M&S Community Business Challenge

We’re so excited to be finalists for funding as part of the M&S Community Business Challenge! 💚

What is #cbchallenge?

Marks & Spencer and Power to Change are working together across England to support thriving local economies through community business. Community businesses can apply for a package of business skills support provided from M&S across all disciplines of retail – from visual merchandising, to supply chain management, to finance – and up to £10,000 of funding per project from Power to Change.

What do we need the funding for?

We have applied for a cash grant to cover computers, printers and irrigation equipment to help us upscale and professionalise Propagation Place, as well as M&S support to help improve our stock management and packaging processes.

How will this help the local community and our volunteers?

Propagation Place is a St Werburghs City Farm project which balances social impact with income generation. Projections suggest that Propagation Place can be self-financing within two years and generate a surplus in three, which will be reinvested back into SWCF’s charitable services for our local community.

At the core of our project is supporting volunteers who often face disadvantage, giving them skills and confidence and often aiding transition into employment. At present, staff capacity is greatly reduced by administrative duties, and the system is too complex for lead volunteers to participate in the stock and order process and gain additional workplace skills. Overcoming this challenge would:

• Increase growth potential and improve sustainability of the business so that we can put more revenue back into farm-wide projects that benefit the local community as a whole

• Maximise staff capacity to support volunteers by freeing up time to give more 1-2-1 support and develop new skills and confidence

• Offer volunteers an opportunity to learn administrative skills and participate in the whole business from end-to-end

• Give better stock control, improve product quality, and reduce plant wastage – improving our environmental impact.

How can you help?

Please show your support for us by filling out the form http://www.communitybusinesschallenge.co.uk/bristol/ (bottom of the page) or use the hashtag #CBChallenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, along with our name (St Werburghs City Farm!) to help us secure support and funding to carry on doing what it is we do best! The more support we demonstrate, the more funding and support we will be eligible for.

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