Working Actively To Change Hillfields Ltd.

The WATCH Centre, 12 Victoria Street, Hillfields, Coventry. CV1 5LY
Tel: 024 7655 0565  Fax: 024 7622 9423

Download a short briefing note about WATCH

WATCH is a community led organisation based in the heart of Hillfields. It is housed in the old Barclays Bank which has recently been refurbished with funding provided by English Partnerships and SRB. The management of the organisation is via a management committee consisting of twenty one representatives of the local community, community groups, voluntary organisations and local business representatives.

WATCH PROJECTS

• An Employment and Advice Centre which attracts in excess of 500 clients per week. The majority of these are from excluded communities i.e. ethnic minorities, asylum seekers, single parents or long term unemployed. The project is particularly successful in assisting clients into employment.

• Job Surgeries at a number of convenient outreach locations in the area.

• A project specifically targeted at 16 - 19 year olds who are disengaged or at risk of disaffection (having left school but not eligible for New Deal). This project particularly targets young people in the area and has established excellent links with key statutory agencies e.g. ConneXions, Probation Service and Youth Offending Service.

• A Community Services Team which works with community groups and voluntary organisations to build their capacity, to fulfill their potential and play a key role in the regeneration of the area. The  team also works with the local community to promote active citizenship and pride in the area.

• A UK On-line Centre providing not only state of the art equipment in the WATCH Centre but also upgrade equipment at both the Hillfields Early Years Centre (targeting family learning) and the Osaba Women's Centre (targeting gender specific learning).

Bill Hall General Manager
Kam Rai  Employer Services Manager  Kam’s responsibilities include helping local people into employment opportunities with Coventry employers. He is a partner in the new Coventry City Council funded jobs brokerage, the Recruitment Network.
	Vicki Urch Community Services Manager It is Vicki’s responsibility to manage Community Development Projects. A particular remit is to increase the membership of W.A.T.C.H., work with the organisation towards it’s long-term sustainability and along with Membership and Publicity to raise the profile of Hillfields and W.A.T.C.H. in particular
Employment Officers Nafesa Noor- Boksh (pictured right) Neil Keane Christina Austin

Gina Bansi

Anne Cranston - Commmunity Development Worker
Liz Cotton - Youth Development Worker
Colin Smart - Careers Advisor
Koshane Koshani - Interpreter / Advisor (Farsi)
Kathy Gower - Finance Officer
Monica Walker - Finance / Administration Officer
Bazz Jassi - ICT Project Co-ordinator
Beth Gaunt - PA/Administrator

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• 12886 clients used the service between 1st April and 31st March 2002
• 853 clients using the service for the first time in the period
• 225 clients have entered training or received training advice
• 2 job fairs held at the centre attracting a number of companies e.g. Peugeot, West Midlands Travel, Greggs Bakery, William Hill, Group 4 Security, NHS, and a number of Employment Agencies including Swifcall, Elite and Tempforce. The events attracted in excess of 700 potential employees and Peugeot alone had 103 applications and have so far given aptitude tests to 62 candidates.
• Hillfields Business Forum formed in October 2001.
• Final approval for ICT Centre in October 2001
• Refurbished centre launched by Stella Manzie in November 2001.
• Ongoing training programme established for community groups in Hillfields.
• Community conference organised in partnership with Area Co-ordination to produce a vision statement for Hillfields.
• Conference for stakeholders organised in partnership with Area Co-ordination.resulting in establishment of Hillfields Partnership Board.

WATCH FUNDING

WATCH was originally funded by SRB, complimented by URBAN funding, some of which ceased at the end of March 2001 and the balance came to an end on 31st December 2001.

In the last twelve months WATCH has been successful in attracting funding to continue and further develop the numerous activities taking place in the centre and within the community.

Funders include:

• Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
• Coventry City Council PPR Grant
• European Social Fund
• LSC (ESF Co-financing)
• New Opportunities Fund
• Neighbourhood Support Fund
• GOWM (Capital Modernisation Fund)

WATCH has a website at www.watch-hillfields.org