How community partners get involved

Leeds Ahead works with 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 has recently won £20.6m from government to stimulate enterprise in our most deprived communities. Leeds Ahead has the leading role in brokering support to this programme from successful businesses in the city. This might involve mentoring business start-ups or social enterprises or running enterprise days in schools.

• 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.

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 your relevant Leeds Ahead area representative or use the Response Form below to contact us from this site.

If they meet our criteria (defined in the main by public sector priorities) community partners can access business support through Leeds Ahead without charge. All partners must sign the Leeds Ahead Charter and agree to observe the guidelines set out in our Partner Information Pack.