Local entrepreneurs join and graduate from Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme

Two local entrepreneurs are set to be part of the 2014/2015 cohort of the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme – a fully funded year-long programme supporting social entrepreneurs, run in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs with support from the BIG Lottery Fund.

Nick Andrews will be graduating from the programme this year. Nick has been working on turning Hare Hill House into a useable facility for the community.

Nick’s aim is to create a community hub/enterprise centre using the building for a variety of different activities to ensure that it will have an impact on more people’s lives.

The proposals for the house include the creation of a community cafe, incubator space serving the parks users, business and visitors to the house and the adjacent library. Meeting rooms and a range of individual office/studio spaces for hire to local businesses and artists would also be created.

Ruth Yasmeen, from Firstlight Film Training, will be joining the programme this year.

Firstlight Film Training takes a creative approach to issues of social exclusion and isolation in the boroughs of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury, working to promote community cohesion and social change.

The company offers tailor made practical courses where participants go out into the local community to make short films or documentaries that educate, inform and entertain. Working in partnership with local community groups, schools, and care services, Firstlight projects engage socially excluded people in discussing and tackling the problems they face and help to develop self-esteem and confidence.

The Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs programme provides financial support of £4,000 for those enrolling in a ‘Start Up’ programme and £15,000 for established social enterprises embarking on a ‘Scale Up’ programme. In addition to the comprehensive learning support and grant, participants on both programmes receive a business mentor from the bank.