Charity group Moat House Community Trust and some of its volunteers are in for an experience of a lifetime!
After Mark Robins and his side booked their place in the SkyBet Championship Play-Off Final last Wednesday, there has been a wave of excitement and Sky Blue energy across the city.
This Saturday Coventry City will be taking on Luton Town at Wembley Stadium in this year’s Championship Play Off Final, with a place in the Premier League the prize for the winner. With over 36,000 tickets sold to our Sky Blue Army and with thanks to the FA, Sky Blues in the Community had a once in a lifetime opportunity to surprise a group worthy of this fantastic footballing experience.
The FA have a 12-seater box, which they are giving free of charge, to a community group/charity including complimentary food and drink, as well as a chance to enjoy the Wembley experience for two hours before the final.
This is where we introduce the Moat House Community Trust (MHCT). A charity based in the WHEM area of Coventry, run by and for its diverse community, it was established in May 2008 to regenerate an area where people are proud to live, work & learn.
The area is amongst the 10% most deprived areas in England, facing the multiple challenges of health inequalities, low income, below average educational attainment; whilst children and young people have low aspirations and are at high risk of gang culture and violence.
MHCT is recognised as a leading community anchor, with its approach being to work in partnership with community, public, private and VCSE sectors; collaborating to deliver high quality, demand led services in the place where people live.
MHCT Services
- Henley Grub Hub was set up July 2019 as the first community supermarket (not Food Bank) in response to growing demand for affordable (not free) food.
In March 2020, MHCT supported community through COVID by delivering to 150 households for 24 weeks.
Currently MHCT is supporting 200+ households, c600 individuals every week with store cupboard essentials, fresh fruit & veg, meat & chilled items - £30 worth of food for £5.
Their help also includes advice & guidance, benefit & housing support, social & healthcare and job search support.
- Young People
MHCT has a long-standing partnership of 10 years with Sky Blues in the Community to deliver a wide range of activities:
- Weekly football, netball, basketball
- Highly rated Holiday Scheme, which predates government funded Holiday Activity & Food programme.
- Special events e.g., Bonfire Night Fireworks, Summer Fayre, Easter egg hunts, Father Christmas on Tour.
- Older & Vulnerable People
Their work here includes tackling loneliness and isolation, improving well-being. Activities include:
- Tea & Talk
- Healthy Walks
- Armchair exercise
- Lunches
- Events e.g., Coronation Afternoon Tea
- Social Prescribing in partnership with Public Health & GPs.
- Housing
MHCT has invested in local homes, for local people in need, let at affordable rent.
- Wider Reach
MHCT shares its knowledge and expertise for wider impact, including:
- COVID community reach
- Chairing Violence Reduction Unit tackling youth violence.
- Piloting Council’s Place based prototypes – influencing delivery model.
- Founding Trustee of Coventry Food Network, a charity representing 15 community supermarkets.
Enjoying the match from their 12-seater box – gifted by the FA and nominated by ourselves- will be;
Dianne Williams, who is the CEO of the MHCT, Clive Williams the Accountant, Benjamin Williams (a volunteer) the Manduell family (a local family, supported by Henley Grub) and Kerry (a weekly volunteer) whilst Kevin, is a member of the community undergoing cancer treatment. There is also the Hussein family, Youssef, who came to UK from Egypt 2018 - all of whom are weekly users of Grub Hub.
Kerry Manduell commented: “To be given this opportunity is a once in a lifetime for me and my family. My husband has got stage 4 cancer and is on palliative care. We’re a young family, we’re avid football fans, we live and breathe football. Football is our lives especially for my lad and his dad, so to be able to have the opportunity for us all to be together to watch this special moment means the world to us as a family! We can’t believe your kindness, we’re totally overwhelmed to be able to make these special memories for our family, thank you.”
We hope you all have a fantastic time at Wembley! #PUSB