How community partners get involved

Leeds Ahead works with wide a range of public, voluntary and community sector partners to identify projects to which business can add value by bringing time, expertise, contacts or opportunity advantage. Priority is given to projects and initiatives that are directed at tackling social and economic exclusion - such as education, employability, skills and enterprise activity. Please note that we do not ask businesses to donate money.

Since 2007 Leeds Ahead has

* Supported over 200 different community partners and schools

* Undertaken more than 800 community projects

* Helped in excess of 18000 residents

 

Leeds Ahead themes the support offered by business under five key strands of activity. These are listed below.

• EmployabilityRead More

• Tackling worklessness is a key strategic priority for the city. The need to address the causes of unemployment and incapacity to work spans the entire age range - from school leavers to those nearing retirement. Within deprived communities, individuals need greater support to access employment opportunities because a number of barriers are faced. Businesses can get involved in a range of programmes from confidence building to offering interview practice and work placements.

  For more information on employability projects please contact Shelley Riley, shelley.riley@leedsahead.org.uk

• CommunityRead More

• A large number of voluntary and community organisations work across the city to provide vital support and services to local people. Leeds Ahead works with these organisations to identify how business can best support their work. This might involve providing free services or training to a local community project, donating some office equipment or bringing business skills to their boards and management committees.

  For more information on community projects please contact Shelley Riley, shelley.riley@leedsahead.org.uk

• EnvironmentRead More

• Despite being a city that prides itself on green spaces there are many communities across the city for which green space is a rarity. These are areas where few dwellings have their own gardens and land often lies derelict. By supporting programmes such as local In Bloom competitions, neighbourhood cleanups and tree planting, business volunteers can have a visible impact on deprived areas. Not only does this improve the areas for the people living within them, it also helps to improve the prospect of inward investment.

  For more information on environment projects please contact Shelley Riley, shelley.riley@leedsahead.org.uk

• EnterpriseRead More

• One of the key building blocks for a thriving community is the development of local enterprise and all that this brings to an area. Leeds Ahead brokers support from successful businesses in the city through activities such as mentoring business start-ups or running enterprise days in schools.

  For more information on enterprise projects please contact Anne Salisbury, anne.salisbury@leedsahead.org.uk

• EducationRead More

• Educational attainment is a key factor in the ability of individuals to move their lives on and to raise aspirations. Leeds Ahead offers a range of programmes for business involvement in inner city schools to support young people. Increasingly the school curriculum provides opportunities for business to support the development of skills in young people that will make them good employees when they leave school or encourage sector-specific or vocational learning.

  For more information on education projects please contact Andrew Jackson, andrew.jackson@leedsahead.org.uk

If you are working to regenerate Leeds in some way and think that your project or organisation might benefit from non-financial help from business (such as the donation of volunteers, expertise, products or services), we would like to hear from you. Please contact our team on 0113 246 7877.