From university to community: Hope 4 The Community CIC and Coventry University win national award for impact
Hope 4 The Community CIC (H4C), which spun out of research at Coventry University, has been recognised on the national stage after winning the Local Impact Award at the University Alliance Awards 2025.
University Alliance is a national group of professional and technical universities, and its annual awards celebrate projects that make a measurable difference through teaching, research, partnerships and public engagement. The Local Impact Award, supported by UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), shines a spotlight on initiatives delivering real change for local communities.
Nine winners were announced at the Alliance Awards 2025 ceremony hosted by the University of Hertfordshire on 18th September 2025
H4C was co-founded in 2015 by Professor Andy Turner and four community members — Tina Malin, Wendy Dingley, Dave McHattie and Vicky Harker. All four had first taken part in the Hope Programme, then trained as facilitators, before stepping up as company directors.
Now celebrating its 10th year, H4C has delivered self-management programmes to more than 30,000 people in partnership with 28 organisations. The Hope Programme is rooted in Coventry University research, blending positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy to give people tools to live well with long-term conditions. Independent evaluations show lasting improvements in mental wellbeing, patient activation and reduced pressure on health services.
Dr Anna Carlson, Projects and Partnerships Lead at H4C and Professor Andy Turner attended the ceremony and accepted the award on behalf of H4C. Professor Andy Turner said:
“What began as university research is now a community-led programme that has changed thousands of lives. Over ten years, Hope 4 The Community CIC has grown into a sustainable social enterprise, empowering people to manage their health and wellbeing. This award is a fantastic recognition of the commitment of everyone involved — from participants to volunteers, staff and partners.”
For H4C, the award is both a celebration of a decade’s work and a springboard into the future. With demand on health and care services rising, the Hope Programme offers a model of how research, lived experience and community action can come together to deliver impact where it matters most.
It was also a successful night for Coventry University overall, with a second win in the Global Impact Award category. The Solar Energy Transitions Inclusive E-Cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa project was recognised for its innovative work tackling energy and sustainability challenges across the globe.