What is LARCH?
The LARCH programme supports individuals and organisations at different stages of their social enterprise journey, to develop ideas and business models through events, workshops, professional support and mentoring from other successful social entrepreneurs and organisations.
VONNE hosts the LARCH programme and provides the independent Chair of the Partnership.
What's a Social Enterprise?
A social enterprise is a business established to create positive social change - it must have a focus on economic success; however, it differs from other businesses in that the money generated is used to tackle its social aims rather than to reward the business owners or shareholders.
LARCH Social Investment Funds. Investing in Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool through the LARCH programme.
Looking for social investment, then the LARCH fund might be right for you.
Managed by Key Fund, the LARCH programme continues to offer social investment and free, tailored business support to develop their ideas and then social investment to help social entrepreneurs start, grow and scale enterprises that make a real difference in their communities.
Working with local delivery partners in Redcar, Cleveland and Hartlepool, the LARCH programme connects people with practical advice, training and social finance – all designed by entrepreneurs who know what it takes to run businesses that do good.
LARCH is a tailored package offering guidance, mentoring and financial support, to individuals who want to do good business.
What can LARCH do for me
- Access to social investment for all stages of your business including purchasing and refurbishing buildings (up to £150,000, some of the funds have a % grant ratio).
- Offer tailored support and advice from fellow experienced Social Entrepreneurs
- Connect you to networks, opportunities and contacts
- Provide training and learning opportunities for you to grow your knowledge and expertise
- Offer guidance on funding and investment opportunities for organisations both early stage and established.
Ultimately, help you make the next steps to fulfil your enterprise potential.
The programme enables vital support for Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool’s social economy, helping local organisations to build a stronger, fairer and more enterprising region.
Key Fund is a social enterprise investing in community and social enterprises with a particular focus on disadvantaged areas. They have a long history of investing in the Northeast and will continue to work with funders and local partners to help the region’s social enterprises thrive.
What are our aims?
LARCH aims to develop and build a thriving social economy in Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool with a £4 million investment from our funders. Our ambitious plans will achieve this through working with local people who want to tackle social issues whilst developing sustainable social enterprises. These principles are embedded within the heart of the LARCH Programme.
How will we do this?
The programme supports individuals and organisations at different stages of their enterprise journey to develop ideas and business models through events, workshops, professional support and mentoring from other successful entrepreneurs and organisations.
How is it funded?
The LARCH programme is a £4 million investment and is one of only six areas in the UK to be chosen by Access Foundation for Social Investment and Big Society Capital, who are the main funders of LARCH, with the support of two other partners – The Key Fund and Tees Valley Community Foundation.
Our vision represents the combined ambitions of organisations which form The LARCH Partnership, made up of local voluntary, community, social enterprises, and statutory agencies.
Learn more about LARCH
Watch this video from a recent event to learn more about us and meet our partners.
Hear from our partnership
Menisha Gela
Menisha is Deputy CEO of VONNE and the independent chair of the LARCH Partnership Board.
"The LARCH programme supports individuals and organisations at different stages of their enterprise journey, to develop ideas and business models through events, workshops, professional support and mentoring from other successful social entrepreneurs and organisations. A social enterprise is a business established to create positive social change - it must have a focus on economic success; however, it differs from other businesses in that the money generated is used to tackle its social aims rather than to reward the business owners or shareholders."
Peter Gowland
Peter is Director of Hartlepower, one of the voluntary sector organisations helping represent LARCH in Hartlepool.
"We urge anyone with a social enterprise idea to take up the LARCH offer, which is not just about providing funding for your project - welcome though that is - but good quality, continuing support throughout your enterprise journey. Hartlepool has a very rich tradition of people coming together to meet local needs - LARCH could be just the tool people need to realise their ambitions."
Nicola Wylde
Nicola is the Partnership Manager for LARCH and first point of contact for anyone interested in finding out more about the programme.
Nicola spent 14 years of her career working in community development, member services and governance at Co-op in addition to programme and partnerships management in the charitable sector. Her vision of LARCH is to develop and promote a culture of Social Enterprise across Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool by nurturing and encouraging the creation and growth of social enterprises.
Find out more
The LARCH programme is managed by Nicola Wylde and hosted by VONNE.
To find out more about LARCH, you can email Nicola at nicola.wylde@vonne.org.uk
