Volunteers in the community

Warwick Volunteers uses the skills, energy and enthusiasm of our volunteer students to run a wide variety of projects which benefit the local community. Student volunteers look after local green spaces, reduce loneliness among older residents, run craft activities, support local school children and community events. In 2019/20 around a 1,000 students were involved in community-focused projects in Coventry, Leamington, Kenilworth and Warwick.

"It is a highlight of my week and it is making such a difference to my life and world and I know it is to the whole of phab too. The Warwick Volunteers who come to Phab zoom are like a huge burst of life and energy that lifts us all up. I am so grateful to them and feel they are so much part of our Phab family, thank you” Nat Parr, Kenilworth Phab.

Read more about Warwick Volunteers

If you are a not for profit community organisation based in Coventry or Warwickshire Warwick Volunteers can help advertise a range of opportunities to students, from weekly volunteering to event support and short term group projects.

Find out more and sign up as an Opportunity Partner

Back to top

A decade of partnership in Canley

Canley is one of our closest neighbourhood communities and home to many of our students and staff. We’ve enjoyed a decade of partnership in Canley, working with local people to help them define their future, build community capacity and amplify their strengths. We are embedded in the local area and developing together.

“I could see all the groups working in silos across Coventry. I was keen to leverage all their efforts and get everyone working together to make a bigger difference.” Read Nor's story

Back to top

Planning for Real in Canley

Planning for Real was a nationally-recognised community planning process where residents developed ideas on a locally-made 3D map of the area. It allowed a wide range of people from Canley to register their views on a variety of issues, work together to identify priorities, and go on to develop an action plan for change with the support of local agencies. We trained and supported Canley residents to deliver this process every step of the way.

Find out more about Planning for Real

Back to top

Playing out in Canley

Playing Out in Canley is a collaborative programme of activity for all ages between the people of Canley and Warwick Arts Centre which aims to support the residents of Canley to realise a vision for a new community hub. ‘Play’ is our central theme.

In summer 2023, over 100 people took part in the Canley Parade as part of the project. Watch this film and hear from residents, celebrating an amazing day of community spirit, creative engagement and a love of all things Canley.

We are pleased to be supporting this year's Canley Parade on 22 June 2024.

Find out more about Playing Out in Canley

Back to top

Warwick Law in the Community (LinC)

Our Warwick Law students volunteer on a range of community-based projects with the Central England Law Centre (CLEC) in Coventry and other local partners.

In 2021/22, 81 students volunteered. This included 36 volunteers through the Strategic Public Law Clinic, 15 students volunteering through our arrangement with the Immigration and Asylum Team at the CELC, 12 students completing a range of community-based projects through our Public Legal Education Module, 5 Summer interns and 13 students on the School Exclusion Project with Warwickshire County Council.

Explore our community-based law projects

Back to top

Graduate placements with local charities

We offer our local SMEs and charities in the Coventry and Warwickshire area the opportunity to host a graduate trainee, who would work as a Project Officer putting their project management skills into practice. A skilled graduate trainee will work at your organisation for 3 days per week, for an 8-month period, before returning to Warwick to complete the rest of the scheme. The graduate trainees will continue to be employed by (and 100% paid by) the University of Warwick.

External placement bids will be open when our next cohort have been recruited ready for placement 2 in 2025. Exact dates will be shared nearer the date.

Find out more about graduate placements with charities

Back to top

Student placements in local charities and SMEs

We have placed students in local small and medium-sized enterprises and Not for Profit organisations. If you are looking for a summer placement student, Employer Connect can support you.

"The partnership built with Warwick University has been established for over 4 years and throughout this time we have successfully provided 5 paid internships, engaging with students that have contributed a wide range of skills and competencies in an organisation that is a significant local business with a charitable purpose" Helena Wallis, Chief Executive of Heart of England Mencap 

Find out more about student placements

Back to top

Our Covid-19 support

Community and local need were at the core of our response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Find out more about our Covid-19 support

Find out more about our Covid-19 research & insight

Explore our online education resources for school children

Back to top

Coventry Responsible Business Leaders Network

We are members of the Business in the Community Coventry Responsible Business Leaders Network - a group of Coventry organisations committed to supporting the local community.

Discover Business in the Community Coventry

Back to top

Public/community engagement internships

Warwick Institute of Engagement (WIE) pays for student internships in the West Midlands so that students and recent alumni can gain experience of public and community engagement outside the university context. Last year, internships ran at museums and galleries with Culture Coventry, the arts charity Coventry Artspace, the community organising charity Grapevine, and Warwick Arts Centre. Read about the 2023 intern experiences. These internships typically take place in July and August.

Find out more about Public engagement internships

Back to top

Community engagement with our research

Warwick Institute of Engagement (WIE)

Our Warwick Institute of Engagement supports our staff and students to engage with local people on their research and public engagement events.

Read the latest WIE Annual Report.

Our WIE regional fellows come from across Coventry and Warwickshire and help us build and strengthen links into the region. We also benefit from the expertise and knowledge they feed into the Institute.

WIE has been selected as a case study of Knowledge Exchange best practise! Check it out here:  https://keconcordat.ac.uk/warwick-institute-of-engagement-warwick-university/…Link opens in a new window

In 2019/20, 122,000 people connected with our research through public lectures, exhibitions and other activities.​

The WIE Collaboration and Co-Production Fund was launched in the autumn of 2021 to support staff and students to develop ongoing strategic relationships with local, regional, and national partners. Read some of the success stories.

Find out about more about WIE

Back to top

City of Culture Research Projects

We worked with the local community to generate impactful research to benefit Coventry throughout the year of the City of Culture and beyond.

From exhibitions with local artists, to food resilience, to regenerating local green spaces, we created pioneering projects and brought research to fresh audiences in new and exciting ways. Researchers worked with lots of different local communities on projects that focused on making connections, unearthing hidden stories, and positively impacting people’s lives.

Read about our research projects

For more examples of how we are pointing the way ahead towards a better and fairer future for all, visit Research Stories | University of Warwick.

Back to top

Coventry Creates

A programme that united researchers with local artists and cultural organisations to produce digital artistic commissions in response to university research. The programme has involved over 120 researchers and local creatives.

30 pieces of research, 30 creative responses – 2 years in the making. Coventry Creates launched in Spring 2020 as an innovative way to support the local arts and cultural sector during lockdown. Over 2 years The City of Culture University Partnership (with additional funds from Arts Council England) has funded 30 projects resulting in a wide range of innovative artworks presented through a Digital Exhibition. A full evaluation of the programme has been undertaken and knowledge-sharing case study report created to inspire others.

Read more about Coventry Creates

Back to top

Youth Mental Health policy

Research by Professor Max Birchwood and Professor Swaran Singh has improved quality of care, response and access to mental health services. In particular, their work has led to the creation of improved mental health services for 0-25 year olds.

The model for 0-25 year olds first introduced in Birmingham linking Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and adult services, has transformed mental health care for young people across the West Midlands and has now been copied in 10 cities across the UK, as well as in Canada, France, Ireland and Australia. Their research and work has informed the national NHS Long Term Plan of 2019.

Find out more

For more examples of how we are pointing the way ahead towards a better and fairer future for all, visit Research Stories | University of Warwick.

Back to top

Research with Coventry City Council on health inequalities

We’re working with Coventry City Council and partners to tackle inequalities and improve health outcomes across Coventry through research, as part of a wider £50 million investment across the country.

More information

For more examples of how we are pointing the way ahead towards a better and fairer future for all, visit Research Stories | University of Warwick.

Back to top

Grapevine and the University of Warwick: A ‘Fresh’ approach to participatory research

Community organisation Grapevine and the University of Warwick have teamed up to enable Ball Hill residents in Coventry to investigate issues around local air pollution. By measuring pollution levels around a local school and high street at different times of day, they hope to gain a better understanding of air quality and to advocate for change through a citizens’ jury. This project blends elements of both participatory research and citizen science, with non-professional scientists in Ball Hill undertaking scientific work with a focus on empowerment, education, and change.

"Working with Warwick University to introduce research skills to people in Ball Hill is another key way we can help them become advocates and informed spokespeople for the needs of their area." Clare Wightman, Grapevine CEO.

Read about this research project

For more examples of how we are pointing the way ahead towards a better and fairer future for all, visit Research Stories | University of Warwick.

Back to top

Campus walks

Our 290 hectare campus and surrounding area offers a lovely environment for a short stroll or a longer adventure. Find out more about two suggested routes: around our lakes or through the Warwickshire countryside.

Explore our maps

Back to top

Warwick Arts Centre

One of the largest multi-artform venues in the UK, delivering a high quality, engaging, diverse programme of cinema, performing and visual arts, presented in world-class venues and spaces at the heart of campus.

What's on at Warwick Arts Centre

Back to top

Sports and Wellness Hub

Our 40,000m2 Sports and Wellness Hub opened in May 2019 and includes a multi-functional sports hall; the biggest gym in the higher education sector; a 25m-long swimming pool; 17m-high indoor climbing walls; fitness suites; and squash courts. It is designed to be physically accessible to all to encourage participation by all with Changing Places facilities and a Pool Pod lift.

Find out more about our Sports and Wellness Hub

Back to top

Visit us

Whether it's your first or 100th visit, find out more about visiting campus and how to get here with our campus maps, travel advice, parking information and public transport information.

Visiting the University

Back to top

Cafes, bars and restaurants

Why not visit one of our cafes, bars and restaurants on campus. You'll find a great range of international food including Middle Eastern and Asian and, of course, a selection of tempting British cakes.

Discover places to eat and drink

Back to top

Family creative fun

Getting creative is for all ages. Our Warwick Arts Centre is excited to welcome you to our building with free, artist led, creative activities for families each week. All of our activities are led by artists and designed for families to create, make and play together.

Discover our family fun activities

Back to top

Sculpture Trail

You can Take the Sculpture Trail challenge at Warwick Arts Centre! There’s no need to book, simply download our FREE family activity packs and explore the University campus. It’s suitable for all ages and everyone is welcome.

Explore our Sculpture Park

Back to top

University Art Collection and Mead Gallery

Visiting us on campus is a chance to discover the University of Warwick’s unique collection of modern and contemporary visual art and sculpture.

Discover the collection

Back to top

Library

Members of the public can access our Library for reference. Find out more about how to arrange a one-off visit or how to apply for free reference-only membership and consult our collections.

Visiting our Library

Back to top

Our Esports Centre

Our Esports Centre can be found at Fusion in the Rootes Building. It has state-of-the-art esports equipment and games, and a bar offering food and drink. The Esports centre is open to everyone.

Bookings are open for pay to play sessions, social events, business events, skills programmes, and school experiences.

More about our Esports Centre

Back to top