Levenshulme Market is a social enterprise based in Manchester, that has established a successful community market. It recently held what is probably the first social enterprise led and funded grassroots participatory grant making programme. Using funds generated from within the local community through hiring their market stalls to small businesses throughout the previous year. Money that was then re-invested into new and existing retail opportunities and social benefit projects.
20 ideas submitted to the Market Fund where shortlisted down to 10 projects, which were able to then pitch their proposal to an audience of over 100 local people who voted on where the money should go. Over £15,000 was distributed, using the free toolkit developed by PB Partners for the Community First programme. A great example of PB learning in one sector being transferred into another.
Ideas funded included a new micro-brewery, a bicycle powered florist, a pop up arts cafe and a community run website that will promote local businesses and community activities. All projects with a strong social mission, and that aim to be sustainable. Thereby adding value to the community and providing local employment or volunteering opportunities.
- Find out how they did it on the Levenshulme Market Fund Webpage