Julie Matthews, the CEO of WATCH in Chard, is one of 15 leaders in Somerset to have been selected for a competitive learning programme and Match Trading grant of up to £15,000.
The programme will support Julie to grow WATCH, which reaches out and engages with isolated adults who need support in the local community.
Julie has begun a four-month Accelerator learning programme with the School for Social Entrepreneurs, which supports people starting up and running social enterprises, charities, community business and environmental projects.
Julie says: “I am delighted to have been accepted onto the Somerset Social Entrepreneurs Programme, The programme, and Match Trading grant of up to £15,000 will help me grow WATCH, so I can support more people in Somerset in 2022.”
Somerset Social Entrepreneurs Programme is led by the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) in partnership with Somerset Social Enterprise Network, SPARK, Somerset, Somerset Community Foundation and Somerset County Council. It is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, which is managed by the West of England Combined Authority within the Somerset region.
Dirk Rohwedder, South West Director for School for Social Entrepreneurs, says: “We are delighted to welcome Julie onto the Accelerator programme, where they’ll learn alongside other community leaders how to build a more resilient organisation and create greater social impact for the region. We are confident Julie has the leadership qualities and motivation to increase their impact on Somerset even further, which is why we have awarded her a highly coveted place.”
As part of the programme, SSE has partnered with Somerset Social Entrepreneurs Network, SPARK Somerset, SMART communities, Somerset Community Foundation and Somerset County Council to provide free support through workshops and events until the end of June 2022. These will tackle subjects ranging from managing finances and fundraising to future planning and scaling up. They are open to all social enterprises, community businesses, charity and voluntary organisations in Somerset whether or not they’re on the programme and can be booked here: https://smartcommunities.online/services/ssen/
For further information, please contact:
- Leonie Girling at leoniegirling@watchproject.org.uk
- Akulah Agbami, marketing and communications lead, the School for Social Entrepreneurs: akulah.agbami@sse.org.uk
About WATCH
WATCH was founded in 2010 by members of the Chard Intentional Peer Support Group and continues to be built around the lived experience of members to help them form sound peer friendships which extend in their local area and the wider community.
At WATCH, our focus is on creating an environment to allow our members to reach their potential in their own way. We are organised as a co-operative meaning that anyone who does benefit in this way has a right to become a member and all members, and only members, run WATCH democratically.
You can find out more about WATCH and what we do at our website: https://watchproject.org.uk/
About School for Social Entrepreneurs
We can’t fix issues like poverty, climate change and ill-health alone. That’s why the School for Social Entrepreneurs exists. We help 1,000 people a year develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems. We run courses that equip people to start, scale and strengthen organisations that make a positive difference. But we’re not a traditional school.
