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Purple Flag - we need YOUR help!
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Back in January, we were proud to announce that Coventry achieved Purple Flag accreditation - a prestigious recognition of the city as a safe, vibrant, and well-managed night-time destination, and the only one in the West Midlands to reach this standard. 
 
While this is a major milestone, we know perceptions don’t always match reality, so it’s vital we continue working together to promote the positive story of Coventry.
 
To support this, Coventry BID has launched a campaign highlighting key safety initiatives and is rolling out the ‘Paint the Town Purple’ campaign across digital screens and social media.
 
We’d love your support in helping amplify this message - whether by engaging with our posts, sharing your own positive stories, displaying campaign materials, or featuring the Purple Flag on your website. 
 
If you can help with any of the above, please email marketing@coventrybid.co.uk, or find the Purple Flag Asset Pack by clicking the button below.
 
Together, we can strengthen Coventry’s reputation and encourage more people back into the city. 
 

 
member spotlight
st Mary's wins gold at west midlands tourism awards
St Mary’s Guildhall has been recognised as one of the region’s leading visitor attractions after triumphing at the West Midlands Tourism Awards 2026.
 
The 14th century venue claimed gold for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the prestigious awards, which honoured businesses and destinations making an outstanding contribution to the West Midlands’ thriving visitor economy.
 
The venue will now have the opportunity to vie for the national title against other iconic destinations across the country at the VisitEngland Awards.
 
But that wasn't the only city centre accolade of the night, the brilliant Putt Putt Social Coventry were awarded Bronze in the New Tourism Business of the Year too!
 
We hope you'll join us in congratulating these deserving businesses!
read more here
bid updates
Millions of families in line for Child Benefit rate increase
Millions of families claiming Child Benefit will have seen an increase in their payments from this week, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) encourages those yet to claim to use the HMRC app or go online to claim theirs today.
 
From 6 April, claimants now receive £27.05 per week - or £1,406.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week - or £930.80 a year - for each additional child, with no limit as to how many children parents can claim for. This is an annual increase of £52 and £33.80 respectively.
 
Latest figures show that while more than 6.9 million families receive Child Benefit payments, only 72% of families claimed it in their baby’s first year. A Child Benefit claim can only be backdated for up to 3 months from the date your claim is received by HMRC, which means thousands of families are missing out.
 
HMRC has released a YouTube video explaining how new parents can make a claim.
 
Watch the YouTube video by clicking the button below.
watch now
member spotlight
The april blitz of 1941 tour
A special tour exploring a pivotal yet lesser-known chapter in the city’s wartime history will take place at one of Coventry’s most historic buildings this week.
 
St Mary’s Guildhall, the iconic 14th century heritage venue in the heart of the city centre, is encouraging residents and visitors to explore two specific dates during the Second World War.
 
The November 1940 bombing of nearby Coventry Cathedral during the Blitz when the Guildhall amazingly survived is well documented, but the city also suffered devastating attacks on April 8 and 10 in 1941.
 
During the first raid on April 8, around 230 German bombers attacked Coventry and over 280 people were killed and over 700 seriously injured in an attack which lasted nearly seven hours with the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital on Stoney Standon Road being severely affected.
 
This was followed on April 10 by an intense three-hour raid when a further 170 people were killed while Christ Church was destroyed and King Henry VIII School and St Mary’s Hall were among the damaged buildings.
 
To mark the 85th anniversary since those events, a tour – which is already nearly sold-out – has been organised at 11am on Sunday, April 12 to shine a spotlight on these lesser-known, but equally significant moments, in the city’s history.
 
Read more about the tour by clicking the button below.
read more here
 

 
What's On?
embroidery workshop: coventry cathedral
April 9th 2026
let's watch & make: coventry cathedral
April 11th 2026
dance ‘til you’e dead: twisted barrel, fargo village
April 11th 2026
 

 
Coventry Half Marathon & 10K is back!
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It's very nearly time to welcome back the Coventry Half Marathon and 10K this April!
 
On Sunday 19th April, the Half Marathon event will begin on the historic City Centre streets before heading to the nearby countryside and out towards Shakespeare’s county of Warwickshire.
 
A great event for runners and spectators alike, this scenic route promises to attract huge crowds of supporters and allows for a spot of phenomenal sightseeing as the gothic city centre meets the picturesque countryside.
 
Plus, the Coventry 10K will also be happening on the same day through the historic City Centre streets passing the Wave Waterpark, Moseley Avenue Park, and finishing at Cox Street.
 
At the finish line, runners of both races will be greeted with a goody bag of rewards, including post-run treats and a hard-earned bespoke medal for them to remember the day.
 
 

 
See you next week!
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Holt Court (rear) First Floor, 16 Warwick Row
Coventry, West Midlands CV1 1EJ, United Kingdom