The University of Warwick Hillfields Centre

Unity House
Off Primrose Hill Street
Hillfields 
Coventry 
CV1 5GZ
Telephone 024 7655 9903

Not many people know that Warwick University has a centre in Hillfields. The centre has been here for several years and is run by the University's Centre for Lifelong Learning. During that time the main area of work has been pre-access education for adults. Students have usually  participated in certified courses (OCN, RSA, NVQ and Key Skills) in a wide range of subjects: childcare, Spanish, Maths, Science, Social Studies and computers (the latter on premises at Sidney Stringer Community Technology College). Most courses have been in partnership with Community Education Central Team and staffed by their tutors. 

The participants have often taken the first step in learning at the centre and then gone on after a year to other kinds of learning - college or with other providers, or they find work or they take a break. Childcare is usually available locally, to enable full participation. People who have attended over the years have come from all over Coventry but most have lived in Hillfields, Foleshill and Stoke areas. 

The Centre has also hosted some of the ESOL provision in the area. They have met refugees and asylum seekers who have wished to improve their English speaking and writing skills, after arriving in Coventry from many parts of the world.

They are able to provide meeting rooms for other local organisations who may wish to run courses for a short time, or who  may wish to meet on a one-off or irregular basis, or who wish to run their own outreach work, e.g. members of university departments, Terence Higgins Trust and health organisations. 

The Centre welcomes enquiries from members of the community who may wish to use the centre for suitable purposes, either on behalf of their organisations or as individuals. Contact Paddy O'Mahoney, Centre Manager.

The University is introducing a Foundation Degree in Community Enterprise and Development. 

This page was updated 31/07/2003