BASIS ACORN Project
The ACORN (African Caribbean Organisations Regeneration Nottinghamshire) project is funded by the Big Lottery under its BASIS (Building and Sustaining Infrastucture Services) programme.
The main purpose of the project is to lead a coherent long term strategy for regenerating the African Caribbean community within Nottinghamshire. The aim is 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 will focus on 3 main themes:
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Capacity buliding and fundraising
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Policy Development in the Public Sector
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Research and information gathering
Business support
Support is being provided to 14 businesses in areas such as marketing, business planning, market research and cash flow forecast.
Business Forum
The ACORN project has held two business forums giving local African Caribbean businesses the opportunity to network and share knowledge and information. The forum is also a base for businesses to receive specific business support. The business forum was held in March 2009. If you are interested in receiving business support or would like to attend the next business forum and you are from the African Caribbean community please contact:
Kamran Afzaal Community Enterprise Officer on: 0115 9409008 or by email
Policy and Research
The project aims 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 have already been conducted around the theme of education looking at " The Reorganisation of Children Services." Another policy is currently being drafted and is 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 are supporting organisations with PQASSO self assessment tool and have delivered workshops aimed at providing a better understanding of how PQASSO can benefit voluntary and community organisations.
ONLINE BLOG
We have set up an online blog to gather opinions from the genaral public on issues surrounding employment, health and education.
if you would like to add a comment to our blog then please go to: