LARCH - growing social enterprise

LARCH (Local Access Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool) is a place-based approach to nurturing and encouraging the creation and growth of social enterprises and charities.

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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.

LARCH logo

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.

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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 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 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."

Neta Kaur-Brown

Neta Kaur-Brown

Neta is the Partnership Manager for LARCH and first point of contact for anyone interested in finding out more.

"If you have a good idea you think could be an enterprise or a new income stream which also delivers social impact, then get in touch for a chat to get the ball rolling!"

Find out more

The LARCH programme is managed by Neta Kaur-Brown and hosted by VONNE.

To find out more about LARCH visit www.larch-ne.org or get in touch hello@larch-ne.org.uk

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