Our aims and goals

• Are aims are to stimulate the interest in self-employment and Enterprise, allowing residents to explore the potential of enterprise as a valid alternative to unemployment, improving the local economy and increasing GDP.
• Build Local Social Capital, enabling neighbourhood groups and organisation to make a more positive contribution to the development of their own areas and generate innovative new community and micro businesses.
• Generate new community led initiatives designed to improve the neighbourhood economies and contribute to social regeneration and well being of the people living in those areas. Develop the understanding within the community of the role, procedures, structures etc required to both develop and run such initiatives.
• To develop a network across Liverpool and other cities to promote sharing of information, expertise, good and best practice in community based economic development and regeneration. This will include the use of E.communications, video conferencing, websites and access to model projects and information.
• Develop and implement a range of web sites designed to provide on-line support and self-help develop a range of “virtual communities” including would be entrepreneurs, community businesses, community organisations, local SME’s, and partner Social Enterprise support agencies.
• Develop “Social Entrepreneurs” who will work within their own neighbourhoods to combat social exclusion and improve local facilities.
• Through our partnership with the Merseyside Local Investment Fund and Liverpool City Council develop user friendly mechanisms to allow community groups and individuals access to finance to set up and run community based social enterprises and businesses.

Dingle Opportunities History

Dingle Opportunities was established in 1993 by a group of local residents and agencies including Toxteth Community Council, Liverpool City Council, Southern Training Granby Toxteth Task Force and others. After acquiring premises and a small grant from the GT Task Force late in 1994 the group employed two members of staff.

The Dingle Opportunities staff then worked closely with LCC, Local Residents and local organisations to develop a successful SRB Round 1 application.

Using the funding provided by SRB and Objective 1 the premises were refurbished and a further 15 staff employed providing a range of services including: Vocational Guidance and advice, business support, small business grants and loans, vocational training and work ready support and capacity building with local residents.

In 1999 Dingle Opportunities won two national awards from the British Urban Regeneration Association. A best Practice Award for Regeneration and the Secretary of State for the DETR Partnerships in Regeneration.

In addition we have been cited in several government reports including: SEU Report “Bringing Britain Together - a National Strategy for neighbourhood renewal” and the DETR topic paper on Community Enterprise, the Treasury Report Productivity in the UK, a DETR Topic Paper on Community Enterprise and others.

Since the organisation was established we have created over 20 Social Enterprises, place over 2000 long term people into employment and/or training supported over 200 local businesses.

Originally covering an area with a population of 35000 we now cover most of the South Central area of Liverpool with a population in the order of 100,000 people. We Lease two premises and own one other.