OUR
PROGRAMMES
OUR
PROGRAMMES
Since 2013, we have been building stronger communities across Cheshire by bridging the gap and helping businesses and charities to work together. We do this in many ways including:
The majority of our projects are long term and often involve a range of business skills and expertise. They don’t necessarily begin that way, but as relationships develop further opportunities arise. Typical areas of support include marketing, HR, finance, operations and longer term planning.
These kind of matches are particularly beneficial to all involved, providing an ongoing support system for the charity and a significantly positive outcome for all those exchanging their skills.
Like any organisation, charities are often hit by unexpected projects for which they need a particular expertise that might not already exist within the charity. These types of projects are ideal for a business to make a quick but significant impact and could include:
As well as matching charity CEOs with mentors from the business sector, we facilitate peer support opportunities where charity leaders can share experiences, problem solve and take time to develop their own leadership skills.
In 2019 we introduced Connect, Lead and Learn Access – our 12 month leadership development programme for aspiring charity leaders of the future. Such was the success that we run annual programmes and more than 70 aspiring leaders have completed the programme and many have gone on to new senior management or charity leader roles in Cheshire and Warrington. This means that Cheshire Connect have helped to retain highly skilled leaders within the local charity sector.
Cheshire Connect also provides networking/peer support sessions for charity leaders to collaborate and share experiences.
Charities are facing huge economic pressure, with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations estimating that a minimum of £4.3 billion in income has been lost because of partly due to the cost-of-living crisis and government cuts. Sadly, some charities will, inevitably, close and those who survive will face a struggle to adapt to decreased funding, and new ways of working set against high levels of demand for their services.
Our Transform Programme was launched in May 2021 and involved a focused and strategic approach to skills matching, utilising highly-skilled and experienced volunteers from the business community to support charities to rapidly become the very best they can be. The CEO’s are supported throughout the Programme with ongoing mentoring and a tailored leadership development package.
Enquiries to: Andrea Peattie
