Aspire North Northants

Category: News

  • Launch of Aspire NN Funding Fair 2025.

    Launch of Aspire NN Funding Fair 2025.

     

    Funding Fair for North Northants not-for-profits unveiled as new organisation Aspire NN ‘hits the ground running’.

     

    Securing funding will now be much easier for local not-for-profits thanks to a series of free online and face to face workshops and presentations as part of a Funding Fair set to take place this February and March. 

     

    These events are being organised by new partnership organisation Aspire NN – a collaboration of six charities and social enterprises in North Northamptonshire – which has been made possible thanks to recent funding from North Northamptonshire Council.

     

    Kate Williams, Chief Executive of Groundwork Northants, said: ‘We want to hit the ground running with Aspire NN so we can provide the support that our voluntary sector really needs and deserve. Our Funding Fair will provide funding information, advice and support for any local organisations that wish to benefit. This will enable local groups to apply for and secure the funding they need to run activities as well as purchase equipment which benefit the community.”

     

    The Aspire NN Funding Fair will consist of a mix of online events and in-person workshops and presentations at different venues across the north of the county. Advisors from a wide range of funding bodies including the National Lottery, Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Lloyds Bank will be taking part. 

     

    Led by Groundwork Northamptonshire the other Aspire NN partners are Serve, Volunteer Action, Northamptonshire ACRE, Support Northants and the North Northants Social Enterprise Network. This is a three-year project designed to support the local voluntary sector. 

     

    In addition to organising an annual Funding Fair Aspire NN will provide organisational support such as start up guidance for social enterprises and community groups, help for charities wishing to increase their earnings potential, volunteer recruitment advice and much more. 

     

    The 2025 Aspire NN Funding Fair events programme includes:

     

    • Tuesday, 4th February 10.30am-12.30pm: Northamptonshire Community Foundation Funding

    • Thursday, 6th February 7pm-8pm: Trustee responsibilities and fundraising

    • Tuesday, 11th February 10.30am-12.30pm: Charity Bank

    • Thursday, 13th February 10.30am-12.30pm: Different funding and how to apply, led by Lloyds Bank Foundation

    • Tuesday, 25th February 1.30pm-3.30pm & 7pm-8pm: Hints and tips on writing a good application, led by Northamptonshire Community Foundation

    • Wednesday, 26th February 1.30pm-3.30pm: Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund and NN Sustainable Food network, led by NACRE Village Halls Advice

    • Thursday, 27th February 10.30am-12.30pm: Co-op Funding in the Community

     

    For more information about these events and the full programme and to book a free place visit: https://aspirenn.org.uk/funding-fair-2025/

  • Aspire NN: New Collaboration Launches Between Council and Volunteer, Community and Social Enterprise Sector

    Aspire NN: New Collaboration Launches Between Council and Volunteer, Community and Social Enterprise Sector

    Groundwork Northamptonshire has been confirmed as the lead provider for a new collaboration – Aspire NN – between North Northamptonshire Council and the voluntary sector. The new contract will provide infrastructure support to the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector across North Northants.

    The VCSE sector provides valuable support to people across North Northamptonshire and in February 2024, Executive approved the North Northamptonshire Council Council Communities Strategy 2024-2027 and announced a £600,000 investment into VCSE Infrastructure across North Northamptonshire over a three-year period.

    Following a robust procurement process, Groundwork Northamptonshire have been appointed as the lead provider in a new VCSE collaboration for North Northamptonshire.

    Groundwork Northamptonshire will now work alongside five other organisations who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to deliver support to community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises across North Northamptonshire.

    The collaborative leadership between Groundwork and five other key partners based in North Northamptonshire include Support Northamptonshire, Volunteer Action, North Northants Social Enterprise Network, Serve and Northamptonshire Acre.

    Cllr Mark Rowley, the council’s Executive Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Residents are at the heart of everything we do, and we have always worked closely with the partners and the voluntary sector to ensure everyone has the best quality of life possible. It is hoped that this new collaboration will further grow on the work that has already been started across North Northants – creating a different and refreshed offer that is rooted in sustainability, trust, need and makes a genuine impact.”

    Kate Williams, Executive Director of Groundwork Northamptonshire said:

    “Groundwork Northamptonshire are thrilled with this decision, we have worked hard to build a robust partnership that will support strong, dynamic and sustainable change for the VCSE sector. Now, more than ever, the key roles that the VCSE play are crucial, but we recognize and understand the vulnerabilities and strains the sector faces, this partnership is going to work hard to offer genuine support and development for the sector over the next three years.”

    The VCSE Infrastructure contract will run for three years with the option for a further one-year extensions subject to funding being available.

    Our website, www.aspirenn.org.uk, will provide access to a wide range of resources for VCSE organisations across North Northamptonshire or contact Groundwork Northamptonshire on 01536 526453 to chat about what support they can offer.

    Leaders of the six local organisations that make up the new Aspire NN partnership. Left to right: Pratima Dattani (Support Northamptonshire), Nicola Toms (NACRE), Kate Williams (Groundwork Northants), Tony Gibbs (Serve), Rachel Dixon (Volunteer Action), Alison Holland (North Northants Social Enterprise Network).