What is Building Better Opportunities?

It is a programme which supports local projects and organisations to tackle the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. It aims to help the most disadvantaged in our community.

The five key areas of Building Better Opportunities are:

• Help the most disadvantaged
• Tackle social exclusion
• Be focused on the capabilities of each individual
• Lead to better-coordinated services
• Create new opportunities for work.

We aim to do this by working in partnership with community organisations who have specific expertise and together work to offer a tailored and holistic package of support.

How is it funded?

The National Lottery's Community Fund is matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 to invest in local projects tackling the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth.

The funding will be delivered in 38 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas (see map below) according to local priorities, which have been set by the LEPs themselves. It will support a variety of projects, ranging from those improving employability for the most disadvantaged, helping those with multiple and complex needs, to improving financial literacy.

TCHC with our partners has won funding to local communities with three programmes: Community Connections North, Opportunity Suffolk and Enterprising People.

Community Connections North

Tailored for individual needs, it offers a wide range of support from across our network of community organisations to help people to achieve their dreams and goals by helping them move towards or into employment.

There is a wide range of support available to meet the diverse needs of the local community, whether they are disabled, homeless, a migrant, lone parent, isolated or facing other factors holding them back, Community Connections North aims to help you overcome and grasp the local opportunities available to you.

The programme runs across Wisbech, March, Whittlesey, Chatteris, Kings Lynn, West Norfolk, Rutland, Huntingdonshire, Ely and East Cambridgeshire, The area of the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough LEP Fenland area (GCGP LEP).

Enterprising People

Many people see self-employment as an opportunity to turn their lives around, but they are often unsure of how to get started. Enterprising People aims to help individuals develop the tools they need to become self-employed or start a business.

It runs in the South East Midland Local Enterprise Partnership which includes areas in and around Kettering, Daventry, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Central Beds, Luton and Banbury.

Opportunity Suffolk

Has a dedicated team of local experts to help give people the support and tools they need to get on in life and move closer towards or into work. the programme supports people aged 24 and over living in and/or accessing services in Suffolk, who have not worked for more than six months. Whatever barriers locals face, be it a disability, learning difficulties, homelessness, addiction, English as a second language or mental health matters - our partners run tailored programmes putting the individual at the heart of this flexible programme.