How the need for the Mali enterprising project arose

The Ubele Initiative and Locality’s report – A Place Called Home – highlighted an urgent need for BAME communities to be offered targeted support, advice, capacity building and investment to enable them to retain and build sustainable community business models. Responding to this report, Mali Enterprising Leaders was the first community business pilot project that sought to create community business opportunities, intergenerationally, within BAME community organisations in the UK.

The project goals

Increased BAME organisations’ awareness of current and emerging trends in asset development and community enterprise in London and Manchester.
Contributed to the sustainability of existing BAME-led organisations with community assets through increasing their capacity to establish and run community-owned businesses.
Offered tailored community business support to five BAME community-based organisations in London and Manchester.
Contributed to the growth of the next generation of BAME community entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 years.
Supported organisations in developing and testing community enterprise ideas.
Commissioned BAME-led support providers to deliver local, tailored and targeted support services directly to and within BAME organisations and communities, and introduce them into the Power to Change enterprise eco-system.