Knowsley Council

Creating the conditionsfor social innovation

For further information contact Ian Bancroft, Head of Social Growth at Knowsley Council.Email: ian.bancroft@knowsley.gov.uk

Tel: 07827 256159

(7) One approach to volunteering All volunteers and volunteer placement opportunities are registered at Knowsley’s Volunteer Centre, meaning that volunteers can be easily linked to opportunities, and their capacity and skills can be maximised.

(8) Social sector collaboration A new social enterprise, Forward Together, has been developed to enable social sector organisations to take a share, and then be able to bid jointly for contracts under the umbrella of one organisation.

(1) Procuring for social value Social value has been defined with clear outcomes and measures and is being used in every procurement process. Commissioners are purchasing prevention by including social value measures in tender specifications and tender evaluation frameworks.

(2) Social enterprise support Specialist business advice for social enterprises provided through the ‘Big Enterprise in Communities’ Programme.

(4) Public service mutuals Knowsley Council’s Rights and Participation and Youth Services have developed a new social enterprise that will provide activities and support for young people. Knowsley Youth Mutual will employ 80 people and have a turnover of £2 million. By increasing traded income, that can help offset public sector funding reductions, it will safeguard local jobs and services for young people.

(3) Social finance The Knowsley Foundation banks funding for the social sector from a range of sources including the public sector, private donors and new forms of social finance. Funding is then targeted to develop priority social sector markets and is provided through grants and loans. It has so far distributed over half a million pounds to the social sector and will in future work closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Impact Fund.

(5) Community-led solutions to independent travel £300,000 of grants has been provided through the Knowsley Foundation to enable communities and social sector organisations to develop their own transport solutions. Once this market has been developed, public sector commissioners will seek to purchase transport solutions from this market.

(6) Asset transfers The Newstead School site has been transferred to Activate Arts to develop the ‘Bracknell Centre’. This centre will provide education, training and employment support for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. It will support new social enterprises on site providing new jobs in areas such as horticulture and catering.

SOCIALINNOVATION

Why

How

INCREASESCOMMUNITYRESILIENCE

SOCIALGROWTH

REDUCED DEMAND

ON PUBLIC SERVICES

leads to which resulting in