The First EDP 2020 cohort under the new programme is made up of 63 organisations, who were accepted onto the programme in early 2020: 21 Homelessness, 16 Mental Health, 14 Equality, and 12 youth.  We received a total of 150 applications and the overall success rate for applications was 42%.

Every region of England is represented overall, with two sectors (Homelessness and Mental Health) having at least one cohort member from each of the nine regions in their intakes.

In terms of diversity, the overall number of cohort members show a reasonable spread of leadership of people from different backgrounds:

 All applicantsSuccessful applicants
Women-led63 (42%)29 (46%)
BME-led23 (15%)12 (19%)
Disability-led29 (19%)11 (17%)
LGBT-led19 (13%)10 (16%)

Please use the tabs to explore each of the cohort members and organisations we are supporting across each sector partner, and hear more about what they do and their hopes for how EDP will help them to maximise their impact.

Click to view all EDP 2020 Cohort organisations via our map through the image below.

ACCA exists to promote and facilitate social integration, equality and inclusion among Afghan and Central Asian people in the communities through information, public awareness-raising, advice, training, campaigns and representation. ACAA was founded in 2001 and aims to enable refugee communities in the UK to realise their potential, achieve their goals and realise their ambitions through a wide range of grassroots and frontline services. ACAA received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services 2018.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We have several enterprise activities that we would like to further develop including a community café, developing a weekly community cinema and a women’s sewing project and venue hire space of both our large main hall and smaller meeting rooms.


Key Hopes from Programme

We’re keen to build upon our entrepreneurial skillset and learn from comparable projects in other parts of the UK to enable the knowledge of best practice. Furthermore, we’re particularly keen to work on our commercial marketing and branding in order to attract future customers and potential business partners for future endeavors.
AVA (Against Violence and Abuse) was formed in April 2010 to take forward the work of the Greater London Domestic Violence Project which was originally established in 1997 under the wing of London Action Trust. We are a leading national charity with a vision of a world without gender based violence. We seek to achieve this by working with survivors to end gender based violence by championing evidence based change.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We wish to develop the Community Group Programme (CGP), a 12-week psycho-educational, group work programme for children and young people who have experienced domestic violence in the family home. The Programme was developed in Canada and we originally rolled it out in England across 32 London boroughs with charitable funding from Comic Relief. The Programme is unique in working with children and their mothers concurrently and in a child-focused way.

Key Hopes from Programme

We’re keen to learn more about our potential customers and create a comprehensive marketing strategy. We’re also keen to learn alongside a group of like-minded organisations from across the equality sector and both and to assist one another in further growing our ideas.
Disability Resource Centre (DRC) is a charity run by disabled people, for disabled people. Since our founding in 1992, we have helped 85,000 people to regain control over their lives. Our warm and friendly staff, many of whom are disabled themselves, provide inspirational role models to encourage people to make the most of every opportunity.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We have identified two associated areas of trading we want to develop and scale. Firstly, we want to develop our disability training, support and consultancy services to sell to other organisations. We are a Disability Confident Leader so we can support and assess other organisations through the process and levels of becoming Disability Confident and we want to develop an enhanced package of support we can sell. Secondly we developed disability awareness training for taxi drivers which is compulsory for all taxi drivers as part of the licence application process in Birmingham. We want to expand this in to other geographical areas.

Key Hopes from Programme

We are really excited to be part of the Enterprise Development Programme as it will mean we will be able to focus on developing our enterprise. Develop a competitive pricing structure. Learn from and share our learning with others. Develop a marketing plan for the enterprise. Be part of a peer mentoring network with other similar organisations.
We work to achieve equality of opportunity and an end to racism and discrimination against all Gypsies, Roma and Travellers (GRT) and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life. We achieve our objectives through providing advocacy casework with GRT across England and by policy influencing and campaigning with government and by providing training and consultancy to mainstream organisation so that they work better with GRT.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We want to leverage our knowledge and skills to develop from our existing activities and are open to considering different models and delivery partners. We would like to see how we can develop our training offer beyond the separate classroom based training and e-learning to extend our reach beyond the South East. Ideally, we would want to be able to support other activists and groups to deliver quality training across the country. We have some small funding to develop resources to support our cultural awareness theatre production but would be interested to see how this work could be integrated into the development of our other trading services.

Key Hopes from Programme

We’re keen to use this opportunity and thinking space to build additional skills and knowledge and an external perspective to review our current activity and the potential for development organisations.
ICENA Ltd is a social business created to combat gender inequality. Our mission is to create opportunities which empower individuals and create social change. To do this, we provide training programmes and consultancy which influence attitudes, beliefs, practices and discriminatory social norms. All profits generated through ICENA are split between our shareholders; five Rape Crisis Centres based in the East of England. We’re in business to make social change.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

ICENA will, over the next twelve months deliver and develop online and classroom-based training. We have created a suite of training courses for the business, education, public and third sector. The training is split into three tiers; bronze, silver and gold and is a mixture of interactive and pre-recorded webinars. As well as delivering training we also intend to become an accreditation centre. This will enable us to not only deliver accredited training but also allow us to sell our training courses to other organisations through a train the trainer platform.

Key Hopes from Programme

Our key hopes for the programme are; To build relationships and partnerships with other organisations on the cohort. To build on our ideas and create a sustainable business. To learn, listen and share practices with others in the cohort and with our shareholders.
Established in 1975, LGBT Foundation is a national charity based in Manchester, delivering advice, support and information services to LGBT people who have nowhere else to turn. We provide more direct services and resources to more LGBT people than any other charity of our kind in the UK

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We want to expand our trading activity by establishing an online shop, where people are able to purchase a range of products and consultancy services. Having received many enquiries about LGBT themed products and LGBT awareness training, we know there is a gap in the market. We already work in partnership with corporate organisations who offer a range of Pride products and have recently launched our Training Academy, which provides LGBT inclusion training. We therefore have access to stock, but need a platform. Setting up an online shop will facilitate sales, and generate vital unrestricted income to support our work.

Key Hopes from Programme

From the programme, we hope to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to be able to develop and execute our trading expansion plans. We hope to receive support throughout our journey, from the initial planning stages, to setting up the right infrastructure, to the implementation of the online shop. We also hope to link in closely with other organisations in our cohort, sharing learning as we progress, and forging long-term relationships.
North East Law Centre is an independent not for profit legal practice set up to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people to seek justice. We: Educate people about the law at scale, so that people understand what rights they have, thereby reducing their fears, confusions and distress. Help people get justice who would not otherwise be able to by providing high quality advice, advocacy and representation. Create new routes to secure justice that are accessible, local and values-driven.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Our services include family law, immigration and welfare & benefits, discrimination, education and employment law to people on low incomes who cannot access legal aid. While most of our services are free, we have recently introduced a low cost, paid for service, for people who don’t meet its criteria for the free service. There is a high demand for this service, mainly from people looking for help in the area of immigration, but at present we’re only able to operate this service one day per week and would like support in further developing this offering.

Key Hopes from Programme

We hope that the programme will help us better develop our product menu and also drive sales and capacity for our paid for services. We’re also keen to work alongisde other civil society organisations during this enterprise journey.
Proud2Be is a social enterprise that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or questioning+ (LGBTQ+) people and their families, in South Devon and beyond, to lead empowered, fulfilled and authentic lives. Founded in 2011, Proud2Be facilitates inclusive peer support groups, Totnes Pride, weekly youth groups and a 121-youth support programme.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

The current COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has highlighted to us; just how important it is to invest time in digitizing our training courses. We also aim to develop a range of sellable resources, aimed at professionals working with young people. These resources will empower professionals to initiate conversations about sexual/romantic orientation and gender diversity, with the young people they support. We will work alongside LGBTQ+ young people to develop training content/resources and product prototypes.

Key Hopes from Programme

Through the programme, we hope to gain support in developing our idea and develop meaningful connections with other organisations in the equality sector, expanding our support network that continues beyond the lifetime of the programme. As a community interest company, our aim is to reduce our reliance on grants and increase our trading income, allowing us to respond to community need more quickly and effectively.
Refugee Action Kingston is a charitable organisation, supporting refugees from Kingston and the surrounding area to become independent, integrated and equipped to fulfil their potential. We are doing this through skills development, advice, counselling and assistance in access to services and employment.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

To start its enterprise journey, RAK has chosen a trading model of an online charity shop. This idea represents RAK’s response to the current environment and our role in it as a charity. The charity shop would trade items donated by the public by using an available online platform. A unique selling point would come from our clients who with their talents will improve, upcycle or customise donated clothes or furniture.

Key Hopes from Programme

RAK is hoping to start exploring enterprise model to diversify our charitable income. The expertise support from the programme will support our understanding of business processes so they could be embedded in the charity. We are looking to learn techniques to be able to build an effective business plan, identify potential customers and explore a legal side of trading.
The Equality Trust is the national charity that works to reduce social and economic inequality in order for everyone in society to flourish. Our charitable objects include to promote equality and diversity, in particular socio-economic equality and diversity within socio-economic groups.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

The Equality Trust wishes to support the sector by developing our consultancy work and training to advise on diversity, equality and related issues. Drawing on our expertise on corporate governance and pay inequalities, including equal pay and gender pay and bonus gaps, we are also developing related training in these areas.

Key Hopes from Programme

For The Equality Trust, our key hopes for the Enterprise Development Programme are: Develop a competitive pricing structure Develop and refine products that are bespoke and hone in on our USPs Learn from and share learning with peers and other programme participants.
Wish is a national, user-led charity working with women with mental health needs in prison, hospital and the community; providing advocacy, emotional support and guidance at all stages of a woman’s journey. We campaign and provide training to statutory services to become gender-specific and trauma-informed by influencing the shift of policy into practice.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Wish is already trading in several areas, each service we provide is at a different stage with different target groups. We want to review and take forward as appropriate. We provide:
·Gender-specific advocacy to women in forensic units
· Gender training to staff in forensic units and in the community We are developing further services:
· Gender-specific counselling which is trauma informed, this is currently being piloted to build evidence to take forward as paid for/commissioned service
· Community Link Intensive support to women on leaving prison and secure units, we are just completing an evaluation which provides compelling evidence to present and gain commissioned services for women.

Key Hopes from Programme

We want to develop an integrated business model and implementation plan that boosts product development across our four traded activities. To include:
• Developing customer insights
• Strengthening customer relationship, marketing and communication channels.
• Improving customer acquisition and retention
• Increase sales across all four activities by marketing and promotion of our gender training modules, to include forensic units, prisons and community; extending our advocacy programme; further rolling out the gender-specific counselling; and gaining commissioned services for women we work with in the community.

We are also planning to develop a cooperative to help women develop the skills and experience they need to gain meaningful employment by carrying out a feasibility study and developing a business planning framework.
Women’s Resource Centre’s (WRC) purpose is to improve women’s human rights and achieve substantive equality for all women. WRC achieve this by supporting and standing up for a diverse and thriving women’s sector, as all evidence shows it is through women only collective action that women’s rights are improved. Women’s frontline organisations are the backbone of supporting women and their children facing the harms caused by sex based discrimination and with other intersecting disadvantages including race, ability and class.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

WRC has recently redesigned our website and now have a shop function on the site. We would like to get our website shop up and running as it is currently dormant with the book as our first product for sale. We also wish to expand the products available, which would be products made by women, who would use our shop to sell them and donate a small percentage of the income to WRC for each sale. We envisage the shop growing with time and benefiting both WRC and women entrepreneurs, with a range of products for sale made by women. We therefore see this trading option as in line with our organisational values.

Key Hopes from Programme

We’re especially keen to work on our product design platform and costing strategies. Alongside this, we also want to build our technical skillset when it comes to platform design and commercial marketing.

Click below to see our Equality 2020 EDP Cohort Map
Accommodation Concern is a well-established local Charity in Kettering, that have been supporting those in poverty and housing deprivation for many years. They have a successful Advice Centre, 2 supported accommodation houses and more recently 2 Housing First model properties for Rough Sleepers. We are committed to working with the council to ensure no one has to spend longer living on the streets than they have to by developing a supported accommodation programme for homeless people.
Top Line Enterprise Idea

Accommodation Concern are looking to build on their current offer of providing supported accommodation through the housing first model increasing their income through rent. They are also looking at online sales of surplus donations as well as a new opportunity to take over a recycled paint project which also allows beneficiaries to be involved in the trading activity.


Key Hopes from Programme

We’re keen to build upon our entrepreneurial skill set and learn from comparable projects in other parts of the UK to enable the knowledge of best practice. Furthermore, we’re particularly keen to work on our commercial marketing and branding in order to attract future customers and potential business partners for future endeavors.
Made in Marylebone is part of The Marylebone Project, one of the largest women-only homelessness services in the UK. Made in Marylebone has two trading arms; Munch in Marylebone is our catering service, providing delicious homemade food for lunches and events in London and Space in Marylebone is our meeting room venue. Their mission is to run sustainable businesses which equip the women at the Marylebone Project with the skills and training needed to gain employment.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Made in Marylebone are looking to scale their existing offer of space hire for meetings and catering services both for which involve their service users to provide training and employment opportunities.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) By the end of the programme: have recovered from the effects of Covid-19 and the income generated by both trading activities will at least match the income generated in 2019/2020 financial year.

2) In three years be generating at least £100,000 per year from our meeting room hire and catering business combined, with at least £30,000 of this income generated by Munch in Marylebone.
Clean socks was set up to support homeless people to come off the streets and access accommodation. It was set up by Kim Moore following several years as a private landlord focusing on providing homes to people other landlords and local authorities did not want to house.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
They now want to open Clean Socks Furniture, a social enterprise that sells up-cycled furniture. The trading arm will operate as an independent operational entity, wholly owned by the company limited by guarantee.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme: we will have established our woodworking enterprise, employed 1 member of staff and started working with 2 volunteers and supporting 12 of our clients.

2) In three years time we will be… employing 1 full time and 2 part-time members of staff. We will have a financially sustainable business with a turnover of £150,000 providing training for around 40 of our clients every year.
The Daylight Centre Fellowship is a registered charity to prevent, reduce and mitigate homelessness, poverty and isolation within Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Since 2018 increasing beneficiary demand and complexity has motivated us to start trading via a successful charity shop.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
The daylight centre fellowship are looking to scale up their retail offer and grow online sales as well as test the feasibility of a horticulture project engaging their service users to grow produce to sell across the community.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) By the end of the programme… we will have piloted and evaluated urban farming and digital retail trading with a 5 year strategy and action plan.

2) In three years time we will be…. an increased trading income (circa 50% of turnover) from socially impactful and sustainable businesses
Most people know DENS as the homeless charity for people in Dacorum. In fact, DENS do so much more than just provide a roof and a bed. Their aim is to be the first port of call for people in Dacorum who are facing homelessness, poverty and social exclusion; to support and empower them to take the next positive step in their lives.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
DEN’s currently have three trading areas, a bike up-cycling shop, a coffee cart and a catering offer all of which involve their service users. They are looking to develop these areas and solidify their offer.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) By the end of the programme…Have a very busy bike project open 5 days per week minimum attended by many local people who want social interaction and something more in their lives than they have now. Our coffee cart to be out all over the country serving high quality coffees and snacks by our trained Baristas who are hostel residents or anyone from the community who would benefit from being involved.

2) In three years time…have three tremendous social enterprises that will have changed many many lives and made valuable funds for DENS while offering fabulous services to the public and businesses.
Ella’s provides high quality support tailored to the individual needs of women affected by trafficking and sexual exploitation. They run two safe houses, currently housing eight women. They also work with survivors and their families in communities across London, supporting them to stay safe as they rebuild their lives.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Ellas are looking to grow their traded income through rental income and property management which will also increase the amount of beneficiaries they are able to support.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) By the end of the programme… Have a solid business plan in place to grow our enterprise and strengthened our current operations.

2) In three years time… we will have tripled income from trading activities
Handcrafted is a North East based charity, which was set up to empower marginalized people to transform their own lives. We have used enterprise as a means to support people from chaotic lifestyles into housing, employment stability; and now we want use the EDP to develop and consolidate this approach across the region.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Handcrafted are looking to scale their construction and renovation trading offer to new regions and engage more vulnerable people through growing this activity.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) By the end of the programme…We will have scaled up our enterprise to deliver three projects across the region simultaneously and we will have a structured Enterprise Incubator programme to take disadvantaged people through to being ready for independent self-employment.

2) In three years time…We will have three established renovation projects and a diverse network of small enterprises employing people with lived experience of homelessness.
Invisible Cities is a community interest company that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city and they offer off the beaten track, personal tours, highlighting stories of real people, while raising awareness about social justice.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Invisible Cities are looking to scale their walking tour offer to franchise to more cities in England.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…have developed diversified products based on our existing product of city walking tours. i.e tour packages between multiple cities in England.
2) In three years time….Be a leader in sustainable tourism in the UK and Europe
North East Homeless has been providing on street support for those who are experiencing Homelessness in all its forms. Providing hot food, emergency survival supplies and advice and guidance with services and agencies attending the tables to offer immediate assistance. North East Homeless has recently opened the first stage of a Hub which provides training, employment, meaningful work experience, in an environment which offers rough sleepers facilities to meet their basic needs.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
NE Homeless are looking to develop their social enterprise offer of a hub offering pop-up spaces, venue hire as well as looking at other areas to develop in.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the end of the programme….have a secure business model generating a small surplus.

2) In three years time…have a number of social businesses, generating surplus and have excellent employment/training outcomes for service users, which will also allow them stability around their tenancy or living arrangements.
Paper Cup Project is a Liverpool charity which offers food, clothing and support to homeless and rough sleepers, as well as working to challenge stigmas around homelessness.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Our project, Paper Cup Coffee, is the launch of a coffee shop/cafe which will offer opportunities to enable homeless and those vulnerably housed to develop skills and confidence and enable them to get back into the workplace.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…Be ready to open Paper Cup Coffee and have an accredited training plan in place for our trainees.

2) In three years time… Have a proven success rate of supporting people back into full time employment in the hospitality industry from within a profit making business.
Second Shot Coffee is the East London coffee shop bringing people together by tackling homelessness one espresso at a time. They employ people who have been affected by homelessness, train them up and transition them on to long term employment elsewhere, helping them on their individual journey taking them from where they are, to where they deserve to be.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Second Shot Coffee are looking to scale their trading activity throughout their coffee shops and increase the number of trainees they can support. They have also recently acquired their own brand of coffee beans too.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…Have a clearer medium and long term strategy to grow our multiple revenue streams as well as our direct measurable impact.

2) In three years time…Be an established, debt-free business that has grown organically through new venues and online growth.
Settle is an award-winning social enterprise that designs and delivers high impact support services to vulnerable young people. They are dedicated to tackling the causes of youth homelessness.The programmes are designed to support young people facing difficult transitions to adulthood.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Settle are looking to scale their trading activity by winning local authority contracts to franchise across England and support more young people to maintain tenancies.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme….Have a robust business case which demonstrates the financial and social returns of our programme as well as a better understanding of the market we’re operating within.

2) In three years time….Be selling our programmes nationally, winning multi year contracts with a sustainable business model that generates £1m+ turnover and enables us to support 1000 young people per year.
Shiloh’s mission is to support adults in Rotherham and surrounding communities who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and help them to plan for and realise a better future. The values of the Christian faith are at the heart of what they do.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Shiloh have been looking to become more enterprising and have two areas of growth, an online Ebay shop and the possibility of becoming a social landlord or manage properties for their beneficiaries.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…Be ready to accommodate our first tenants and increased surpluses from eBay.

2) In three years time….Have multiple properties and a thriving eBay trading project.
Solo Housing has been working with single people to find housing solutions since 1985.They help a range of people, from those who simply need a roof over their head, to those who need regular help to overcome problems that they may be experiencing. Solo believe in people and their intention is to provide opportunities for those who pass through our door to improve their lives.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Solo Housing Association are looking to develop trading activity in becoming a social lettings agency through managing properties on behalf on non-professional landlords.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…be better informed regarding options for delivery of enterprise development and how to support residents to develop employ-ability skills.

2) In three years…be a more robust organisation in receipt of more diverse revenue streams to address homelessness needs in our catchment areas.
Standing Tall is a start-up social enterprise matching individuals experiencing homelessness in Birmingham with employment opportunities. The enterprise is using a strength based approach to work along side individuals to help them move away from the street for good.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Standing Tall CIO are looking to develop their trading offer to support homeless individuals in Birmingham intro employment through a social imapct recruitment model whilst also workign with local landlords to arrange short term lodgings.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…We will have tested and developed our business model In Birmingham to then consider scaling it to other cities.

2) In three years….we will have developed a number of Standing Tall trading enterprises as vehicles to employ people who had previously been experiencing homelessness.
Arc’s purpose is ‘to work together to house, support and enable homeless people to maximise their potential’. Arc has a property portfolio that enables it to house up to 178 single people every night giving them a safe and supportive environment. Arc’s mission is ‘to offer supported accommodation where people can be inspired and empowered by their own strengths’.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Arc are developing their cleaning and maintenance trading model across their properties to offer beneficaries training and employment. They will need expand their offer across the community.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…Ready to launch our business, a solid business model with clear outcomes and outputs.

2) In three years time…Financially sustainable enterprise with progressing customer base and plans to expand further and having agreed target numbers of former clients in employment.
Foyer Federation work through their network of learning and accommodation centres, known as Foyers, which provide a home, a holistic development plan and a nurturing community for young people. As The Foyer Federation, their role is to offer innovation, delivery and support to ensure the Foyer network can secure the best outcomes for young people who can’t live at home.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
The Foyer Federation are growing their trading activity through focusing on the development of a leadership programme and asset based learning approach – advantage thinking. Both will support sector knowledge and allow them to work with more individuals.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…We will have 10 new (non-Foyer) services that we have built relationships with and are accessing our products and services. We will have an additional 50k of traded income derived from our new products and services. We will have engaged a new cohort of 12+ participants on our Fellowship for leaders programme bringing in a minimum profit of 10k.

2) In three years time…We will have developed two additional communities of practice outside of our current network that contribute an additional 150-200k of income per year. We will have won contracts with local authorities to deliver asset based quality development programmes to their commissioned youth support services. We will have developed an online network of ‘young influencers’ that connects young people across our communities of practice and amplifies their talents, voice and campaign.
The Friary is a well-respected registered charity with a distinctly Christian foundation which operates in the Nottingham area. The Friary’s mission is empower homeless and vulnerable adults to rebuild their lives by offering practical services, advice and emotional support.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
The Friary are developing a retail trading model to open a charity shop, providing training opportunities, a new income stream and a focal point for supporters away from the operational site.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme….Have a charity shop open and at least breaking even.

2) In three years….Have a charity shop making profits that can be fed back into the charity.

The running charity is not a running club. They were the first to bring running to young people who experience homelessness and multiple complex needs; they are a team of youth workers, people that have lived experiences of homelessness, they are social scientists, they are substance misuse workers. they are all these things and they do all these things whilst running.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
The running charity are growing their trading offer to launch a Virtual Race Platform which will enable TRC to host virtual running events to cooperates and individuals. The second phase would be to launch corporate wellbeing and fitness training delivered by graduates of the programmes.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…. a)We aim to make the role sustainable and begin to generate profit to support the hiring of more young people. b)We aim to provide exceptional customer service. c)We aim to increase our social media presence as a result and increase the number of active supporters. d) We aim to have perfected our ability to sell events to corporate to further increase revenue streams e) We aim to work in partnership with a sports brand or company to increase income and exposure f) To provide young people access to medals for free.
2) In three years time…1) Have grown enterprise income to cover 25-33% of organisation costs 2) To have diversified enterprise range and services 3) To have our enterprise creating meaningful employment to at least 3 young people.

Unseen Tours supports vulnerably housed individuals to develop, curate, and lead guided walks to different neighbourhoods of London. Since the summer of 2010, they have worked with more than 20 guides and offered walks in eight different areas of the city. Each year, they run more than 450 walks, and welcome 6500+ guests.
Top Line Enterprise Idea
Unseen tours plan to develop 3 trading activities: engaging corporate clients with a bespoke offer of private tours and away days, engaging student groups with a bespoke offer for schools, universities and language students and developing more tour routes for the public.

Key Hopes from Programme
1) After the programme…have a range of different products to offer tourists, businesses and other groups, to be able to provide a sustainable income for our guides throughout the year, and be better placed to signpost to other support for the homeless and vulnerably housed people we work with.

2) In three years…be financial resilient, able to pay guides and other members of staff to run the business without grant funding (through our enterprise activities), and be able to employ more homeless people.

Click below to view the Homelessness 2020 cohort organisations via our map.
Anxious Minds exists to improve the mental well-being of people in the North East. They directly provide a range of early intervention and long term support services to both adults and children, such as counselling, back to work support, alcohol reduction support, and activity groups. They also operate a community mental-health focused radio station.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Anxious Minds are keen to explore selling their counselling and back to work services to businesses in the North East area.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… have a better understanding on how we can develop the business side of the charity (i.e. the selling of counselling and therapy services to corporate customers).

Three years from now we will… be able to use trading surpluses to ensure we can sustainably support more people in crisis, with better mental health and well-being services and also emergency accommodation.
Artlift uses creativity to enable people to find and sustain improved mental health and wellbeing whilst developing a rigorous evidence base to inform best practice in the wider Arts and Health sector. They currently do so through provision of arts on prescription non-clinical interventions where they co-produce our projects, courses and events with participants and health partners.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Arts on Prescription services for groups of people in health centres, care centres or business settings, focused on a creative health coaching approach and developing self-sustained ‘move on’ plans.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… have defined the services / packages we’re selling and have a strengthened brand and promotional materials and campaigns / plans through which to sell. We will have secured or initiated contracts with at least 2 buyers.

Three years from now we will… have built our earned income to constitute at least 25% of our total income. We’ll begin to receive enquiries through word-of-mouth, having built an effective reputation.
Chilli Studios creatively improves mental health by enabling members to take control and work towards wellbeing by participating in creative projects, courses and activities across a wide variety of disciplines including visual arts, music, media and literature.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

The selling of arts and crafts materials, potentially via online retail and a physical premises. The product range and desired market segment(s) are to be tested through some feasibility work and market research.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… be making sales that represent a direction towards projected net profit so to support Charity.

Three years from now we will… be at a stage of significant growth and able to employ more staff with confidence, have a physical space and be delivering wellbeing workshops and gallery space.
Coping with Cancer North East was set up in 1982 to share experiences and strategies which help people cope with a cancer diagnosis. It delivers counselling and complimentary therapies in hospitals and communities in the North East supporting emotional, social and physical needs.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Counselling and coaching services for individuals affected by cancer, sold to employers to form part of their employee support packages.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… we hope to have a service up and running, and made enough sales to increase our annual individuals supported by 20%.

Three years from now we will… be generating £20k of annual revenue from this new service.
Harmless is a user led organisation that provides a range of services about self harm and suicide prevention including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm, their friends and families and professionals and those at risk of suicide.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Harmless deliver bespoke training programmes centred around mental health, self-harm prevention, and suicide prevention. Training content consists of facilitated face-to-face sessions and virtual learning environment which facilitates e-learning. These programmes are delivered through Local Authority and CCG commissioned work, and through more proactive “external sales” to individual businesses and VCSE organisations.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support Harmless aims to… have a clear marketing, branding and advertising strategy to consolidate all training sales activities into all sectors (corporate, business, profit-making, construction, third sector etc)

Three years from now Harmless are aiming to… have significantly increased the percentage of trading income through training sales
hArt exists to offer creative therapeutic activities to support mental health through group workshops and 1-2-1 Art Psychotherapy for children, young people and adults self-referred or referred from education, health and care sectors and other voluntary organisations.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Art Therapy services for Health, Education and Corporate sectors utilising indoor and/or outdoor spaces. Supporting mental health, increasing confidence and resilience, reducing stress levels and building social connection.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… have in place the capacity and skills in place to market and deliver the packages required to provide support in Education, Health and Corporate settings. Three years from now we will… be prepared to deliver a minimum of 1 Health package, 1 Corporate package and 5 Educational packages per year.
The mission, using local peer-to-peer volunteers, is to support parents when they need us most, in order to enable them to provide a nurturing, positive environment for their children and allow the family to take advantage of life opportunities. Through tailored support, we aim to build emotional resilience, support the development of local networks, signpost and support access to services and reduce the potential for adverse childhood experiences.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

The organisation are exploring developing and extending their training services for local community VCSE organisations. They are looking to build on their experience of delivering digital training in subjects such as domestic abuse, mental health, data protection, health & safety to additionally offer organisational consultancy services to help issues around sustainability, governance and action planning.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… have, by the end of the year, identified a broad customer based and commenced work with 8 clients.

Three years from now we aim… to create an income of £50K per annum, whilst looking to grow that by 10% per year, and to be in a position to begin to generate a surplus.
The mission is to empower people to manage their health and wellbeing. They use science and co-creation to generate face-to-face and digital products and services to empower people to manage their wellbeing and to flourish in their working and personal lives.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

The digital Hope Programme is accessible by smartphone, tablet or computer, and comprises of text, images, downloadable documents, links to external websites. The content is configured into interactive activities (quizzes, self-monitoring tools, diaries) to be used by participants (with long-term conditions) to learn and consolidate self-management skills. Completion of the programme, sees an average of 40% improvement in depression and anxiety and 40% increase in skills to manage own health.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… have clarified our key offer and secured 2 new key customers (contracts over £25k) and 2 customers (contracts under £25k) with end of year position at breakeven, covering costs of core staff.

Three years from now we will… be a sustainable enterprise with 3 staff, annual turnover of £450k with net profit growth of 5% annually. Reaching 10,000 participants per year through portfolio of at least 30 partner organisations.
Illuminate is on a mission to see tried and tested coaching and positive psychology be used to help those disadvantaged by poverty and mental ill health, to make sustainable life changes. They do this through their own designed and honed Confidence for Change programmes, aimed at those disadvantaged by poverty, long term unemployment and mental ill health.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Services for businesses which comprise of bite-size presentations, workshops and coaching. All services increase knowledge and understanding of how to deal with mental health issues in the workplace.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support Illuminate aims to… have a pool of 4 to 6 speakers available to deliver personalised mental health awareness talks to businesses.

Three years from now Illuminate are aiming to… be able to generate a third of our turnover from trading income
Just for Women support local women living in Stanley and surrounding areas through advice and guidance, training, counselling, crafting workshops and volunteering opportunities. Bespoke programmes are tailored to help women rebuild their lives following situations such domestic, physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

A variety of wellbeing focused products manufactured at the Just for Women Centre, supported by the stories of women who have been able to positively transform their lives.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… have increased offline and online sales of our existing products and have developed new products for sale, in turn enabling us to support more vulnerable people in our community.

Three years from now we will… have unlocked new markets with continued innovation of new products and services, with a recognised brand supported by the transformation stories of our beneficiaries. And we will be more sustainable.
Make a Move’s mission is to advance education and to promote and protect the good health of people who have special educational, behavioural or emotional needs through sessions in music and movement.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Wellbeing in the workplace services to help reenergise, engage and motivate employees within a work setting. The offer comprises of bespoke workshops, wellbeing weeks and train the trainer programmes.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support Make a Move aims to… know how to market to our target audience and have a client base comprising of regular customers and new contacts.

Three years from now Make a Move are aiming to…derive half our income from traded services.
Minds Ahead deliver a range of services related to transforming mental health in schools. These include researching, designing and developing school mental health professional development programmes and curriculums. Alongside this, they run a series of school professional development programmes for teachers, school governors and school leaders.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

A new school-focused mental health qualification. Through the postgraduate diploma, individuals will develop the knowledge and skills to become the mental health specialist in their school and help address the various mental health issues and situations that arise in schools.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support we will… we aim to have fully developed the qualification program and have upto 40 school professionals enrolled for thier first year.

Three years from now we will… be in a position where the School Mental Health Specialist qualification will be seen as the main mental health qualification for schools seeking in-house mental health expertise.
The organisation’s mission is to make mental health support available to young people in an immediate sense without waiting lists. They work to combat stigma and change the way mental health support is perceived by utilising music and the arts, whilst promoting informality and creativity.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

The Bazaar programme is an online-based mindfulness and CBT programme aimed at supporting individuals in creative and time efficient ways to improve their mental health, resilience and knowledge around emotional health triggers. Current customers comprise of large institutions such as young person-focused businesses and universities.

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support Open Door Centre aims to… be better equipped and confident in generating revenue to support our charity and have better connections and understanding of processes involved for a successful social enterprise.

Three years from now Open Door Centre are aiming to… have key customers across the country who will be using our programmes for the benefit of individual beneficiary’s and generating significant, diverse income to protect our charity’s longevity
The aim is to support people living with mental-ill health to use their skills, ideas and talent to build the lives they wish to lead. They use a blended model, combining community activity with digital support. They support a core group of 5 community enterprises, each has its own unique characteristics that increase opportunities for people to meet peers; learn new skills; be active; have fun; volunteer and gain employment.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Oasis Gardening Services currently provides gardening services to private residents of Sheffield, whilst providing employment opportunities for individuals living with mental ill-health. The services are considered to have potential to extend in their remit, (e.g. towards planting services) but also in terms of customer type (e.g. local VCSEs and businesses).

Key Hopes from Programme
At the end of the EDP support Sheffield Flourish aims to… have developed the business model and grown the income of the gardening services to a level that can financially support the business planning of the trading activity, the capacity of the wellbeing gardening activity and contributes a proportion to the central charity.

Three years from now Sheffield Flourish are aiming to…have taken on bigger contracts with businesses and the VCS with a larger pool of gardeners with mental health lived experience, who have been through a training progression programme to become one of our gardeners.
Stockport Mind is an independent adult mental health charity that offers friendly, accessible support and information to promote well-being in the community.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

A Mental Health specific Employee Assistance Programme (MHEAP). This will involve launching a multi-tiered, mental health-focussed programme of support that organisations could buy-in as a product.

Key Hopes from Programme

At the end of the EDP support we will… have developed a self-funding and sustainable trading model that we can then grow, based on providing substantial mental health support to employees of organisations.

Three years from now we will… have embedded a service delivery model that brings in a sustainable revenue stream into the organisation, supporting companies to better support their staff with their mental health. We will have a robust delivery model in place and any profits created from this business model would be used to create more services to better support the local community at no charge.
The organisation provide inclusive, compassionate services in a safe, women only space. Services help women to improve their mental health, reduce social isolation, and help diverse communities of women and girls to participate no matter their mental health or circumstances. Many of the services are focused on supporting women and girls to recover from abuse and the impact this has had on their lives and mental health.

Top-Line Enterprise Idea

Tyneside Counselling Service CIC has been set up to use the charity’s counselling expertise to deliver ‘paid for’ counselling services to the general public and businesses.

Key Hopes from Programme

At the end of the EDP support Tyneside Women’s Health aims to… have the service up and running, developed a business plan and marketing plan, and broken even.

Three years from now Tyneside Women’s Health are aiming to… be generating a surplus that is sufficient to cover overheads and donate sums back to the charity of approximately £5000, explore other markets such as EAP where increased surplus can be generated.


Click the image below to view the EDP Mental Health 2020 Cohort map.
Bringing Words to Life is a charity based in the North East providing literacy support while enabling communication skills for all ages.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We are developing one of our most successful projects as a stand-alone cost-effective resource which can be bought by schools and community groups around the country, while developing the leadership skills of the young people who take part.

Key Hopes for the Programme

The feasibility study which we carried out, funded by SIB, determined that our project has the potential to impact on many young lives, so securing the support through the EDP was just a natural progression for us.
Grace House North East is based in Southwick on the North side of Sunderland. We provide support services for disabled children and young people and their families. Our Centre is purpose built with en suite bedrooms, adapted kitchen and dining areas, playroom, library etc as well as a range of outside garden areas including a festival area and a forest school. We provide short breaks care for children with disabilities aged 5 to 17 years 11 months.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Following participation in Round 1 of the programme we carried out some research with consultants as well consultation with parent carers. We looked at revenue streams for the organisation which we would like to diversify. Families told us that in Sunderland there was a lack of soft play facilities suitable for families where there is a child with disabilities eg with quiet areas, large changing facilities, adapted café areas, accessible parking etc. We would therefore like to develop an accessible soft play area suitable and accessible for all the family where there is a disabled child. This is in line with our mission and would enhance the support services we currently offer.

Key Hopes for the Programme

As an organisation we are keen to diversify our income streams to become more sustainable. The EDP presents this opportunity while staying true to Grace House mission. We need the expertise and resources the programme can offer to carry out a detailed feasibility study. We have only carried out some initial research both in terms of the parent/family consultations but also in terms of identifying premises, financial planning, looking at similar successful models. Both Trustees and staff are very excited at the potential for this enterprise and welcome the invaluable support from the programme.
Break is an East Anglian charity that has been supporting vulnerable children, young people and families for over 50 years. More recently its core focus has become supporting children in care, young people leaving care, and children on the edge of care. We do this through offering residential care homes, intensive leaving care support and transition housing, and a variety of other services.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Break is developing a mobile coffee training enterprise, called “CoffeeBreak” for our young people to develop and learn hospitality, and entrepreneurial, skills in a safe and supportive environment. However, our young people have decided that they would also like to develop their own CoffeeBreak Beans to sell on the CoffeeBreak vehicle, in our 50 charity shops and through our corporate and community supporter network. So, our idea is to develop a coffee roasting enterprise through which our young people can develop skills and qualifications of their choosing, for example, business, marketing, packaging, logistics and distribution, alongside barista and hospitality.

Key Hopes for the Programme

The Enterprise Development Programme was the crucial link in the chain for us to develop our CoffeeBreak mobile coffee training enterprise, as it provided the seed funding for the feasibility study. Three of our care experienced young people undertook this study with support and mentoring from the Norwich Business School, from the University of East Anglia. This feasibility study then enabled us to secure further funding to develop the CoffeeBreak project further, recruit an Enterprise and Youth Development Lead, and purchase our first CoffeeBreak van!
We are an organisation which engages with diverse, disadvantaged and at risk young people in some of the poorest wards in London, we teach them industry standard skills in Film & Television Production and Games Design / FX / Animation & Coding. We then push them forward to work and further education.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

We have now trained over 600 young people, many have stayed in touch with us. We are proposing to develop an enterprise whereby we use our own core staff skills + our trained apprentices in Film & Television and Games Design to take on Corporate Contracts, Government Contracts, Charity Contracts to provide the commercial world our ‘industry standard production skills’ and in doing so bring in additional finance to our organisation making it more sustainable and also to provide our young people with work experience. Many young people struggle to get into their first job and so by us employing them they immediately go from education into a job, and getting work on their CV.

Key Hopes for the Programme

We are involved in the EDP because we are looking for support to take us into the next stage of our enterprise. We were in a good forward momentum stage just before lockdown and feel we need to retrieve that lost time and so the support that EDP can give in terms of expertise, advice and finance would enable us to move more speedily into a profitable enterprise stage and in doing so we will be able to help more young people, more speedily and more successfully.
Young Somerset is the largest youth work charity in Somerset and our mission is to put young people first. Our aim is to work with young people, encouraging them to take responsibility for themselves and become actively involved in shaping the communities in which they live. Young Somerset works to achieve social and economic outcomes with young people, through the delivery of measurable outputs and outcomes. Young Somerset seeks to develop a youth work relationship that is open, honest, respectful, trusting and led by the young person.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Our Enterprise concept is called Bold and Brave: it is an innovative test and learn employment project for 450 vulnerable young people in Somerset per year. It combines a retail venture with employment and life skills training, whilst challenging stigma and tackling isolation. It is based on a pilot of 4 6-week pop-up shops in 2019. Our ambition is to develop a self-sustaining and scale-able model.

Key Hopes for the Programme

Young Somerset is delighted to be involved in the EDP as we have had ambitions to diversify our offer to Somerset’s young people to include enterprise, entrepreneurship and trading. We support young people who tell us that they want to learn the skills to work for themselves as much as to work for others; who want to be creative; who want to find their way of working that embeds them in their community. This programme will enable us to support young people in an innovative and productive way that is bespoke to them – creating sustainable skills for their long-term economic activity.
We are Shaftesbury Youth Club and have been providing services for local people in Wirral continuously for 134 years. We are a multipurpose build youth centre and provide a wide range of activities, including recreational sport and personal development, an educational compter suite, a cafe and social space, and a Youth Forum.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Our project is twofold, to build an 11 v 11 All Weather Sport facility and renovate our Pavilion which was built in 1933. By building an All Weather pitch on our 14 acres we will reduce maintenance costs and increase footfall. This will cost in the region of £600,000 to build and we are in discussion with our local Council, FA and the Football Foundation as there are grants available of up to around 65% to support this type of facility. We are trying to raise funds towards the 65% and so far have raised £10,000. The second part of the project is to renovate the Pavilion, orginally built in 1933. We will build a community space where we plan to run various training/educational opportunities for young people as well as hiring it out to local organisations. This space will be managed by young people for young people.

Key Hopes for the Programme

We were successful in getting an Enterprise Grant from SIB to undertake a feasibility study on new ways to trade. The outcome of this report was that local stakeholders told us that they wanted to see a 11 v 11 AW Pitch as this would allow for sport all year whereas currently they rely on good weather from November to February due to the area being grass. They also stated that they would like to see an updated pavilion. This support from the EDP programme could help us to more forward and take the next step into trading differently.
Soft Touch Arts is a charity and social enterprise which has been using the arts to create positive change for vulnerable young people across Leicestershire since 1986. Our participants are young people whose life circumstances put them at a disadvantage in education and other areas of their lives

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Our enterprise idea is to sell artisan bread made by disadvantaged young people. The project will initially provide a nurturing space for young men who are facing difficult life challenges, especially with mental health and wellbeing, to be able to talk in a relaxed, supportive way. The project will not overtly be focused on ‘talking about feelings’ but will use the therapeutic benefits of baking bread as a springboard. We anticipate working with small groups which will enable bonding and relationships to form between the participants, many of whom are socially isolated. Baking bread enables skill development in planning and timekeeping, working with numbers and proportions, and healthy eating.

Key Hopes for the Programme

We believe there is potential in our idea to provide a different angle to support the personal and social progression of vulnerable young people and generate income for Soft Touch Arts. We have a commercial kitchen in our building which is under-used – we run a café staffed by young people two lunchtimes a week, which generates a small profit, and also use the kitchen to run healthy eating sessions for young people. This idea relates to capitalising on the kitchen to generate more income for Soft Touch whilst offering an additional activity to support our target participants.
Youth Education Project are a provider of Education, Training, Advice and Support for Young People. We are based in Leicester.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

‘YEP Breakers’ a vehicle scrap-page Social Enterprise to be run by and for our young people. We train young people on how to dismantle scrap cars and we sell any parts that are usable.

Key Hopes for the Programme

We are part of the EDP to develop the ‘YEP Breakers’ project and YEP’s capacity to deliver services to its users.
Khulisa is an award winning charity providing high performing social and emotional learning programmes for young people who are at risk of, or already have been excluded and/or involved with the criminal justice system. Our programmes are therapeutically led. We also create systemic change by supporting teaching professionals and other youth sector professionals in trauma-informed practice, equipping them with skills to constructively respond to challenging behaviour.

Top Line Enterprise Idea

Our enterprise idea is to effect systemic change at a deeper level, and develop our income through trade of our trauma informed consultancy and training into community partners (for example local authorities and police forces).

Key Hopes for the Programme

We are involved with the EDP programme to support our plan and develop our enterprise over the next three years and have a space to share our learning with others.
Click the image below to view the EDP Youth 2020 Cohort map.

Below is a list of the members of the members of the 2021 EDP Cohort.

British Youth Council

The British Youth Council is the National Youth Voice charity in the UK. Through our programmes such as the UK Youth Parliament, NHS Youth Forum, Bank of England Youth Forum and many others, we empower young people aged 11-25 to find their voices and be heard on issues they care about.

We believe our expertise in youth voice and youth participation are a valuable resource to other organisations, charities and companies wishing to better understand young people so we are working with the Enterprise Development Programme to develop our consultancy offer and understand how better to market our experience.

Shout Out UK

Shout Out UK (SOUK) is a youth education network that delivers educational programmes on Political and Media Literacy, and stand-alone workshops on topics such as Social Activism, Human Rights, Employability Skills and Training, Debating & Public Speaking. We deliver our work offline and online via our E-portal. We have built more than 30,000 young people’s confidence; emotional resilience towards mis/disinformation, and public speaking skills. We have been delivering our services to schools, colleges and youth clubs since 2015.

As a part of the Enterprise Development Programme, we are looking to expand our individuals’ online E-portal feature, as a part of our efforts to diversify our income streams and scale up our organisation. We are particularly keen to move in the direction of B2C sales and marketing and welcome the various upskilling opportunities the programme provides. By the end of the programme, we hope to have a sustainable, user-friendly and easily accessible product that builds young people’s political and media literacy skills and ensures they are better equipped to understand and engage with the world around them.

Power2

We deliver evidence-based early-intervention programmes for disadvantaged young people, specifically targeting those identified by their teachers with wellbeing and behavioural issues, disengaged from school and learning, and at risk of exclusion. Our programmes include the award-winning Teens and Toddlers , which incorporates peer-mentoring and positive psychology to enable young people to develop crucial life skills and improve their emotional wellbeing. Our Enterprise Idea is to develop a trading model for Power2 Rediscover, our COVID pandemic crisis support programme, so that as many young people as possible can access its help.

The Pump

The Pump (East Birmingham Ltd.) is a prestigious purpose-built youth facility. It was designed by young people for young people and built on the site of an old petrol station. Our most recent music projects, ‘Pump up the Volume’, funded by the National Foundation for Youth Music, and ‘The History of Grime’, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, supported more than 600 young people, including emerging artists, towards positive outcomes.

The Pump is also the community partner in Birmingham for the Levi’s® Music project.  The Levi’s® Music Room, and additional partnerships give disadvantaged young people invaluable experience of STEAM subjects. The Pump Cafe (as a sustainable food business) addresses food poverty in East Birmingham and created 17 new job placements for young people. The Pump joined the EDP in order to realise the commercial potential of our Creative Spaces, as a vehicle for vocational training, and to grow the social economy.

Peer Productions

Peer Productions is an award winning youth arts charity specialising in combining high quality arts practice with peer education. Each year we reach 15,000 young people across the South East of England, enabling them to make positive life choices. We provide vocational actor development training for young actors (aged 17-23) who, while training with us, also volunteer their time on a range of projects for other young people, including issue-based theatre and outreach workshops.

We are now moving into also developing digital theatre work which will enable us to sell our unique educational productions to schools and other partners outside our existing area of benefit. The support offered through the EDP seemed a perfect opportunity to develop our skills and expertise as well as benefiting from the learning of others.

Infused Learning

From alternative routes into university and other qualifications to informal personal development training and coaching within the community. We offer more than just good teaching – with a person-centred approach we are truly committed to helping unlock potential.

We change lives and opportunities through innovative learning solutions and projects aimed at young people – particularly the most vulnerable. We are excited to be part of the EDP to extend the opportunities we can provide to youth.

Abianda

Abianda is a London-based social enterprise that works with young women affected by gangs and county lines, and the professionals who support them. Our mission is to bring about a culture shift in the way services are delivered to young women affected by gangs and county lines, so that:

  • They feel safe to access help
  • They are no longer a hidden group in our communities
  • They are free from harm and abuse

We do this by:

  • Delivering frontline services to gang-affected young women aged 10-25
  • Delivering training and professional development programmes to professionals who work with them

We joined the EDP to support the scale-up of our training and professional development programmes.

Space

Space unlocks potential with young people and their communities.  We support young people to learn, create and realise their potential by providing a space to hang out with mates, talk about things you can’t ask your parents, gain confidence and try new things.  We deliver innovative, professional youth work, community projects, and other services in a range of settings, to ensure young people have the best opportunities to succeed.

Our enterprise idea is to trade our educational services to schools across Devon, utilising the skills and experience of our youth workers and teachers at our independent school, Chances.  We’re really excited to be part of the EDP youth cohort and look forward to learning and sharing ideas with others and developing our trading arm successfully.

Effervescent

We collaborate with children and young people to co-produce beautiful, authentic creative campaigns for ethical organisations of all kinds. Our innovative projects transform the lives of the young people who take part, and the campaigns we produce together create large-scale social impact… making the world a little bit better. Our projects address issues as diverse as youth loneliness and child sexual exploitation, psychosis and fostering.

Over 20 years we’ve developed a unique methodology for collaborating with young people to co-produce creative campaigns. But we’re only small, and we want to help far more young people than we can reach ourselves. That’s why we’re working with the Enterprise Development Programme to increase our impact exponentially by building an online learning platform. The platform will enable other practitioners to learn how to build co-production into their own practise, so that they too can collaborate with children and young people, giving them a voice on the issues that matter to them.

Impact Dance Foundation

Impact Dance is a Hip-Hop Theatre Company, Street Dance Organisation and Educational Facilitator with a UK-wide reach and a global footprint. Founded by Hakeem Onibudo in 1995, Impact Dance continues to empower young people aged 11-19 through dance training, mentoring, national and international performances.

We aim to build an inspiring space in our new dance studio in Central London where creativity can thrive and where young people can benefit from various educational opportunities. Alongside this, we plan to hire the space to commercial hirers and fellow arts organisations to support our not-for-profit activities.

Linx

Linx Youth Project (Linx) was set up in 1993 in Hemlington, a deprived ward in Middlesbrough supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. Linx’s focus is to work in the most deprived areas. Last year, Linx’s qualified youth workers supported 964 of Middlesbrough’s most disadvantaged young people at risk of being drawn into crime and violence.

Up until April 2020 Linx was predominantly grant funded via the Youth Investment Fund Programme. Since May 2020 Linx has moved to diversify its income streams and has recently secured its first public service contract. The EDP programme will enable Linx to develop its quality, impact and information management systems as part of an emerging local youth alliance to meet the requirements of the contract and position itself to tender for additional trading opportunities.

Reclaim

RECLAIM is a unique youth leadership and social change organisation that specialises in powering young people from working-class backgrounds to overcome and dismantle the barriers that society routinely puts in their way. Our work is delivered through a pioneering Theory of Change which is made up of three distinct strands: we run leadership development initiatives for working-class young people supporting them to realise their leadership potential; we train and support working-class young people to campaign for structural change; we run co-discovery projects so that decision-makers can benefit from the wisdom, insights and talent of working-class young people.

RECLAIM is excited to be joining the Enterprise Development Programme in order to further develop our co-discovery work through the implementation of a pioneering class-consultancy service. The service will see working-class staff and young people supporting organisations from a range of industries and sectors to both recognise and remove class barriers and to create environments where colleagues from working-class backgrounds can progress, influence and thrive.

Element Society

Element Society is a non-profit organisation based in Sheffield, delivering programmes and workshops designed to empower young people to make a positive change in their communities, raise their own aspirations, and become role models to their peers. Our principal contract is the delivery of the national NCS programme for young people, we also deliver outreach youth work, school support, employability initiatives, as well as mental health and resilience training. Our enterprise idea is to open a storefront that sells Pizza as part of a self-sustaining model that diversifies our income whilst giving young people the opportunity to develop invaluable skills and gain employment experience.