a special overnight event for dino-loving families. Over 100,000 people have already been to see Dippy, the Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur, since it arrived on loan from the Natural History Museum in February. But now a lucky few will get the opportunity to Doze Under Dippy in a […]
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Incredible images from this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition will be on show at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum from Friday, October 27. The exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London until April 1 2024, features fascinating animal behaviour and the amazing diversity of the natural world, shining a […]
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Two supported interns who spent last year on a work placement at CV Life venues have secured themselves paid work with the organisation. Joe and Naveen came to CV Life with next to no work experience last year as part of an ongoing partnership between the organisation and local educational establishment Harewood College. The supported […]
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Coventry Transport Museum is set to celebrate 40 years since one of its exhibits, Thrust 2, broke the land speed record. On October 4 velocity fans will have the opportunity to visit the museum and meet the team and the brains behind the land speed record breaker. The date marks 40 years since pilot Richard […]
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With the summer holidays done and dusted and children back at school, CV Life is pleased and proud to announce 5,500 children took part in the HAF (Holiday, Activity and Food) programme across our leisure and culture venues. Holidays can be a tricky time for parents to keep their school aged children entertained. But due […]
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New female only swim sessions and lessons are proving a hit at Coventry’s Centre AT7. CV Life, the organisation which runs the venue, believes swimming should be accessible to everyone. However, due to a number of reasons, be they cultural or otherwise, some women feel much more comfortable exercising or being taught to swim in […]
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An acclaimed public speaking initiative for young people will return to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum this month. Articulation is a nationwide competition designed to promote the appreciation and discussion of visual culture, while instilling a sense of confidence in participants. Run by the National Gallery, Articulation engages young people, regardless of background or […]
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A four-month celebration of art will head to Coventry and Warwickshire venues in October, bringing together works from global artists as well as local makers. The works of 15 renowned artists and groups will be exhibited across the region as the Coventry Biennial returns – with stunning artworks, sculptures and a host of free events […]
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Until my public engagement internship with Culture Coventry Trust, I had never really experienced or interacted with the ‘community’ that exists in Coventry. Working across the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry Transport Museum, and the Lunt Roman Fort, I noticed how these culture and heritage sites kept the warm sense of community alive. During my work, […]
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CV Life’s popular Sporting Memories event has started going on tour. The Coventry Moves project is aimed at engaging older people and dementia sufferers and getting them looking back at their lives through the lens of sport. The monthly event, compered by Coventry athletics legend Dave Moorcroft, has had some genuine Coventry icons as guests […]
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A new gardening club will aim to get people at residential homes across Coventry active this autumn. CV Life is working with homes around the city to get older people active and sociable with the green-fingered initiative which is part of the Coventry Moves project. Coventry Moves, which is commissioned by Coventry City Council, targets […]
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It’s been a roar-some six months at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum thanks to a certain prehistoric guest. Dippy, the Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur, has been wowing visitors in Coventry since 20 February and with the half a year milestone passed this weekend, another significant one has also been reached. 100,000 visitors have now been to […]
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New walking groups are popping up across Coventry with the aim to get more people moving and socialising. CV Life’s Coventry Wellbeing Walks will be taking place across three city venues, Xcel Leisure Centre, Alan Higgs Centre and Centre AT7. The session out of Xcel is already thriving with people enjoying a weekly walk which […]
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A Coventry attraction dating back almost 2000 years is preparing to host a legion of visitors in a two-day festival inspired by real Roman history. The Lunt Roman Festival on August 26 and 27 will give visitors of all ages the chance to explore the fascinating history of the Lunt Roman Fort while getting stuck […]
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Coventry’s Delia Derbyshire-inspired electronic music festival will host a series of events at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum over the holidays. The City is Full of Noises (CFON) is an annual event held each spring, but special programming in conjunction with Midlands Modular (MiMo) will see the festival stretch out into summer. Each Sunday in […]
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A Coventry venue is now the first art gallery in the country to be home to a vending machine which supplies artwork and materials. As part of the Work on Walls exhibition, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has installed a repurposed vending machine full of work by local artists, as well as art kits, equipment […]
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A London-based artist with a strong Coventry connection will take up a residency at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum this summer. Cora Sehgal Cuthbert will explore her connection to the city through the past and present to create an exciting and unique piece of work which will become a permanent part of the museum’s […]
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A partnership between CV Life, Coventry University and Coventry School Games will aim to overhaul physical education across the region. According to studies, more and more children are leaving school with little to no interest in physical activity. It is hoped this new partnership will combat the issue in Coventry and increase levels of what […]
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A new, eye-catching work of art, inspired by Dippy the Dinosaur’s stay in Coventry, is set to go on display in the city – but it won’t last very long! Dippy the Dinosaur has captured the imagination of thousands of Coventry residents in the first six months of its three-year stay on loan from the […]
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A month long tag rugby tournament featuring over 30 Coventry schools and hundreds of children has culminated in a grand finale in professional settings this week. After three preliminary rounds, ten schools made the trip to the home of Coventry Rugby Club, the Butts Park Arena, on Tuesday (July 18) for the Engage Tag Rugby […]
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A group of Coventry artists are preparing work to be displayed at a major exhibition in the city this summer. The Art Riot collective is a FarGo based artistic hub which supports and elevates talented neurodivergent and disabled artists. These artists have collaborated with some of the region’s most celebrated urban artists for Work on Walls […]
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Get your pink flip flops and swimming costume ready, a Barbie-themed ‘Wave Rave’ is coming to Coventry. It’s one of the most hotly anticipated releases in recent years, but the Barbie Movie finally hits cinemas this month. To mark the occasion, CV Life will be rolling out the pink carpet, and hosting a special Malibu […]
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Consultations are due to take place to explore how floors one and two of the City Centre Cultural Gateway (CCCG) can be repurposed. The CCCG, which is the city’s former IKEA building, already has plans in place for floors three and four which will be transformed into a collections centre of national significance, whilst floors […]
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Anyone who has visited Moat House Community and Leisure Centre on a regular basis in the last year will likely be on a first name basis with Verinder. Welcoming everyone with a huge smile and bundles of enthusiasm, Verinder has become a massively popular member of staff and the wider community at Moat House. Due […]
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A group of friends from Coventry have walked a staggering 100km over two days to raise money for a mental health charity after one of their pals died last year. Tom would brighten up any room he entered, and his loss is felt sorely by all who loved him. Part of a close-knit friendship group […]
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Sports Fest planning is underway as the event returns this month for the 2023 instalment. The free, six-day event will be back in Broadgate from Tuesday 25 July – Sunday 30 July. As always, Sports Fest, which is delivered by CV Life and Coventry City Council, will feature a wide range of sports and wellbeing […]
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Afternoon tea at one of Coventry’s most magnificent historic visitor attractions has become even more luxurious after teaming up with an award-winning neighbour. St Mary’s Guildhall, which dates back to 1342, has partnered with Mana Spa at The Wave to launch Coventry city centre’s first afternoon tea and spa experience. Visitors will get to enjoy […]
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Changes to events programming at Coventry Transport Museum will see families able to take part in fun and engaging activities for free this summer. Mini Museum Engineers, Family Museum Engineers, Chat and Play and Tinker | Make | Play family sessions will all be included in the admission fee, which is waived for those with […]
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The National Junior Para-Swimming Championships 2023 came to Coventry recently. Dozens of potential future Paralympians took part in the prestigious event at the Alan Higgs Centre on June 18. The Championships saw an incredibly high-standard of races across all events, with some of the most talented qualifying swimmers from across the country taking part. Laura […]
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A new partnership between CV Life and a Coventry school is proving popular with both parents and pupils. Almost 30 pupils from Willenhall Primary attended the school’s playing fields on 10 June to enjoy a morning of sporting activity – with breakfast thrown in too. CV Life coaches were on hand to give those attending […]
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Dozens of schools from across the city will take part in a tournament which will see qualifying teams meet in a final at Butts Park Arena in July. Each school will enter two teams, one for boys and one for girls. It is hoped the tournament will teach participants the five key principles of the […]
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CV Life’s community team are welcoming a new member after coach Luke Kennedy was appointed the new Engage, Sport and Community Coordinator. The 21-year-old has just graduated with a psychology degree, and while you might think he’s at the beginning of his career, he’s already accrued five years experience working for CV Life in sports […]
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The Coventry Children’s Mile event returned this weekend with almost 500 children from 16 Coventry primary schools taking part. As well as students, dozens of volunteers gave up their time to support the fundraising event at War Memorial Park. Alongside raising much needed money for important causes, the event was designed to encourage children to […]
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Students at a Coventry school have been given access to high end gym equipment after a partnership was struck between CV Life and Baginton Fields. 16-19-year-olds from the school recently spent some time in the gym at the Xcel Centre. The first session, held last week, proved hugely popular and plans are afoot for the […]
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A community garden at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has sprung into life thanks to a collaborative effort between CV Life staff and local community groups. The garden, adjacent to the Jordan Well side of the building, has been a work in progress for around 12 months, with raised flower beds put in place earlier […]
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The Coventry Children’s Mile will take place this weekend after a three year absence. The popular event, which sees thousands of youngsters running a mile to raise money for charity, last took place in 2019, with the 2020 race cancelled due to the pandemic. But it makes a welcome return on Sunday, June 18, at […]
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Tens of thousands of visitors to an exhibition in Coventry have been rethinking the core values that connect and divide us all – but there has been one big thing getting them through the door. Divided Selves, a contemporary art exhibition exploring ideas of identity, community, nationhood and conflict, will enter its second phase at […]
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This weekend one of the world’s most famous car races celebrates its 100 year anniversary. 24 hours of Le Mans, or as it is more often known Le Mans, is the longest running active endurance racing event. Though held near the town of the same name in north western France, you can soak up some […]
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New images show what the inside of the famous Sky Blue Bus looks like today. The bus, part of Coventry Transport Museum’s collection, is on permanent exhibition at the museum and a must visit for all Sky Blue fans. Very few people have actually been on it in the last 36 years, meaning most people are […]
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A prehistoric fossil found in a Warwickshire quarry is set to go back on display in Coventry after extensive conservation work. The ichthyosaur dates back hundreds of millions of years when Coventry and Warwickshire was beneath a Jurassic sea. The specimen was discovered in 1933 in Harbury Cement Quarry and has been part of Herbert […]
Read OnDancing classes being run through CV Life’s Coventry Moves project are breathing a new lease of life into residents at a retirement living scheme in the city. Marsh House in Walsrave is home to dozens of residents, many of whom are put through their paces with some gentle dance exercise every Thursday. Leading the classes […]
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More than 1,400 Coventry school children were kept fed and entertained across CV Life venues last month as part of the Holiday, Activities and Food programme (HAF). Centre AT7, Moat House, Xcel, Alan Higgs, Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry Transport Museum and The Wave all welcomed youngsters this Easter, with a huge array of fun activities, including swimming, football and athletics as well as a […]
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A Coventry woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer has said the CV Life cancer rehab programme has helped rebuild her life following surgery and radiotherapy treatment. Sharon’s world came to a grinding halt when she was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer at a screening in 2021. She says surgery, followed by intensive radiotherapy treatment, […]
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A Coventry-built Barbie Jaguar which inspired the popular doll’s iconic toy car will take part in MotoFest this year. The pink Jaguar XJS will ride Coventry’s famous ring road as part of the motoring festival’s traditional sprint circuit parade. It will then be exhibited at Millennium Place near Coventry Transport Museum. The news comes as […]
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It was a unique event at the Alan Higgs Centre this week as a Coventry City legend took their place as guest of honour at a special one off event: Sporting Memories presents an evening with Steve Ogrizovic. Affectionately known as Oggy, the former shot stopper was warmly received by the forty people who’d booked […]
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A musician who took part in Coventry’s recent The City is Full of Noises Festival has revealed an original piece of music called ‘Song for Dippy’ decades after first seeing the skeleton cast at the Natural History Museum as a child. John Biddulph, who also goes by the handle HandMadeSound, was inspired by the popular […]
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It was slightly different settings for CV Life’s Lifestyles team late last month thanks to a corporate Wellbeing event held alongside Coventry City Council. Membership Sales Manager Scott Sowerby took his colleagues to Broadgate House to talk about all things health and fitness with council staff members on Monday, March 27. He was joined by […]
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Nearly 30 school Coventry school pupils have this week brought the local art world to life with resin castings inspired by a Herbert Art Gallery exhibition. Brought to Light, which showcased artworks from the Herbert’s permanent collection, ran at the gallery last year. Now, as part of the of the Museums and Schools programmes funded […]
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A huge congratulations is in order for CV Life’s own Mana Spa which has been crowned Spa of the Year at the English Hair & Beauty Awards 2023 on Sunday, 26 March at Colwick Hall Hotel in Nottingham. The team at Mana were recognised for their exceptional skills, expertise, and creativity. It’s not the first time […]
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An Iranian academic who was enlisted in the military at 14 and later fled to the West Midlands to escape conflict has been named as the winner of the Coventry Open public art competition. Mohsen Keiany, an artist and academic whose work responds to ongoing violence in Iran and his own experiences as a soldier, has […]
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Residents at a Coventry residential home had their investigative faculties tested this week with a unique evening’s entertainment. As part of the Coventry Moves project, CV Life’s community team works with homes in the city, from independent living schemes to dementia care facilities, trying with hugely varied programming to raise the spirits of some of […]
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When we look back through our lives, for lots of us, most of it is made up of the mundane – eat, sleep, work, chores, hobbies – everyday life we don’t always recall the detail of. But this equilibrium is punctuated by core memories, both good and bad, which stitch together the fabric of our day to […]
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A Coventry woman has turned her life around after starting a new CV Life exercise class. Julie Cameron had done no exercise for years and found herself in a rut – particularly after lockdown which saw many people become isolated. Struggling with various health issues, it was recommended Julie take up Slow Zumba – a more […]
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CV Life’s Xcel Leisure Centre was full of smiling faces last weekend as a huge variety of people took part in a very special celebration hosted by our very own David Moorcroft. To go along with his athletic accolades, not to mention his charity and community work, Dave also currently holds the position of High Sheriff […]
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When it comes to Modern Apprentices (MAs) CV Life boasts a flurry of current senior staff members who started their careers this way. But one recent MA has really been catching attention thanks to her dedication, versatility and leadership qualities. Mia Redmond, 19, has just finished her MA, run in conjunction between CV Life and […]
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When it comes to volunteers, CV Life is extremely lucky to have some truly incredible people who give up their spare time to help us deliver the best programming we possibly can. Be it front of house at the Herbert or in the workshop at the Transport Museum, there are dozens of people of all […]
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This World Book Day families at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum celebrated the occasion with a variety of activities aimed at the under 5s audience, themed on the ever-popular children’s story ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, by Michael Rosen. Families sat under Dippy’s winding tail and were given a bag full of sensory objects […]
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It’s one week today since Dippy, The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur, stomped its way into Coventry at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The arrival of the Jurassic giant has seen over 12,000 people flock to the venue in less than seven days. A frantic week has seen this world class exhibition bask in the adoration […]
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It’s been a big month for CV Life’s Modern Apprentices (MAs), with our Sport and Leisure Apprentices undertaking their End Point Assessments after nearly two years of lots of hard work and dedication. Having proven their worth and value to CV Life, and hopefully themselves, the MAs will see their programs wind down, each with a flurry of […]
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Photo credit: Coventry City Council
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CV Life’s Mana Spa has received a five ‘bubble’ rating from one of the beauty industry’s leading reviewers. Good Spa Guide sends covert ‘spa spies’ to assess a venue’s cleanliness and tidiness, customer service, standard of facilities and treatments. The spa is then given a ‘bubble rating’ depending on the review. This month Mana Spa […]
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When you say the word ‘breakdancing’ to someone, they generally conjure up images of kids in baggy clothes pulling off incredibly intricate and athletic moves on the dance floor, with lots of others around cheering them on. Originating from the streets of New York in the 1970s, for a long time breaking (as it is […]
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In recent months CV Life has been running a Supported Internship programme in partnership with Hereward College and Coventry City Council’s Employment and Skills Service. The programme gives young people, those who might otherwise experience barriers into employment, valuable work experience at our venues alongside a continuing programme of further education. Three interns have been […]
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Dippy the diplodocus is one step closer to its Coventry residence as tickets to see the world-famous dinosaur are made available. Ahead of welcoming visitors to the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, the 292-bone model of a diplodocus skeleton was carefully deconstructed at the end of the Natural History Museum’s installation Dippy Returns, ready for […]
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Coventry Transport Museum’s Vintage Santa Sleigh Ride has once again proved a huge success. The sold out attraction, which this year included the new and very popular Santa’s Workshop, helped show the magic of Christmas is still very much alive with visitors of all ages from around the country. Venue manager Steve Spencer is keen […]
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The 13th December was a day to remember for the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The Learning and Engagement team delivered the annual Singalong with Santa event, which now stands in it’s fifth year of delivery and builds on our extensive early years programme. This session is an opportunity to celebrate with our youngest visitors, both […]
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Coventry is gearing up for a giant visitor this February as an iconic Jurassic exhibit is taking residence at a city art gallery and museum. The Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast – Dippy – will head to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum from Monday 20th February 2023 for an initial period of three […]
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The CV Life Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2022 took place at the Coventry Transport Museum on Tuesday 13 December. With hot drinks and canapes, the evening was an opportunity for board members to see the impact CV Life has had on communities and the way the organisation has touched people’s lives this year. Organised by the Senior Management Team and compered […]
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Over a hundred girls aged between seven and nine descended on a CV Life venue this week for an after-school six-a-side football tournament. 18 teams from schools across Coventry attended the event last Tuesday (6 December) at Centre AT7 on pitches provided by partner company Goals. Girls from Years 3 and 4 braved the cold to […]
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A CV Life exercise class with a difference is having an impact on older residents in Coventry. The core strength session is currently enjoying an initial six week stint at the Gilbert Richards Centre in Earlsdon, run in conjunction between the organisation’s lifestyles team and Age UK. It focuses on core strengths, balance, posture and […]
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CV Life’s Pool Helpers progamme returned this weekend at Xcel Leisure Centre with 15 eager participants. The quarterly events are run by CV Life swimming instructor coordinator Ravi Nakra. The idea behind the scheme, which is open to 14 and 15 year olds, is to give young people the chance to gain some first-hand work […]
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Local artists will have the chance to exhibit work at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum next year with the ever-popular Coventry Open set to return in spring 2023. Set up to showcase local talent and provide selling opportunities for artists, Coventry Open celebrates the quality and diversity of art being produced in Coventry and […]
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A group of Coventry women are helping others in their local community to get active in a supportive environment after becoming qualified lifeguards. Seven women living in Foleshill have banded together to help increase access to female-only swimming sessions with support from CV Life and Positive Youth Foundation (PYF). The group has trained to become […]
Read OnA unique World Cup-themed football festival at a CV Life venue has proven a huge hit with schools and pupils. The Inspire Trust Football Competition took place over two days at Centre AT7. Schools from the trust including Stockingford Academy, Hearsall Community Academy, Whittle Academy, Clifford Bridge Academy and Walsgrave Church of England Academy attended […]
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A walking rugby group in the city is having life-changing impacts on those who play. Weekly sessions run by Coventry Rugby Club’s community team in conjunction with CV Life are proving popular with people over 50 looking to stay active and sociable. But for one man in particular it has been a lifeline which has […]
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The Covid-19 pandemic was a horrific time for people around the country. Schools were closed, hospitals filled past capacity and millions of people were on furlough. But few felt the impact more than the older population. With the virus having a greater impact on the elderly and unwell, people over a certain age were much […]
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This month saw the return of a Coventry Christmas tradition – Santa’s Vintage Sleigh Ride at CV Life’s Transport Museum. For almost seventy years Santa’s Sleigh Ride in the city centre has been one of Coventry’s best-loved institutions. Generation after generation have been enchanted by the attraction, with thousands of Cov kids ‘making the trip […]
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For millions of children up and down the country, being paid to play football is a bit of a pipe dream. But it is a reality for CV Life’s own Sarah Morgan, who by day is duty manager at the Alan Higgs Centre, but by night and at the weekend is a semi-professional goalkeeper for […]
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Culture Coventry’s application to continue receiving funding from Art Council England’s National Portfolio has been successful. The news was announced on Friday (November 4) by the Arts Council, with Culture Coventry getting the same level of funding it previously received. This means the organisation’s work can continue, providing a range of exciting programming until at […]
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When it comes to nostalgia in Coventry, there is nothing that quite compares to the heady days of the city’s time as a worldwide motoring giant, and a new gallery at Coventry Transport Museum is inviting visitors to look back on that golden age of automotive manufacturing. Coventry’s heyday as a thriving industrial city in […]
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The Learning and Engagement Team have recently received national and regional recognition for ongoing work with family audiences across our museums and for the innovative Coventry Banner project, which was a community-based exhibition inspired by the Turner Prize 2021. Charity Kids in Museums has run a prestigious annual award for 16 years, recognising the most family friendly […]
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A walking netball group held at a CV Life venue is increasing in popularity. Nearly twenty keen participants come to Moat House Leisure and Community Centre every week to take part in gentle yet competitive activities. The weekly session is proving so popular, a second will be set up soon with a host of staff already […]
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A CV Life leisure centre hopes reaching out to youngsters from the local community will help improve relations. Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre has sadly experienced problems when dealing with a small antisocial section of some of the local children and teenagers. So centre manager James has purchased a pool table and table football […]
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Therapists at CV Life’s Mana Spa have undergone intensive training to be able to give oncology massage treatments to people living with and beyond cancer. Along with her team of massage therapists, spa manager Rachel Brooks has completed a post graduate diploma in Oncology Massage which means Mana Spa is one of limited spas that […]
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A popular CV Life initiative made an eagerly anticipated return this week. Sporting Memories offers the opportunity for Coventry residents over 50 years of age look back at their lives in the city through the lens of sport. From amateur sport on the playing fields of Coventry to the heady days of topflight football from […]
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In honour of our current exhibition, ‘Grown Up in Britain – 100 Years of Teenage Kicks’, Coventry Archives are shedding light on another area of youth culture.
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Coventry’s history of destruction and rebirth make it a fitting host for an exhibition that explores damaged artwork, according to the artist behind it.
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The International Children’s Games 2022 (ICG) Opening Ceremony was a huge success, with thousands of athletes, coaches, family and friends and VIPs gathering in the Assembly Festival Gardens to celebrate the start of the Games.
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The Queen’s Baton Relay will be travelling through Coventry on Thursday 21 July – a week before the start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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The International Children’s Games (ICG 2022) Opening Ceremony is sponsored by Heart of England Community Foundation and Wesleyan Foundation.
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There are now just 50 days until the International Children’s Games (ICG2022) comes to Coventry, with the Games running from 11-16 August 2022.
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Have you heard about social prescribing?
Come to find out more about arts, culture, sports, exercise, health and wellbeing activities in Coventry and Warwickshire. Drop-in throughout the day to get more information from services and organisations, and experience taster sessions such as craft-making, health monitoring and so much more!
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Five Coventry residents with learning disabilities have successfully been recruited to paid employment in CV Life, following a new partnership training programme.
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CV Life is hosting a Thriving Communities Social Prescribing network session.
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Here at CV Life, we are proud to be supporting ‘Wheels 4 All, Coventry.
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Young swimmer, Charly, who has Downs Syndrome, has been making waves at CV Life as she hits milestones and personal bests in the water.
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nominees for this year’s award opens at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry tomorrow, 29 September 2021.
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The team at CV Life are now working with BBC CWR to help as many young people access sports equipment as possible!
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Two Coventry charities are working together to improve the sport and culture offer across the city.
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Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre is having their 3G outdoor football pitch upgraded.
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Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre is now a part of the CV Life family. It officially began operating as a CV Life centre
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11 January 2021 During the last lockdown in November a number of CV Life Community Development Officers, Sports Coaches and other CV Life staff took part in a Coach Development Programme hosted by CV Life’s Engage Co-ordinator Wayne Goss. With Wayne’s background as a Coach Educator for the English Football Association he was well placed […]
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The centre opened in 2004, specialising in football, outdoor sports facilities and nature activities. Since then it has been used by many and is an extremely popular sports venue in the city. So, now at 15 years old, the centre is getting the refresh it deserves.
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