Connect One Blackpool: Phase Two

Awards For All Grant From Big Lottery Fund.

March 2017 to November 2017

One Blackpool has just won another Awards for All grant for further work on the Connect One Blackpool service exchange and for attracting more local businesses into the program. Grants like this are awarded for grassroots and community activity that aims to improve life for local people and neighbourhoods.

Like the first phase, our aim is to provide the Third Sector with more alternative resources for community investment through local businesses. This second phase will enable One Blackpool to continue that momentum. Voluntary groups will benefit from our CONNECT portal by gaining access to business mentors and free products or services from local private business. They will also benefit by becoming more aware of other community organisations where they might find some synergy. We believe that if the benefits of corporate social responsibility are communicated well, other businesses may see the benefits and want to get involved too.

This project will enable community groups to deliver their grass roots services to those who need help getting a better chance in life. Our members deliver a wide range of projects and provide many needed services, particularly in Blackpool, one of the most deprived areas in the country. Members include: voluntary, community, faith, social enterprises, public sector bodies including local authorities and housing associations and a small number of private sector business, which is where the greatest development and growth is needed. Our project will give these organisations access to support that they wouldn’t be getting otherwise.

We’ve learned lessons from our pilot phase and are attempting to capitalise on the open door presented by the private sector’s positive response. We want to harness this energy and commitment and help it to become a model that other responsible businesses can emulate.