Who are you calling hard to reach?
| Date published: | August 2006 |
| Results: |
CD Rom on Best practice guide |
| Funder: | Business Link London |
| Lead Partner: | Thessaly Community Centre, Stockwell Community Resource Centre and Community Action Network |
In August 2006, GLE oneLondon published the best practice report "Who are you calling hard to reach?" presenting the collective experience of GLE oneLondon in reaching and engaging priority groups.
As well as managing two local enterprise agencies in south London, GLE oneLondon run many projects aimed at promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship among priority groups. For instance, through the Reaching for Enterprise project we worked to engage unemployed social housing residents in nine London boroughs and our Inspiring Innovation in London’s Food Sector project helped minority ethnic entrepreneurs develop their businesses in this sector.
This guide was developed through intensive interviews with the people who have delivered these projects, from community leaders right through to project managers. One clear message emerged from these conversations: often, the people we label ‘hard-to-reach’ – for example, unemployed people, specific ethnic minority communities, faith groups, disabled people and women – are not in fact difficult to access at all. The problem lies more frequently with the type of business support provision on offer and the way in which it is marketed and delivered. Business support is often poorly tailored to the needs of community groups, insensitive to their cultures and top-down in focus.
If Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs) wish to engage priority groups, mindsets must change. Our target groups are not the ‘hard-to-reach’ – we are. The advice and recommendations presented in the guide are based on our extensive, ‘on-the-ground’ experience of working with and engaging priority groups. Written by an ESO for ESOs, we outline a series of practical tips on how such groups can be accessed more effectively.
Our partners
In compiling this report, GLE oneLondon worked alongside Thessaly Community Centre, Stockwell Community Resource Centre and Community Action Network, and was funded by Business Link London.
Contact us:
For more information about this report, please contact Tracey Kilty on tracey.k@gle.co.uk
