Exciting new community micro-enterprise project in Norfolk

16 January 2019 · Categories: Communities Care

Community Catalysts is working with the County Council and other local partners on the Norfolk Community Micro-enterprise Project which runs from August 2018 until January 2021.

The project takes learning from Community Catalysts’ highly successful project in Somerset and aims to work with local people who want to develop small enterprises and ventures offering a wide range of help and support for older and disabled people who want to live life their way.

As well as helping people to set up new enterprises Community Catalysts will also be able to advise small groups and organisations already established in Norfolk and looking to diversify or extend what they offer. Helping local people to help other local people.

Work will start in North Norfolk (Aldborough, Cromer, Mundesley, North Walsham) and the Greater Norwich area, where increasing the number and range of community micro-enterprises that provide a wide range of help and support for older and disabled people is seen as real priority. Enterprises in other parts of Norfolk that fit well with local priorities can also be supported.

We are delighted to be working with Community Catalysts CIC to explore the potential and talent within our communities to develop enterprises which help people in their own homes and in the community. As part of our Promoting Independence strategy we want to shift focus to strengthening prevention and early help, supporting people to stay independent for longer. Community Catalysts have a strong track record in supporting people to set up sustainable and high-quality community micro-enterprises which truly meet the needs in their communities.  This project will increase capacity and the choice of services that are delivered by local people for local people.  –  Sera Hall, Director of Integrated Commissioning, Norfolk CCGs and Norfolk County Council

We will try hard to build on things that already work well and to value and nurture people, groups and organisations with strong local knowledge and expertise. The project aims to capture learning and actively use this to affect local system and culture change – working in partnership to improve the way that health and care works for people in Norfolk.

Debra Morris has been employed as the local Catalyst to lead the project in Norfolk and can be contacted on 07384 835722 or debra.morris@communitycatalysts.co.uk

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