VAC works with people and communities to improve the quality of life in rural Cumbria

Community Solutions

‘Using Enterprise to Solve Community Challenges’

Many organisations don’t see themselves as ‘businesses’, but when they start to think of ways to develop their services, to start trading and earn an income, they are on the road to becoming a community enterprise. This project aims to support local groups to help their communities thrive. To support these groups, VAC has launched ‘Community Solutions’; a new project which helps local community groups find solutions to community challenges through the use of enterprise.

The project is a partnership between VAC and Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA) and provides specialist support to communities. For example, working with groups wanting to set up and run a community owned shop, or groups wanting to develop a business idea. The service is flexible and responsive; tailored to the individual needs of groups.

VAC offers advice on how to manage and develop the facilities and resources that communities may already have, or would like to have, including how these can be managed in an effective and business-like fashion. To find out how your community could benefit from Community Solutions, contact Lorraine Rockminster on 01768 869517.

VAC is a member of the Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership.

VAC has a wealth of experience in social enterprise, gained through its successful project Enterprising Communities. The learning from this project is available, together with business development tools created and tested by this VAC project.

Last updated on: 2007-10-25