Introduction to ‘What is Powering Up’

Powering Up evolved over two phases:

• the initial pilot phase
• the full programme (also known as Powering Up 2.0)

Initial pilot phase 2020 - 2021

The pilot phase was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The key aim was to provide community businesses with access to immediate and urgent support to help businesses adapt to the impacts of the pandemic. The programme offered the following:

• Access to a Link Worker: Access to an experienced community business advisor to help navigate the programme. Link Workers acted as peers and partners to support community business leaders to get the most out of the programme
• £3,000 of ‘technical’ support. This was designed to give access to external expertise covering areas such as; adapting services to move online, advice on making spaces COVID secure, adapting business models, etc.
• £700 worth of professional development and wellbeing support for individuals or teams.

This Notion page does not go into the details of this programme but the learning was used to inform the development of the full programme. You can read the evaluation of the programme here.

Powering Up 1.0 Pilot Report.pptx

Powering Up - Full Programme

Powering Up offers capacity strengthening support over a 12-month period. The programme supports community businesses in England that need resources and help investing in their future. We support community business leaders addressing social and economic disadvantage within their local communities. We also support leaders that are improving equity within their organisations.

For the first two rounds, the tailored support package for community businesses was worth up to £20,000 in total, and included:

• Access to a Community Business Connector:
• Access to a digital or climate and sustainability expert:
• Paid access to support providers (up to £9,000) who are brokered in to meet the specific needs of your community businesses over a 12-month period
• Professional development and wellbeing support (up to £3,000) such as leadership coaching, peer mentor, and mental health support. This support can be drawn down over the 12-months
• A £8,000 flexible grant to support you as a community business leader, and your team, to engage in the required support of the programme. This could be to cover your time, back fill a post, purchase essential equipment, or cover other expenditure that enables growth of your community business.

To understand more about the programme, you can read the following documents: