A major Coventry venue has announced a new partnership which will see it support a charity that works with young people living in the area.
Coventry Building Society Arena is partnering with Positive Youth Foundation (PYF), a charity which improves outcomes for young people in Coventry and surrounding areas through a range of programmes and initiatives.
The charity will become one of the venues community partners and the team from the venue will take an active role in supporting and upskilling staff and volunteers at PYF.
It will see the venue engage with the charity in staff development, support their standards and certificates for food safety and also provide enrichment opportunities for young people.
To launch the partnership, the Arena has donated more than 20 pieces of furniture to refresh the space at Hillfields Young Peoples Centre. Staff at the venue have also carried out an internal fundraising activity and raised more than £1,350 to donate to support the kitchen at the centre.
The partnership will initially focus on supporting the development and training of staff at PYF to operate the kitchen – with expert advice around food safety, cleaning and assisting the charity with essential paperwork.
Coventry Building Society Arena’s experts will also be helping the charity to design a new kitchen and in 2026 is planning to deliver cooking lessons for young people that are supported by PYF.
Positive Youth Foundation is the venue’s third community partner, joining Coventry foodbank and Coventry & Warwickshire Children’s Charity.
Mark O’Shea, Catering and Experience Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: “We are committed to supporting all areas of our community and the work PYF do is vital to support the positive futures of hundreds of young people across the city.
“Our team has a huge amount of expertise in food safety, catering and operational standards, and sharing that knowledge with PYF staff and volunteers will help strengthen the invaluable services they provide.
“This is all about creating opportunities and working with PYF to make a lasting impact and real difference for young people in Coventry.”
Krishan Singh, Director of the Positive Youth Foundation, said: “PYF is excited to partner with Coventry Building Society Arena in order to improve outcomes for local young people.
“Already, we have seen great benefit in working together and look forward to the next phases where we will increase the skills of our staff, volunteers and young people, in particular in important areas such as food preparation and event management.
“We would like to thank Mark and the team for their commitment towards our work with young people from across the Coventry area.”
To find out more abut Positive Youth Foundation visit www.positiveyouthfoundation.org
Author: Kizzy Allott
Kizzy Allott is Publisher at Event Industry News, where she has been a driving force behind the brand for over a decade. With a deep understanding of the events sector and a passion for storytelling, Kizzy leads the platform’s commercial and content strategy, connecting the industry through news, insights, and meaningful conversations. She is dedicated to championing innovation, amplifying industry voices, and ensuring event professionals stay informed, inspired, and future-focused.
