BASIS ACORN Project

 

The ACORN (African Caribbean Organisations Regeneration Nottinghamshire) project was funded by the Big Lottery under its BASIS (Building and Sustaining Infrastucture Services) programme.
 
               
    
The main purpose of the project was to lead a coherent long term strategy for regenerating the African Caribbean community within Nottinghamshire. The aim was to capacity build African Caribean Voluntary and Community organisations, as well as influence and deliver new services that facilitate economic inclusion of the target community.
 
Over two years, the project focused on 3 main themes:
  1. Capacity buliding and fundraising
  2. Policy Development in the Public Sector
  3. Research and information gathering
 
Business support
Support was being provided to 14 businesses in areas such as marketing, business planning, market research and cash flow forecast.
 
Business Forum
The ACORN project conducted two business forums giving local African Caribbean businesses the opportunity to network and share knowledge and information. The forum was also a base for businesses to receive specific business support. The business forum was held in March 2009. 
 
Policy and Research
The project aimed to produce a number of research and policy briefing papers analysing issues of economic and social policy aimed at the African Caribbean community and voluntary sector. Research and policy briefing had already been conducted around the theme of education looking at " The Reorganisation of Children Services." Another policy was currently being drafted and was based around the themes of employment and education looking at " The barriers to employment for African Caribbean young people aged 16-25 yrs old".
 
PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System Small Organisation)
We were a supporting organisation with PQASSO self assessment tool and successfully delivered workshops aimed at providing a better understanding of how PQASSO can benefit voluntary and community organisations.