Category Archives: Uncategorized

Preston Move Forward

Move Forward in Preston: Your Path to Success!

If you live in Preston, are not currently working and are looking for personal development opportunities or need some support to overcome barriers, we can help you Move Forward.

We will share case studies on the support provided and impacts that have been made throughout the delivery of this project.

Read about the individual impacts achieved through Preston’s Move Forward project here.

 

Who we can help

Move Forward is our new service supporting Preston residents who are out of work, and held back by multiple barriers to employment – including:

  • No or low skills / work experience
  • Poor physical or mental health
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Lack of motivation, aspiration and trust
  • Experience of criminality
  • Drug and/or alcohol abuse
  • Experience of domestic violence
  • Poor experience within the care system
  • Benefit dependency
  • Homelessness
  • Financial difficulties
  • Social isolation or loneliness

To be eligible for support, individuals must be:

  • Aged 25 and above
  • Economically Inactive (those not in work and not actively seeking work, unlike unemployed individuals who are actively seeking work).
  • Living in Preston (within boundaries of Preston City Council)
  • A legal resident in the UK and able to take paid employment in the UK.

 

We know it can be difficult to return to work and are here to help you to Move Forward.

This support is free of charge. We hope to offer this support in additional areas soon, so please watch this space.

 

How we can help

Move Forward in Preston is delivered by a team of project partners who are here to assist you in finding your path to work, from enhancing your skills, to helping you break down any obstacles that are holding you back.

We can provide access to free opportunities, such as volunteering and work placements to grow your experience. You can also access free training through Move Forward, including maths, ESOL and digital skills courses.

Our network can also help you grow personally and professionally, providing personalised help and guidance.

We also offer free optional sports and activities to improve your wellbeing, boost your confidence and connect you with others in your community.

 

Our overall aims

  • Supporting you on your journey – from personal growth and development, to securing a new job.
  • Building strong connections with people and organisations around Lancashire.
  • Collaborating with existing services and creating new ways to support you.

If you are ready to make positive changes in your job search journey, Move Forward is here to support you every step of the way.

 

Get in touch today

For accessing support in Preston please email daisy@selnet-uk.com or call 01772 200690 and ask about the “Move Forward project in Preston”.

Alternatively, project partners can be contacted directly for specific support:

 

Move Forward Preston’s project delivery partners

Beanstalk

Beanstalk is a social enterprise providing Employment and Skills support. Their mentoring and training enables individuals to access employment and training opportunities in an inclusive and empowering environment. Additionally, their Food and Cookery provision delivers valuable job skills and personal growth through cooking and food skills training in communities and educational settings. Beanstalk’s initiatives are driven by community needs and cater to diverse learning preferences.

For support from Beanstalk through Preston’s Move Forward project, call 0300 3655530  or contact Kerry Stevens on kerry@beanstalkbusiness.co.uk

 

Integrated Care Board, NHS (ICB & NWA)

The Integrated Care Board are the dedicated team for Widening Participation for the NHS and North West Ambulance Service. This includes working with those who have complex social, emotional and health needs. We regularly work with people from primary school, right up to those looking at volunteering or first and last careers in their sixties and seventies. The collaborative approach in this project will enable access to a wider breadth of Health and Care professionals and Community and Mental Health teams to ensure that all learners are able to participate in aspects of interest and benefit from the wealth of knowledge and skills. Overall, the aim is to provide support for our communities and at the same time, benefit the health economy through the outcomes of better confidence, resilience and empowerment.

For support from ICB through Preston’s Move Forward project, contact Ruth Keeler on 07816 334145 or email ruth.keeler@mbht.nhs.uk

 

Lancashire Community Finance       

Lancashire Community Finance is a not-for-profit community organisation working in Preston since 2005. They aim to help disadvantaged and vulnerable people achieve economic, financial and social inclusion, through their person-centred approach to support they provide. We equip our service users with the tools needed to manage independently in the long-term, to be resilient in the face of unexpected events and to appreciate the benefit of accessing support at an early stage should things go wrong in the future.

The people LCF help are residents in the most disadvantaged communities (82% live in the third most deprived areas in England), service users who live with a disability (42% of working-age service users identify as disabled), are either not in work (69% of service users) or employed in low-paid, insecure, precarious jobs.

For support from LCF through Preston’s Move Forward project, contact Adam Wadie on adamwadie@lancashirecommunityfinance.co.uk

 

PHX training  

PHX was founded in 2004 and is a leading training provider in Northwest England. Certified by Matrix, Pearson, NCFE, BIIAB, and Edexcel, they run government funded training schemes including the Adults Skills Budget. A variety of vocational programmes are available from Hospitality to IT, Health and Social Care to Business Admin, each tailored to local industry needs. They also excel in improving functional skills in maths and English, from beginners to level 2, equipping individuals with essential tools for life and work.

PHX Training’s core values of Performance, Honesty, and Excellence drive their commitment to supporting growth, creating jobs, and bridging the skills gap. Their vision focuses on growth, inclusivity, and success, aiming to help individuals in Cumbria and Lancashire build a bright future. As more than just a training provider, they stand as companions on the journey to success, offering opportunities to unlock potential. With government support and guided by their values, PHX Training is dedicated to supporting individuals in reaching their successful future.

For support from PHX Training through Preston’s Move Forward project, call 01772 440969 or contact Amanda Sumner on amandasumner@phxtraining.co.uk

 

________

Move Forward delivery partners working with Selnet will support eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market, helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity. The project will combine and continue some of the valuable and impactful successes that local delivery partners have achieved over the last six years through ESIF projects, the model being an intensive Key worker support project.

________

 

Individual Impact

 

Who are we?

Move Forward is a collaboration between Active Lancashire and Selnet, along with local authorities and other organisations across Lancashire. We have teamed up to make sure you have the support you need to succeed on your journey to finding work.

This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Active Lancashire and Selnet are joining forces with colleges, housing groups, and other partners to make sure you have all the resources you need to move forward in life.

 

 


 

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Pendle Move Forward

Move Forward in Pendle: Your Path to Success!

If you live in Pendle, are not currently working and are looking for personal development opportunities or need some support to overcome barriers, we can help you Move Forward.

We will share case studies on the support provided and impacts that have been made throughout the delivery of this project.

Read about the individual impacts achieved through Pendle’s Move Forward project here.

 

Who we can help

Move Forward is our new service supporting Pendle residents who are out of work, and held back by multiple barriers to employment – including:

  • No or low skills / work experience
  • Poor physical or mental health
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Lack of motivation, aspiration and trust
  • Experience of criminality
  • Drug and/or alcohol abuse
  • Experience of domestic violence
  • Poor experience within the care system
  • Benefit dependency
  • Homelessness
  • Financial difficulties
  • Social isolation or loneliness

We know it can be difficult to return to work and are here to help you to Move Forward.

This support is free of charge. We hope to offer this support in additional areas soon, so please watch this space.

 

What do we offer?

We are here to assist you in finding your path to work, from enhancing your skills, to helping you break down any obstacles that are holding you back.

We can provide access to free opportunities, such as volunteering and work placements to grow your experience. You can also access free training through Move Forward, including maths, ESOL and digital skills courses.

Our network can also help you grow personally and professionally, providing personalised help and guidance.

We also offer free optional sports and activities to improve your wellbeing, boost your confidence and connect you with others in your community.

 

Our overall aims

  • Supporting you on your journey – from personal growth and development, to securing a new job.
  • Building strong connections with people and organisations around Lancashire.
  • Collaborating with existing services and creating new ways to support you.

If you are ready to make positive changes in your job search journey, Move Forward is here to support you every step of the way.

 

Get in touch today

For accessing support in Pendle please email daisy@selnet-uk.com or call 01772 200690 and ask about the “Move Forward project in Pendle”.

Alternatively, project partners can be contacted directly for specific support:

 

Move Forward Preston’s project delivery partners

Child Action North West (CANWe)  

CANWe Solutions CIC is a community focused service with projects developed to help those most in need in today’s society. We work with children, young people and vulnerable adults to enhance skills, supporting them to lead independent lives with empowerment to achieve their goals.

CANWe’s Social Inclusion Team includes a range of Careers Advice and Guidance (level 4) and Counselling trained/ qualified Keyworkers who worked on the team of the recently concluded BBO project. 

For support from CANW through Pendle’s Move Forward project, contact Michelle Dixon on 01254 244700 / 07585 440686 or email MMDixon@canw.org.uk

 

New Era

New Era was constituted in 1986 as a Social Enterprise cooperative organisation that supported people back into work across East Lancs and still at the heart of what we do.

New Era provides support through three hubs: family support, emotional health and wellbeing, and support to get back into work, training and volunteering. This project will sit in our Engagement Hub which support eligible Pendle residents by providing support to help break down barriers to accessing basic skills and job search.

For support from New Era through Pendle’s Move Forward project, contact Sue Rae on 01282 435302 / 07711 801821 or email sue@neweraburnley.co.uk

 

Positive Action in the Community (PAC) North      

For over 24 years we have provided access to local specialist support in the realms of domestic abuse, youth homelessness, mental health, community wellbeing, training and employment in Pendle.

Some of the issues we have experience in addressing include; past low educational outcomes, low aspiration and lack of confidence, and a wide range of barriers including financial barriers, disabilities, cultural/language, child care, lack of support and mental health. These are issues that we help address in manageable, realistic and achievable ways.

For support from PAC North through Pendle’s Move Forward project, contact Claire Bennett on 01282 227649 or email claire.bennett@p-a-c.org.uk.

 

Individual Impact

 

Who are we?

Move Forward is a collaboration between Active Lancashire and Selnet, along with local authorities and other organisations across Lancashire. We have teamed up to make sure you have the support you need to succeed on your journey to finding work.

This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Active Lancashire and Selnet are joining forces with colleges, housing groups, and other partners to make sure you have all the resources you need to move forward in life.

 

 


 

 

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Preston Invest in Youth

Preston’s Invest in Youth Project

Preston’s Invest in Youth (IIY) project is specifically designed to support young people in Preston aged between 14 and 24 years.  This new project will engage with eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market, helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity.

This project is supported by The Lancashire Colleges and will combine and continue some of the valuable and impactful successes that local delivery partners have achieved over the last six years through ESIF projects, the model being an intensive Key worker support project.

Read about the individual impacts achieved through Preston’s Invest in Youth project here.

 

Who we can help

Eligible participants must live in Preston (within Preston City Council’s district) and must be economically inactive (individuals are those not in work and not actively seeking work – unlike unemployed individuals who are actively seeking work).

Participants engaged will include, but are not limited to, young people with:

  • Poor physical or mental health
  • No or low skills / work experience
  • Care Leavers
  • Poor experience within the care system
  • Substance abuse
  • Experience of criminality
  • Experience of domestic violence
  • Benefit dependency
  • Homelessness
  • Financial difficulties
  • Social isolation or loneliness
  • Lack of motivation, aspiration and trust

 To be eligible for support, individuals must be:

  • Aged 14-24 Years old
  • Economically Inactive (those not in work and not actively seeking work) or NEET
  • Lives in Preston (within boundaries of Preston City Council)
  • Legally resident in the UK and able to take paid employment in the UK (if over 18)

 

How can we help?

A designated keyworker will offer a holistic package of support including accessing services preventative action, community empowerment and capacity building.

Invest in Youth Keyworkers will work with participants throughout their journey with the project. They will help them to recognise their barriers to inclusion and provide support to towards achieving their personal aspirations.

All support is tailored, to the individuals’ need and is wholly led by the beneficiaries, typically lasting for 3 – 4 months, through to over 12 months for beneficiaries with more complex needs.

 

Get in touch today

For accessing IIY support in Preston please email daisy@selnet-uk.com  or call 01772 200690 and ask about the “Invest in Youth project in Preston”.

Alternatively, the Invest in Youth project partners in Preston are:

 

Invest in Youth Preston’s project delivery partners

Beanstalk

Beanstalk is a social enterprise providing Employment and Skills support. Their mentoring and training enables individuals to access employment and training opportunities in an inclusive and empowering environment. Additionally, their Food and Cookery provision delivers valuable job skills and personal growth through cooking and food skills training in communities and educational settings. Beanstalk’s initiatives are driven by community needs and cater to diverse learning preferences.

For support from Beanstalk through Preston’s Invest in Youth project, call 0300 3655530  or contact Kerry Stevens on kerry@beanstalkbusiness.co.uk  

 

Creativity Works

Creativity Works provides employability support to access employment or become self-employed. After initial engagement each young person is assigned a Tutor whose first task is to carry out an initial assessment in order to identify prior learning and individual needs. This initial assessment then goes forward to form the basis of the Individual Learning Plan, which contains the qualifications that will be worked towards, target dates for achievement and the activities that will be carried out to meet the required objectives. Participants can choose from a variety of options ranging from Hair & Beauty to constriction or a mix of programmes. 

Creativity Works is a social enterprise that offers an alternative form of education to people who need or prefer to learn in a different way to the traditional education system that is predominantly academically based to one that is project-oriented and provides individualistic tuition. They provide clear, manageable goals and frameworks for people who need – or want – learning and practice to be closely connected.

For support from Creativity Works through Preston’s Invest in Youth project, call 01772 555123 or email Steve Egan on steve@creativityworkspreston.org.uk 

 

Preston Vocational Centre

Preston Vocational Centre’s Mission is to deliver the highest quality construction based vocational training and support to enable young people and adults gain skills, qualifications and confidence to enhance their full potential and build a positive future. As part of the Invest in Youth project they will deliver a range of City & Guilds construction-based qualifications as well as the employability skills. The courses they will deliver will concentrate on practical skills within a range of units covering the following trades:

  • Plastering and Rendering
  • Brickwork and Blockwork
  • Plumbing and Tiling
  • Joinery and Carpentry
  • Painting and Decorating
  • Health & Safety

Preston Vocational Centre has a proven track record of supporting young people to overcome their complex needs, and provide the necessary support to build their confidence, self-esteem and make them more employable by providing high quality training and pathways to employment.

For support from Preston Vocational Centre through Preston’s Invest in Youth project, call 01772 880680 or email Martin Grayston on martin.grayston@prestonvocationalcentre.co.uk 

 

Skills Construction Centre

SCC provide a very different training environment from mainstream education providers. Many of their students have struggled or have previously been excluded from school and would not thrive in a traditional setting.  SCC passionately believe that training should lead to sustainable employment and have developed close relationships with contractors and key stakeholders working across the Northwest.

Based on their onsite delivery model, their focus on employability and personal skills development through Preston IIY is targeted to support participants to access employment and further skills development within the construction sector. SCC recognises the importance of providing both appropriate impartial careers and transferable skills to young people they engage.  Programme delivery will be designed with four strands:

  • Skills for employment & Training
  • Pastoral Support & Personal Development
  • Sector related skills and/or knowledge.
  • Employer Engagement
  • Our vision is to create and develop the most reliable and inclusive training service.

For support from the Skills Construction Centre through Preston’s Invest in Youth project, 01772 686868 / 07725414630 or email Sonya Daley on sonya.daley@skillscc.com 

 

Wot Wud U Do

Wot Wud U Do’s mission is to instil self-belief in the young minds they engage with, empowering them to positively influence their peers and discover their full potential. They develop young people’s life skills, employability and work readiness through a series of workshops that revolve around the skills builder framework and lead up to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ styled event, where the young people present and pitch their ideas for youth led social action projects that provides solutions to local problems

Wot Wud U Do believes in the transformative power of individuals to create a lasting impact on their communities, shaping the world they inhabit. Working across Lancashire, they are dedicated to nurturing and developing networks and partnerships that bring together young people from various backgrounds, empowering them to collaborate and bring about constructive transformations. They establish pathways for young people to take on leadership roles and actively engage in shaping projects, nurturing a profound sense of ownership and empowerment within them.

For support from Wot Wud U Do through Preston’s Invest in Youth project, call  07850 043313 or email Dave Clayton on dave@www.wotwududo.co.uk 

 

Preston North End Community and Education Trust

Preston North End Community and Education Trust (PNECET) is the official charity of Preston North End Football Club. Utilising the power and appeal of Preston North End Football Club and football as a whole, they situate themselves at the heart of the Preston community, providing a high-quality service to improve people’s lives.

Through IIY Preston, their provision is centred around Community Engagement, Education, and Health and Wellbeing; through services connecting young people from all walks of life, supporting people to achieve their goals and helping them to make positive changes, ultimately creating a safer, stronger and more resilient community. PNECET support participants by accessing long-term sustainable activities to empower them to build on their achievements and continue reaping the benefits of employability activities. Participants will be offered support to sustain their involvement as a volunteer within Trust until a positive outcome is achieved.

For support from PNE’s Community and Education Trust through Preston’s Invest in Youth project, email Liam Sealey on liamsealey@pne.com

 

Individual Impact

 

Who are we?

As Lancashire’s social enterprise network, we are proud to lead this specialist partnership whose work will transform the futures of young people in Preston. This project is based on the successes and impacts of the Building Better Opportunities Invest In Youth project which delivered support across Lancashire for 7 years. Read more here.

This new current project is supported by The Lancashire Colleges and will combine and continue some of the valuable and impactful successes that local delivery partners have achieved over the last six years through ESIF projects, the model being an intensive Keyworker support project.

 

 


 

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Selnet UKSPF / employability project PENDLE (NOW CLOSED)

Call for Delivery Partners

Following the submission of a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan to the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in December 2022, Pendle Council received an allocation of £3.6m from the UKSPF to invest in projects that will benefit the district’s businesses, residents, and communities by building pride of place and increasing life chances.

The Investment Plan January 2023 to March 2025, will be delivered under three UKSPF Objectives:

1)            Communities and Place

2)            Supporting Local Business

3)            People and Skills

Due to the withdrawal of European Social Funding (ESF) for More Positive Together & Building Better Opportunities Projects – some Local Authorities are supporting their UKSPF Plans by continuing to support People and Skills in their area. An allocation of funding has now become available for any interested partners to deliver on the new combined Moving Forward Project.  

Selnet have worked in partnership with Active Lancashire to secure the Move Forward project for Pendle. Active Lancashire are the lead partner for this project and the accountable body to Pendle Council. Both Selnet and Active Lancashire will have a specific delivery role within the Move Forward project which is designed to support Pendle residents aged 25 and over.

Selnet delivery commences shortly, and we will lead a small partnership to deliver employability support to economically inactive residents in Pendle.

Delivery partners working with Selnet will support eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market. Helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity. The project will combine and continue some of the valuable and impactful successes that local delivery partners have achieved over the last six years through ESIF projects, the model being an intensive Key worker support project.

We now invite your organisation to express an interest in working with Selnet, please download the Expression of Interest Form – HERE.


Project delivery timescale:

This project forms part of the Pendle Council Year 2 UKSPF investment plan, the delivery period is: April 2023 – March 2024.


EOI response and project timeframe

Please complete all sections and return the form to liz@selnet-uk.com no later than 10am on Wednesday 30th August 2023.

Award Discussions/Offers – w/c Monday 11th September for a delivery start no later than 30th September 2023.

Final Delivery to be completed by 31st March 2024.

As the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire embedded within the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector across Lancashire. We are specifically encouraging all organisations within the sector to bid to work with us helping to achieve the localism aims of the UKSPF fund.

If you are an organisation that helps people who live in Pendle back into training or work and can help and support people facing barriers to employment, this is our chance to make a real difference to people’s lives by helping them address their issues, and support them on a journey to employment.

 


 

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Selnet UKSPF / employability projects PRESTON (NOW CLOSED)

Call for Delivery Partners

Following the submission of a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan to the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in December 2022, Preston City Council received an allocation of £5.2m from the UKSPF to invest in projects that will benefit the city’s businesses, residents and communities by building pride of place and increasing life chances.

The Investment Plan January 2023 to March 2025, will be delivered under three UKSPF Objectives:

1)            Communities and Place

2)            Supporting Local Business

3)            People and Skills

Selnet have been awarded two contracts to deliver employability support to economically inactive residents in Preston. Selnet now invite your organisation to express your interest in becoming a delivery partner in either one or both of our projects.

 

Project 1 – Invest in Youth – Preston

Invest in youth (IIY) is specifically designed to support young people in Preston aged between 14 and 24 years, eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity.

This project is supported by The Lancashire Colleges and will combine and continue some of the valuable and impactful successes that local delivery partners have achieved over the last six years through ESIF projects, the model being an intensive Key worker support project.

 

Project 2 – Move Forward – Selnet/Preston

Selnet have worked in partnership with Active Lancashire to secure the Move Forward project for Preston. Active Lancashire are the lead partner for this project and the accountable body to Preston City Council.

Move Forward is specifically designed to support Preston residents 25+ years. Both Selnet and Active Lancashire have a delivery role within Move Forward.

Delivery partners working with Selnet will support eligible residents who are furthest from the labour market. Helping them overcome their personal barriers to economic activity. The project will combine and continue some of the valuable and impactful successes that local delivery partners have achieved over the last six years through ESIF projects, the model being an intensive Key worker support project.

 

As the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire embedded within the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector across Lancashire. We are specifically encouraging all organisations within the sector to bid to work with us helping to achieve the localism aims of the UKSPF fund.

If you are an organisation that helps people who live in Preston back into training or work and can help and support people facing barriers to employment this is our chance to make a real difference to people’s lives by helping them address their issues and support them on a journey to employment.

To Express an interest in working with Selnet on either project, please download the Expression of Interest formHERE.

 

EOI response and project timeframe

Please complete all sections and return the form to liz@selnet-uk.com no later than 10am on Monday 31st July 2023. (Earlier if possible)

Award Discussions/Offers by Friday 11th August 2023 for a September delivery start.

Final Delivery to be completed by 31st March 2024.

 

 


 

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Lancashire’s leading light awarded MBE

Liz Tapner, CEO of Selnet, awarded MBE for services to social enterprise

The social impact of Liz Tapner’s work has been huge. She has led Selnet, the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire, to secure over £23M investment through a variety of projects and contracts; all to enable social enterprises to achieve real change for disadvantaged people and deprived communities across Lancashire.

Working with a wide range of social enterprises, Liz’s work helps enable business solutions to tackle social problems; from training and skills development organisations to community cafes, and health and social care to performing arts.

Over 15 years, Liz has been responsible for developing Selnet into the major infrastructure organisation it is today. All this is rooted in enabling and directly engaging the sector, working closely with 12 sector representatives as Selnet’s Board of Directors and leading a passionate, active staff team.

Liz is nationally recognised as a sector leader for her hard work, inspiration and impacts. She has sustained Selnet across highly challenging times; she has secured significant opportunities for the sector and formal awards for her work.

Now, Liz has been awarded an MBE for Services to Social Enterprise, based on her phenomenal achievements.

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I have had over 15 amazing years working with some phenomenal social entrepreneurs. I love my work, helping others has helped me personally through some difficult times, and supports my own mental health.

Being recognised in this way, I feel humbled – it’s an unexpected honour. I went from being a service user with serious challenges, to becoming a CEO – and now I’m honoured at being awarded an MBE!

I built my skills, confidence, and a career I am so dedicated to – it’s all about bringing real opportunities and assistance to this amazing sector. The purpose is always to enable and support services that have real impacts on addressing social inequalities. – Liz Tapner MBE

_____________

Selnet represents the interests of Lancashire’s social businesses at regional and national level. Bringing resources into Lancashire, this enables businesses to grow, local communities to prosper, and individuals to benefit from services and engage within their local area.

The Queens’ awards mark the achievements and services of extraordinary people across the UK. Securing a wide range of support services and supporting multiple partnerships over 15 years, Liz has secured over £23.8M for the growth and development of the social enterprise sector across Lancashire.

Graham Jones, Chair of Selnet Board said:

_____________

This award is highly deserved, Liz Tapner’s work has encouraged social enterprises to grow and enhance the business activities that create jobs and benefit our communities.

Liz has ensured access to new opportunities; providing in-depth knowledge and practical support to strengthen and grow the social enterprise sector.

Graham Jones

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To find out more about Liz Tapner MBE and Selnet, visit www.selnet-uk.com or @SelnetLtd across social media.

 

Are you a social enterprise? Join Selnet!

If you are trading for a social or environmental purpose, we can support you to start-up, develop, connect and grow. Being part of Lancashire’s wider social enterprise community enables your access to additional services and resources, up-to-date sector news, funding information, networking events, training opportunities and a platform to promote your business.

For more information speak to our Membership Lead Officer Yvette Holden on yvette@selnet-uk.com or 01772 200 690 or visit www.selnet-uk.com/join-selnet.

 

 

 

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Building Better Opportunities Lancashire

Lancashire’s Building Better Opportunities projects were delivered exclusively by social enterprises and community organisations. As Lancashire’s social enterprise network, we are proud to have led this specialist partnership whose work transformed lives of people across Lancashire.

Building Better Opportunities (BBO) was a national programme investing in local projects that tackled the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. The programme was funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020. In Lancashire, this programme began delivery in 2016. Following two extensions to each of the 3 projects the delivery continued until March 2023 and the programme is now closed.

For the 3 partnership projects, over 7 years, Building Better Opportunities brought a total of £17.68M into Lancashire over the lifetime of the programme.

 

 

Selnet led three specialist partnership projects that delivered support across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. There were other BBO programmes across the UK, but ours were unique in being delivered exclusively by over 30 Social Enterprises, Voluntary Community groups.

 


‘Age of Opportunity’
was designed and delivered to meet the needs of over 50s who were out of work and furthest from the labour market to improve their skills and employment opportunities.

 

 

‘Invest in Youth’ was designed and delivered to tackle barriers faced by young people between the ages of 15-24, and supporting them to move closer to employment, education or training.

 

 

‘Changing Futures’ was designed and delivered to support unemployed or economically inactive people who faced multiple and complex barriers to employment and at high risk of social exclusion, and move towards work and training.

 

 

The Building Better Opportunities programme was dedicated to improving the prospects and wellbeing of people who were struggling with the kinds of complex barriers that make them ‘hard to reach’ for mainstream employment and training support services.

Barriers included issues around low mental health, self-esteem and confidence, health problems or disabilities, caring responsibilities, debt, low or no skills, access to childcare, BME, LGBT, chaotic lifestyles and substance misuse. Participating in support from these projects was voluntary, free to access and did not affect rights to benefits.

Lancashire’s three Building Better Opportunities projects were designed and delivered to support participants by tackling complex barriers and accessing specialist services. This could take 6 months, to 2 years or more for participants to be in stable circumstances and able to look ahead.

Each partner brought specific expertise in supporting disadvantaged people, and combined to provide individually tailored support, helping each participant to understand, address and overcome a wide range of barriers that they identified would help them the most.

In 2022 we had short films made looking over our Building Better Opportunities programme delivery in Lancashire: on the Purpose, Partnership Working, Project Management, Emotional Support, Participants’ Perspectives, Flexibility and Life Changing Impacts of the projects. Click here to watch these.

 

Our ‘Job Search’ statistics show outcomes from a comprehensive journey:

Each participant included in our formal project targets of ‘Job Search’ had reached a key milestone from a comprehensive journey. A raft of interventions were enabled for participants who were ‘furthest from the labour market’ and held back by complex circumstances – including domestic violence, housing instability, physical disabilities, mental health barriers, PTSD, addictions and chaotic lifestyles.

The wide variety of skills and experience of our Project Partners’ staff teams enabled direct support to be tailored for individual participants. From their work to overcome challenges, participants could look ahead towards a fresh start, based on their interests: through coaching and mentoring, developing personal skills and building self-confidence, attending training courses and building qualifications and developing their CVs – altogether enabling participants to be able – and willing – to actively search and apply for jobs.

 

 

Progression from 2016

Initially, 3 years’ funding was secured for 3270 disadvantaged people to benefit from tailored support to overcome complex barriers and move towards work and training. Early in the programme we commissioned a social enterprise filmmaker to capture the impacts of the programme from the perspectives of delivery partners and participants: click here to watch these on YouTube.

As a result of the successful delivery of these 3 projects, in 2019 our funding was extended to 2021. Across the three projects, this allowed a further 1331 disadvantaged people to receive support through the programme in Lancashire.

In 2021, we had a further extension to each project, to continue support until March 2023. The overall target for Building Better Opportunities Lancashire’s was to support 5697 people who were furthest from the labour market to move closer to employment, education, training and job search.

At March 2023, when the programme closed, Lancashire’s 3 Building Better Opportunities projects had engaged and supported 6544 people with barriers to work. With this specialist support for each individual, and new skills, confidence and opportunities, 2407 people had started work or self-employment, entered education, started a training course or were able to actively search for work, to pursue their interests and fulfil their ambitions.

Here are some of the people whose lives have been transformed by the support they have received:

 

 

Selnet’s Role to enable our sector’s work

Selnet led a 12-month process of developing three Lancashire-wide partnerships to provide specialist employability and skills support to disadvantaged people. Two projects began in August 2016; the ‘Age of Opportunity’, supporting the over-50s, and ‘Invest in Youth’, supporting young people aged 15-24. The third project, ‘Changing Futures’, began in February 2017 and supported people with multiple and complex barriers to employment. 

Selnet’s work is to enable opportunities, secure funding and manage contracts, so that frontline organisations can focus on delivering their specialist services. In 2019, Selnet were successful in securing extensions to all 3 partnership projects – and again in 2021, bringing a total of £17.68M into Lancashire over the lifetime of the BBO programme.


Background Information on European Funding in Lancashire

The 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme provided funds to help local areas stimulate growth. The funds supported investment in innovation, businesses, skills and employment to improve local growth and create jobs.

A single ESIF Growth Programme was set up to combine three separate European Funds. The Growth Programme provided funding to help projects in England that created jobs and economic growth.

 


 

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Job Opportunity: Membership Lead Officer

 Applications are now closed

Selnet is the recognised lead for social enterprise in Lancashire and is named within the UK’s Top 100 social enterprises; we help Lancashire’s social entrepreneurs achieve ambitions, respond to challenges, tackle inequalities and empower local communities.

We are a social enterprise, run by our members to meet the needs of our members. Selnet represents Lancashire’s social business interests at national, regional and local levels through our wide network of stakeholders and partners. Members of Selnet join like-minded business people to share ideas, network, grow and develop, find local connections and help open their business up to new markets. Through our communications channels, members receive up to date sector news, funding information, events and training updates and have a platform to promote their business.

We are investing in this core aspect of our mission, using trading surplus to create a new Membership Lead Officer role. This role will help us to give Selnet membership a whole new energy; by building our membership base, identifying members’ needs and helping us to meet them. The post-holder will also support the development of the business, working with the Network Manager and CEO to design an improved and more meaningful offer for members.

Download the Job Description and Person Specification here 

To apply for this position, please send a CV and covering letter directly addressing the Job Description and Person Specification provided to dawn@selnet-uk.com or by post to the address below by 12pm on 10th March 2020.

Selnet Ltd
Brentwood House, Victoria Road
Fulwood, Preston
PR2 8PS

 


 

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