Yorkshire Venture Philanthropy investment prepares for launch

LEEDS Community Foundation is hosting a flagship event next week to raise the profile of the Yorkshire Venture Philanthropy programme (YVP) and attract investment.

YVP is a new initiative which aims to encourage growth in the social enterprise sector across Yorkshire.

In partnership with ERDF and Key Fund, the programme is being managed by the Leeds Community Foundation, together with Community Foundation from South Yorkshire and Calderdale.

The programme recruits Yorkshire-based social enterprises with ambitious plans for growth.

The enterprises are able to access one or more aspects of the programme; a small grant up to £5,000, a combined grant/loan of up to £100,000 which is delivered with KeyFund, mentoring support, pro bono advice from a range of  businesses and access to a specialist consultancy fund.

On October 23, the launch event in Leeds will offer guests the opportunity to hear from entrepreneur Sir Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project, who will share his story of how he turned his vision into a multi-million pound reality.

The event will culminate in a dragon’s den style presentation with David Parkin, founder and director of TheBusinessDesk.com, introducing three of the region’s social enterprises.

The enterprises will pitch business ideas to an investment panel made up of Deidre Bounds, entrepreneur and founder of i to I, Jonathan Straight, founder and CEO of Straight, and Peter Yendell, chairman of Endless.

Chief executive of the Community Foundation, Sally-Anne Greenfield, said: “Social enterprise is a movement unified by a proposition; that we can change the world by changing the way we do business. We are looking forward to hosting the event and having the opportunity to showcase how the sector can help tackle social, economic and environmental issues here in Yorkshire.”

To attend email Amanda@leedscf.org.uk.