Support to Lancashire Council community micro-enterprise project
Over the last six months, we’ve been working alongside Lancashire County Council to design and develop a new community micro-enterprise programme that will help local people use their skills, passions and experience to support others in their communities.
At the heart of this work has been a close partnership between Tom Hughes, Programme Manager at Community Catalysts, and Michael Cole, Commissioning and Contracts Manager at Lancashire County Council. Together, they have been shaping a programme that will support local people to set up their own care and support micro-enterprises, creating new opportunities for people who want to make a difference while building a sustainable livelihood.
Getting a micro-enterprise project right requires much more than enthusiasm and good intentions. People providing care and support need to navigate a complex landscape of regulations, exemptions, safeguarding responsibilities and legal requirements. That’s where Community Catalysts’ specialist expertise comes in.
For more 17 years, Community Catalysts has been supporting councils and entrepreneurs to understand the regulations, policies and practical considerations involved in establishing successful micro-enterprises. This combination of social care knowledge and enterprise development expertise helps ensure that new services are safe, legal, personalised and sustainable.
As Lancashire develops its programme, Community Catalysts has been providing tailored advice and guidance, helping the council build an approach that gives emerging micro-enterprise owners the information and confidence they need to succeed. By drawing on learning from projects across the country, Lancashire is creating strong foundations for a local care and support market that is both innovative and sustainable.
“Community Catalysts have been a key partner in helping us develop Lancashire’s Micro Provision Programme. Their expertise, experience, and willingness to share learning from across the country has helped us build a programme that balances opportunity with clear standards, guidance, and support.
As we move towards launch, the partnership has given us confidence that people interested in becoming micro providers will be supported to develop safe, sustainable, and person-centred services that strengthen communities across Lancashire.”
'Thinking outside the box' in Lancashire
Alongside supporting the programme design, Community Catalysts has also been working with social care teams across Lancashire to explore how local assets and community solutions can be part of everyday practice. Through four ‘Thinking Outside the Box’ bespoke workshops, practitioners have been encouraged to think differently about how support can be provided, using real-life case studies and an interactive exercise.
When the micro-enterprise programme launches, it will provide opportunities for local people to establish micro-enterprises that offer care, support and community-based services across Lancashire. As well as increasing choice for people who need support, the programme will help keep investment within local communities, create meaningful employment opportunities and contribute to a more diverse and resilient local care market.
Most importantly, it will empower local people to support local people, building on the strengths that already exist within Lancashire’s communities and creating new opportunities for people to live connected, independent and fulfilling lives.