Voices of the Movement: Meet Cass

“If you care about this city and your community, you’re already qualified.”

Moving to Coventry from Spain at 18 with big dreams, Cass has seen firsthand the incredible potential tucked away in our city's neighbourhoods, but also the invisible barriers that keep us isolated. Today, through her work at the WATCH community centre and her fresh role on the Connecting for Good Core Team, she is stepping up to change that.

Cass has shared a wonderfully honest conversation about power, talent, postcodes and why she believes it’s time to break out of our silos. Cass’s story is a beautiful reminder that the city belongs to all of us. Read our full interview with her below...

What made you step up? What was the exact moment you said, 'enough'?"

I moved to Coventry from Spain when I was 18, like a lot of people who come to this country and city, with big dreams and absolutely no idea what was waiting for me.

Through my work at WATCH and various other community projects, I’ve had the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life and seeing Coventry from lots of different perspectives. One thing I’ve learned is that talent isn’t distributed by postcode, but opportunities often are. Depending on where you live, who you know, or what community you’re part of, your access to opportunities can look completely different.

Working in a community centre gives me a front-row seat to both the incredible potential people have and the barriers that often stand in their way. I hear people’s stories, celebrate their wins, and see firsthand the challenges they’re facing. And, ultimately, that’s what drives me and the work that I do. I want to help build a Coventry where more people can access opportunities to further develop their potential and feel empowered to shape the future of the city. For me, it’s about creating pathways for growth by championing equality and making sure everyone has the chance to truly thrive. 

What’s a hard truth about our city that we aren't talking about enough?

Coventry is full of different communities, but sometimes it can feel like we isolate ourselves from each other without realising it. 

We’ve got incredible diversity, but we’re still facing barriers for people from different backgrounds, industries, ages, and communities to be able to come together and learn from each other. So many people are fighting similar battles without even realising it. We could be much stronger if we spent less time working in silos and more time gathering all of our resources and building something together.

Who in Coventry are you doing this for?

I’m doing this for the person who’s just arrived in Coventry, looking for a better life.

I’m doing it for the young people who are trying to find their voice and make it matter, the women who want to be taken seriously, the creatives who are trying to make a better living through their craft, and the volunteers who are quietly helping hold everything together behind the scenes of any organisation. Because everything we do, everything we contribute, everything we say matters.

At the end of the day, we’re all just people trying to build a good life for ourselves and the people we care about. Everyone deserves the opportunity to belong and feel like this city belongs to them, too.  

If someone is thinking about joining CFG, what would you say to them?

If you’re thinking about joining CFG, I’d say don’t worry about whether you’re qualified enough, experienced enough, or know enough.

If you care about this city, and your community, and want it to be the best version of itself, you’re already qualified.

The city doesn’t just get shaped by a handful of people in a room but by the people who live here every day. So come along! Bring your experiences, your ideas, your energy. Gather stories and spread the word! Because Coventry belongs to all of us.

Are you ready to realise your own power?

As Cass says, Coventry doesn't belong to a select few; it belongs to all of us. You don't need a fancy title or formal qualifications to help make our city the best version of itself. You just have to care.

If Cass's words struck a chord, or if you are tired of working in a silo and want to find your people, let's connect.

Join the Movement: Pledge Your Support Here (Tell us what you care about, or book a friendly 1-1 chat with our team!)