Lancashire’s Share of £62m Drive To Help More People Find Employment

A new drive to help people in Lancashire boost their skills and support them into employment and training has launched this month.

A partnership of 61 organisations in Lancashire, led by the Social Enterprise Lancashire Network – Selnet – has been successful in securing over five and half million pounds for two new projects in the county that will run until 2019.

The scheme is part of a programme part funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund called Building Better Opportunities.

The Invest in Youth programme aims to transform the futures of over 770 young people aged between 15 and 24 who have issues in their lives that are getting in the way of them finding employment. It will focus on participants with mental or physical health difficulties, who are homeless, have disabilities or they may be full-time carers.

Meanwhile the Age of Opportunity programme will run along similar lines and be targeted at supporting 1500 people over the age of 50.

The 61 social enterprises and charities that will provide the service will cover the whole county and have been selected to meet the specialist needs of the people that will receive support.

In England, a total of 27 projects have been given the go ahead with the aim to fill the gaps in existing provision that is available to help people into work, learn new skills and tackle poverty.

Lyn Cole, England grant making director at the Big Lottery Fund said: “The Building Better Opportunities programme not only enables people to improve their employment prospects, but their self-confidence too. Each project is specifically designed to match the needs and ambitions of local communities, providing tailored support that helps people achieve their goals.”

Lead partner, Selnet, has worked closely with the Local Enterprise Partnership, LEP, to ensure the services on offer meet the specific needs in Lancashire.

Liz Tapner, chief executive at Selnet, said: “Securing this funding is a major achievement for the partnership and I believe it will truly make a difference to some peoples’ lives in Lancashire.

“There is good provision in the county to help people who are out of work but there are some people who have significant challenges in their lives and we’re here to help. They may need six months or a year of help from us and it is that intensive support that the team of specialist partners can deliver.

For more information on the Invest In Youth programme for people aged between 16 and 24 or the Age Of Opportunity programme for those over 50, please contact Donna Sadler, Partnership Manager at Selnet Ltd on 01772 200690 or email bbo@selnet-uk.com.

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Team Selnet had a great day at the Northern Enterprise Conference on Thursday 13^th October at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester.

It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with friends old and new from the social enterprise world, hear some great speakers, attend mini masterclasses and promote Selnet at our exhibition stand, leaving us feeling motivated for the challenges ahead and proud of our sector.

The evening took us into the Powerful Together Awards where we were thrilled to see two of our Lancashire Enterprises take home awards. Debbie O’Brien of Castle Supported Living won the Leadership award and The Profound Impact Award went to Recycling Lives. Congratulations to both well deserving winners doing great work in Lancashire. Our glasses were raised to all the winners and finalists especially our members who know they are doing amazing work.

Massive thanks to Rosie Jolly and her team at SEN Together and all the sponsors for hosting the event and breaking down regional barriers to celebrate our vibrant sector across the northern powerhouse.

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Selnet are thrilled to be all settled into our new office.

Same Building, just more space and more windows!

New Address:
Unit F28
Preston Technology Management Centre
Marsh Lane
Preston
PR1 8UQ

Tel: 01772 200690

Apologies if you have been unable to contact us while we were getting set up. 

We look forward to seeing you in the new office!

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“Look what we’ve achieved in 10 years” That was the main message when members, staff and directors of the Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, Selnet, met to celebrate the organisation’s 10^th anniversary.

What started in 2006 as a body to link Lancashire’s social enterprises together has remained true to its roots and has developed so it now helps social enterprises to start-up and thrive, secures major contacts for the sector to deliver and represents the social enterprise and wider third sector at a local, regional and national level.

Selnet chief executive Liz Tapner told the audience, at Preston’s Avenham Park Pavilion, about some of its major achievements including:

• Delivering business support programmes like LEAP and Start Up Lancashire;
• Building a partnership of social enterprises involved in recycling to deliver the Care and Urgent Needs contract for Lancashire County Council;
• Supporting the Recycling Network in Lancashire;
• Continuing to bring opportunities to members and partners as much as we can

Guests enjoyed afternoon tea and music from Lytham-based singer-songwriter James Edgar (www.jamesedgarofficial.com)

Selnet would like to thank everybody that made it to the event, we hope you enjoyed it! 

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