Aspatria Dreamscheme Aspatria Dreamscheme started out as a youth project, mainly targeting disadvantaged young people aged 11 to 19, offering opportunities to grow and achieve their goals in a safe, constructive environment. Many of the young people supported by the project are isolated from wider society beyond the boundaries of the town and starved of the kind of recreational and leisure choices taken for granted in larger communities. Many display emotional problems and behavioural issues and lack belief in themselves or in a brighter future. Those who want to go on to become young leaders and volunteers with the project are supported to develop their skills and offered training and personal development opportunities to enhance their employability. More recently, the organisation has taken on a much wider remit, running community projects for all ages. This transition was triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, which magnified how isolated many people in Aspatria felt. The organisation now runs several groups for every age, themed around tackling loneliness and isolation, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and promoting healthy eating and cooking skills. Sessions include an after-school club, a secondary school transition club, a Friday night youth club, a women’s only group to develop self-confidence, friendships and wellbeing, and a men’s only group using DIY to reduce loneliness. CASE STUDY 83 Phoenix Enterprise Centre Phoenix Enterprise Centre (PEC) received a Stage 2 Bedrock Award grant and used it to appoint Business Development Manager, Nina Albertelli and Marketing Officer, Mia Huck-O’fee. PEC Executive Director, Joanne Crowe, says Bedrock Awards is proving transformational for the centre and its ability to help local people. PEC has five buildings in Cleator Moor housing local businesses. It also provides an advice and guidance service to people who are unemployed, on benefits or about to be made redundant. PEC also runs a food pantry which helps up to 200 families a year. A review of the organisation, with Kate Welch of Social Enterprise Acumen, allowed them to identify weaknesses and how to make change. “Before taking part in the Bedrock Award we were stagnant. One of the reasons for that was not being able to afford the staff resource,” said Joanne. Nina and Mia have driven growth. Joanne said: “Enquiries for space and accommodation have increased and Nina has been able to convert the majority of these enquiries into licence agreements, alongside other paid-for services such as cleaning, room hire and furniture hire. Occupancy levels are now 96 per cent.” “The quality of the marketing and advertising literature currently being produced is far superior to previous marketing. Mia has widened our social media presence to numerous other platforms, has set up a fundraising page, and she is redesigning the website. A new tenants’ newsletter has been launched.” New income streams have been established including fundraising activities organised by Nina. Fundraising generated £5,864 of income in the first quarter of 2023 financial year, whe npreviously there was none. Nina has also delivered a new project which supported the set up of three new business start-ups. Overall income increased by £12,648 in the first quarter of 2023, compared with the same period in the previous year, directly as a result of the Bedrock Award grant. The appointments also freed up some of Joanne’s time. “That has enabled me to concentrate on governance,” she said. “I have been able to update our constitution and activities with Companies House, and recruit and appoint two new directors to strengthen the board. I have also been able to start looking for new properties that we might be able to purchase so we can create new office accommodation or workspace to further regenerate Cleator Moor.” She added: “Our Bedrock Award has had such a significant impact that I will look back on it as one of the milestone projects that assisted PEC to help our community.” CASE STUDY 82 Strengthening services: Joanne Crowe with new recruits Nina Albertelli and Mia Huck-O’fee
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