A funding programme that enables the start-up of socially enterprising ideas, for people in Leeds with care and support needs, has recently awarded its 100th grant.
The Ideas That Change Lives (ITCL) Fund is managed by Leeds Community Foundation in partnership with Leeds City Council and See Ahead. The fund offers business guidance and financial investment to help organisations and individuals develop socially enterprising ideas.
The programme, which has been running since 2013, has invested over £630k into a range of social enterprises improving the health, wellbeing and independence of people with care needs in Leeds. Projects have ranged from community cafes that offer work experience to adults with learning disabilities to projects involving volunteers in the regeneration of their own community spaces.
Shahed Molvi, Head of Grants at Leeds Community Foundation, said:
“The Ideas that Change Lives programme has been a vital partnership fund with Leeds City Council and See Ahead for many years now.
“It has offered business guidance and financial investment to organisations and individuals developing socially enterprising ideas which support people in Leeds with care and support needs to improve their health, wellbeing and remain independent.
“We are proud that recently we were able to make our 100th grant under the scheme, supporting local people to live healthy and fulfilling lives in our communities.”
Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council executive member for adults and children’s social care and health partnerships, said:
“Leeds City Council is proud to support the Ideas that Change Lives Programme by funding ideas that come from the wealth of innovative talent that exists within communities in Leeds and by giving communities the opportunity to see their vision become a reality”
The recipient of the 100th grant from Ideas That Change Lives – Beeston’s Hamara Healthy Living Centre, will be utilising funding from this programme to set up the Halo Heritage Café.
This will be a Social Enterprise Café and catering company with a difference, giving opportunities for people who need added help to develop and learn skills towards employment and volunteering placements.
Sinead O’Reilly, Project Coordinator at Hamara Healthy Living Centre, said:
“Hamara Healthy Living Centre works with the most vulnerable people in the South Leeds area, and we stands as a beacon within the community.
Ideas That Change Lives will aid us in expand and improving our current café, and give the opportunity for people who need added help to develop and learn skills towards employment and volunteering placements.”
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds Community Foundation
