This opportunity came through B-Inspired, one of our members, who received an invitation to participate in the Local Access Programme. This development project was part of a £33 million, 10-year initiative led by Access - The Foundation for Social Investment and Big Society Capital. It aimed to support local partnerships in England to strengthen their social economies through a mix of enterprise support and blended finance (grants and repayable investment). The goal was to help charities and social enterprises grow and create lasting social impact. Reaching People received £10,000 in development funding to shape our proposals and explore how social enterprise and investment could support our area's long-term vision.
We brought together community members and public sector partners to shape a shared vision for the future of social enterprise in Leicester over the next 10 years. This collaborative process led to a co-owned and agreed plan, aligning efforts across the voluntary and community sector (VCS), Leicester City Council, and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). Learning visits to other areas, along with webinars and wider knowledge sharing, enriched our understanding. As a partnership, we developed a clearer picture of our collective strengths and weaknesses in relation to social enterprise. Crucially, the funding provided the capacity needed to coordinate efforts and maintain momentum throughout the process.
Unfortunately, our application was not taken forward to the next stage of the programme. However, thanks to our creative partners, we now have comprehensive data and clear mind maps stressing how important good health and the environment are for making significant improvements for our local population. You’re very welcome to use and build on the information in this document.
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