This month, the Catalysts team in Suffolk coordinated and delivered a Speed Networking event in Lowestoft. The aims of the event included building relationships and understanding between social work practitioners and community micro-enterprises. It also aimed to create referral opportunities.

The event was supported by our enthusiastic and committed commissioner, Ed Abbott, Head of Service for Homecare and Brokerage. We were also joined by Fabrizio Donati, Programme Manager at Community Catalysts, who reflected on the variety and calibre of the community micro-enterprises in attendance, as well as the strong commitment to the project by practitioners.

The networking

To get going, enterprise leaders rotated around tables, introducing themselves and their enterprise and answering any follow-up questions. The buzz in the room was tangible and the conversations flowed which supported relationship building. Practitioners got the opportunity to present scenarios to the community micro-enterprises on how they might creatively support people who need care and support.

Attendees delved into the practical details of using community micro-enterprise services, including the challenges of the direct payments process. There was a tangible sense of commitment to putting people at the heart of care by offering choice and control, and working out how best to achieve this.

The success of the approach

Evaluation of the event was overwhelmingly positive. The community micro-enterprises appreciated the opportunity to meet each other and the practitioners who went away more aware of the possibilities and potential of the community micro-enterprises. The practitioners were impressed by the quality and creativity of the micro-enterprises.

Others mentioned the value of understanding more about direct payments, Small Good Stuff and the process for signposting to community micro-enterprises.