Coventry needs you! - Trust launches drive to find 5,000 'City Host' volunteers for historic culture year - The Coventry Observer

Coventry needs you! - Trust launches drive to find 5,000 'City Host' volunteers for historic culture year

Coventry Editorial 25th Feb, 2021   0

COVENTRY people from all ages and backgrounds are being urged to come forward and become a volunteer to help welcome visitors to the UK’s City of Culture.

Coventry City Culture of Trust in partnership with EnV and CUSU, are today launching the drive to recruit more than 5,000 volunteers to be part of its City Hosts Programme.

Recruitment is now under way and will see the first cohort of City Hosts signed up by the end of April.




Further recruitment drives will take place throughout the year so that City Hosts can complete induction and training before being offered opportunities to volunteer at events.

City Hosts will perform a variety of roles in Coventry and Warwickshire, which include providing a friendly welcome and supporting visitors and event spectators to navigate around the city.


Volunteers will be placed at key transport hubs to provide an initial welcome and a farewell to visitors, while others will provide information on artworks,

installations and events.

The recruitment drive and training is being undertaken by EnV in partnership with Coventry University Students’ Union (CUSU).

Not only will City Hosts be celebrated for contributing to the success of the year, they will also receive training to enhance their skills, access to discounts through a City of Culture Loyalty Scheme and the chance to widen their social circle and make new friends.

The City Hosts programme is completely flexible for those who want to get involved, with the option to commit to supporting as little as three events between May 2021 and May 2022 or the opportunity to volunteer for more if they want to.

Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “This is a very exciting moment as we launch our recruitment for our City Hosts.

“We seek to engage residents in many ways – as audience members, participants, supporters and makers. Today we invite everyone in the city to play a major part in ensuring the success of City of Culture, by joining our City Hosts programme.

“We are delighted to be working with EnV and CUSU on this initiative and look forward to seeing this programme blossoming over the coming weeks.”

Vijay Lakhanpal was born in Kenya, moved to Coventry in 1966 and it has been her home ever since.

She said: “I became a Coventry Ambassador volunteer for the Olympics in 2012 because I am proud of where I grew up, because the city has made me the person I am today.

“I enjoy voluntary work and I want to be involved in showing off this city in a way it deserves to be.

“The diverse cultural community has brought so much colour and life into the city and we should celebrate that together.”

Devina Whitwell, CUSU Employability Services Manager, has also signed up to be a City Host and said there are many advantages to volunteering.

She said: “During my time as a volunteer I have gained insight into opportunities that I had limited experience in. I met new people, enhanced my employability and had experiences that would not have been possible.”

Martin added: “What better way to celebrate this incredible time for the city, than putting what makes Coventry special – its people – front and centre.

“We want everyone to come and help us make this an incredible year for Coventry.

“So, sign up – your city needs you!”

Visit www.coventry2021.co.uk/cityhosts for more information and to sign up.

Or, for those who don’t have internet access, they can contact the City of Culture hotline on 02476 998221 and choose ‘option 6’ for City Hosts.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Coventry Observer newspaper.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Coventry Observer.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.