Ashford VCSE Support Fund
Free business consultancy for the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector with funding from Ashford Borough Council
** NO SPACES LEFT **
Over the next eighteen months, Ashford Borough Council and Social Enterprise Kent will support 40 existing or start-up charities and social enterprises. We will offer ‘one-to-one’ mentoring with you and your teams, and you can attend training/workshop courses, networking sessions and a conference, all for FREE*. This programme is dedicated to fortifying VCSE leaders within the Ashford community delivering comprehensive assistance that will enable your organisation to attain enduring growth and prosperity.
What's on offer
We offer up to 12 hours of personalised assistance per client, expertly navigating the intricacies of your unique circumstances, the provision of effective one-on-one mentoring, thoughtfully customised to cater to your organisation’s distinct requirements. Whether you favour in-person consultations at your premises or alternative off-site venues, or if you prefer the convenience of virtual sessions, our approach is adaptable, ensuring a smooth and accommodating experience for you.
What are you waiting for, get in touch and sign up today!
Free Workshops for participants
Leadership, Governance and an effective board. Tuesday 13th of August. Option for online or in person, 15:00 – 17:00 venue TBA.
Winning clients, staff and volunteers – recruitment, retention and motivation. Tuesday 10th of September. Option for online or in person, 15:00 – 17:00 venue TBA.
A recap, shared services and back-office support. Tuesday 15th of October. Option for online or in person, 15:00 – 17:00 venue TBA.
Finding funds – Investor summaries and bid writing. Tuesday 12th of November. Option for online or in person, 15:00 – 17:00 venue TBA.
Growing your VCSE; innovation, mergers and collaboration. Tuesday 14th of January 2025. Option for online or in person, 15:00 – 17:00 venue TBA.
Social Media and low cost Software. Tuesday the 11th of February 2025. Option for online or in person, 15:00 – 17:00 venue TBA
To secure your place, email Michael here
What our clients say about the programme
"Michael and SEK have been fantastic to work with and we are very lucky to have had the time we’ve had. As a small creative business with clear drive and ambition, we are time and resource poor, so appreciate the value of the time and expertise we have received as a result of this scheme. We now have 2 documents to support us in moving forward and are better equipped to face the challenges ahead- the value of this cannot be underestimated. Michael always works in a very nurturing way, has really understood our business, has helped us further articulate how good we already actually are and helped us revise our business plan for the next three years, increasing our confidence in our abilities and business operation/model."
"The recent exercise has provided us with valuable and clear insights into our income and expenditure. This newfound understanding will be instrumental in aiding us to make the challenging decisions necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our organisation. The entire process was remarkably straightforward, making it easy for us to follow and comprehend the findings. Michael played a crucial role in this, offering thorough explanations about how he produced the documents. His informative approach not only clarified the methodology but also helped us grasp the significance of the data presented. We are confident that with these insights, we can navigate our financial landscape more effectively and strategically.”
"Michael was a pleasure to work with and took the time to understand our business to develop our start-up CIC. His advice has enabled us to grow our knowledge to approach future investors with confidence, give the company a solid foundation and create a plan to ensure sustainability and growth.
Michael delivers his advice in a supportive manner, with honest and professional feedback based on his invaluable experience and business expertise."
"I have found that working with Michael has helped me find a formula to enable me to attribute a financial value that can be directly linked to our marketing activities. Michael has listened to my challenge and we are in the process of developing a ‘financial funnel’ that collates information from several sources. Showing me whether our community’s support for Pilgrims Hospices is above or below the national/regional giving average. I will now be able to directly attribute this to the success of our marketing activities. During my career I have had many Board level discussions where we have endeavoured to find a solution to this question. Michael’s experience of the Corporate sector has given him a different perspective on how to analyse information and I’m really looking forward to the final outcome."
“Thank you so much for this very detailed overview Michael – hugely appreciated. I have enjoyed the group sessions - they have given me valuable insights and tips on how to deal with/tackle a wide variety of issues. Very helpful!”
"Great sessions with Michael. His time created the space for me to think about this development of our business and provided deadlines which prevented me from getting distracted and focused on the project!
He introduced me to people who might be able to help and they in turn helped me formulate the ideas in my head. He helped me strategize the project so I could present it to my board of trustees. He then helped with the all important pricing strategy.
Thank you for all your help – without your guidance and discipline I do not think I would have got it up and running so quickly!"
"Michael has been extremely helpful and insightful on the subject of business. His straight up advice and understanding turned my ambitions into possibilities and saved me from a lot of financial uncertainty as I explored some new horizons.
His friendly,encouraging nature and expertise gave me confidence to make decisions on how to move forward and I look forward to working with him in the future."
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