Group has got it licked!

A Blackpool organisation which helps disadvantaged people skill up for work has won a share of a £2.5m charity pot.
From left Alistair Clark, Chairman of Social Enterprise Solutions; Tony Carr, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Solutions; Michelle Shea from NatWest; and John Barnett, MBE, High Commissioner of LancashireFrom left Alistair Clark, Chairman of Social Enterprise Solutions; Tony Carr, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Solutions; Michelle Shea from NatWest; and John Barnett, MBE, High Commissioner of Lancashire
From left Alistair Clark, Chairman of Social Enterprise Solutions; Tony Carr, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Solutions; Michelle Shea from NatWest; and John Barnett, MBE, High Commissioner of Lancashire

Social Enterprise Solutions has won a share of NatWest’s Skills and Opportunities Fund.

Following a public vote, Social Enterprise Solutions CIC of Lytham Road, has been awarded £18,982 from the fund which supports organisations in disadvantaged communities that help people develop, create, or access the skills and opportunities they need to get into work or start a business.

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Charities, not-for-profit organisations and state-funded schools and colleges can apply for up to £35,000 each for a specific project from the fund which is expected to help more than 25,000 people.

Social Enterprise Solutions’ Business For Good is a programme which aims to create 18 new social enterprises in 18 months, generating 25 jobs in Blackpool offering an enterprise route to dealing with the town’s social issues.

It has delivered enterprise support to individuals, community groups, charities, the private and the public sector in the development of social businesses.

Richard Topliss, Chairman of NatWest’s North Regional Board, said: “It was a challenging decision because of the standard of entries we received.

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“But the panel felt that all of the organisations would make a massive impact in their local communities.

“Our congratulations and best wishes go to Social Enterprise Solutions and I’d encourage anyone who wasn’t successful this time to try again when applications open in August for the next round.”

Alistair Clarke, Chairman of Social Enterprise Solutions, said: “This is excellent news, not just for Social Enterprise Solutions, but for all the people who are thinking of starting a social enterprise and the local people in Blackpool and the Fylde who will benefit from these new enterprises.

“We offer help, support and guidance to those who want to do good work in their local community but are perhaps unsure how to go about it.

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“And it’s not just the practical helps with filling out forms as Social Enterprise Solutions runs regular networking events so social enterprises can get together, discuss issues and in some cases work together.

“More and more now, we’re seeing private sector businesses wanting to help charities and social enterprises so, again, we are helping to facilitate those links.”

More than 900 organisations from across the UK applied to this year’s fund.

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