We’re overjoyed to announce that Creative Optimistic Visions CIC (COV) has been awarded a four-year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund — an incredible milestone for our small but passionate organisation.
This achievement, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, recognises the years of dedication our team, volunteers, and community have invested in creating safer, stronger futures for young people across Coventry.
Grounded in Protective Behaviours – Growing with Purpose
At the heart of everything we do is the Protective Behaviours Process — a framework that reminds us “we all have the right to feel safe all the time” and that “we can talk with someone about anything, even if it is awful or small.”
This funding is more than just financial support — it’s recognition of how a Protective Behaviours approach can transform lives. It validates our belief that when young people are given the tools to understand their feelings, recognise their rights, and express themselves safely and creatively, they develop the confidence and resilience to thrive.
What This Funding Will Help Us Achieve
🌟 Sustain and strengthen our core offer — Expanding our COV Youth provision to two nights a week, giving more young people a free, safe and welcoming space to cook, create, play, learn, and belong.
🌿 Grow our new allotment space — A youth-led, outdoor wellbeing project where young people can grow food, connect with nature, and learn new life skills while improving mental health.
🎤 Expand our creative programmes — Continuing our successful Fire in the Youth and Girls on Fire projects, empowering young people through music, performance, and self-expression. Our female DJ group will continue to challenge stereotypes, build confidence, and perform live at events.
👩💼 Invest in our growth and sustainability — We will be recruiting a Senior Youth Worker, working with a Social Impact Researcher, and developing stronger communications to capture and share our impact.
A Celebration of Partnership and Community
This grant is a reflection of the collective strength of our community — the young people, families, and partners who stand with us.
Our heartfelt thanks go to:
- Coventry Music (Heart of England Music Hub) for co-funding Girls on Fire and helping young women amplify their voices.
- Jami Dixon, our Social Impact Researcher, for evidencing the impact of our Protective Behaviours approach.
- Taylor Cottrell, our social media and comms consultant, for supporting spreading our message creatively with clarity.
- Coventry Youth Partnership, Positve Youth Foundation, Aptitude Youth, Youth Justice, Children’s Services, Coventry Alternative Provision, Safer Together, and the Violence Reduction Partnership for their continued collaboration and belief in our mission.
- The Protective Behaviours Consortium, for their guidance, support and quality assurance.
- And to the young people who inspire us daily with their courage, creativity, and optimism — you are the reason we do what we do.
Looking Ahead
For Creative Optimistic Visions, this funding is a defining moment — a chance to deepen our impact, secure our future, and continue showing that even a small organisation can make a big difference when driven by care, creativity, and community.
We’ll be sharing our journey, stories, and successes over the next four years — so follow along and celebrate with us!
✨ A huge thank you to everyone who plays The National Lottery – your support makes this possible.
#NationalLottery #TNLCommunityFund #ProtectiveBehaviours #CoventryYouth #CommunityImpact #CreativeOptimisticVisions
