Oldham

Oldham

Powering Oldham’s Social Economy

Action Together's support for Social Economy Organisations in Oldham comprises a wide offer of one-to-one coaching and training, along with multiple opportunities for networking in collaborative spaces

Earlier this year we hosted an 8-week 'Social Accelerator Programme' social entrepreneurs, delivered by Mantle. The programme aimed to support the participants to enhance sustainability, diversify income streams, and develop robust business models.
 
Below we share some case studies from participants of the programme, demonstrating it's impact and outcomes.

Case Study | SEE Oldham

SEE Oldham CIC is a small, purposefully designed small independent special school for secondary aged pupils with SEMH needs. The organisation’s mission is to provide a broad and relevant curriculum that equips learners with the resilience, life skills, and knowledge needed to make informed choices about their post-16 education and future employment.

See Oldham approached Action Together for support through the E26 programme, with the ambition to further its community impact by strengthening its business model, improving financial sustainability, and accessing social investment.

SEE Oldham ’s Development Manager, Michelle, participated in the Social Accelerator Programme with Mantle, and following completion of the programme the E26 budget funded further 1:1 consultancy support with Mantle around strengthening the organisation's business model. Key challenges included reviewing the organisation’s legal structure, improving financial planning, and identifying suitable funding and investment opportunities.

Impact
The support enabled the team at SEE Oldham clarify their strategic direction, and improve its financial resilience. The business plan and cashflow forecast work, developed with Mantle’s support, were instrumental in applying for a refinancing loan from Big Issue Invest and a Reach Fund application (outcome pending).

The conversations around legal structure and trading has improved the group’s confidence in making informed decisions around future planning and streamlining. The online finance training complemented this work and enhanced understanding of essential financial management practices, supporting long-term sustainability. 

The support has also led the SEE Oldham team to develop their networks with other local founders, and these relationships have sustained following the completion of the programmes and training, giving them the opportunity to collaborate and draw upon expertise i.e. SEE Oldham plan to work with Inclusive Bytes (another Oldham-based social enterprise) to develop their website and digital platform.

Feedback
"I just wanted to say thank you so much. There was very little editing I had to do to the business plan (it was brilliant), and the cashflow has also helped our application for a refinancing loan from Big Issue Invest – so your input was doubly beneficial to us.

Myself and Leo feel this worked really well as a partnership. To date this experience has been a lot smoother than what we previously experienced when applying for investment – so a massive thank you!"

SEE Oldham logo

Case Study | Shaw & Crompton Meals on Wheels

Shaw & Crompton Meals on Wheels (SCMoW), a newly formed Community Interest Company (CIC), received tailored non-financial support through the E26 Supporting the Social Economy programme. 

SCMoW worked with Action Together’s Capacity Building team to complete the Social Enterprise Diagnostic Tool, a resource which helps to identify key development and priority areas. The need for improved communications and marketing, including website development, was identified as a key priority.

Action Together then connected SCMoW to consultancy support from Inclusive Bytes (an Oldham-based social enterprise), and funded a package of support through the E26 budget.

In April 2025, Inclusive Bytes worked with SMoW to design and develop a new website, secure domain registration, and provide training on website management. The support also included a 12-month consultancy period to ensure sustainability and growth.

Impact
The development of a dedicated website was a transformative step for SCMoW. As a newly established social enterprise, having a professional online platform has significantly enhanced their visibility and credibility within the community.

The support from Inclusive Bytes enabled the creation of a user-friendly, accessible website that not only showcases their services but also communicates their mission and social impact. The 12-month consultancy support ensures that SCMoW can continue to refine and expand their digital capabilities as they grow.

Feedback
“Thanks so much for the policy information and templates, and for funding the consultancy support for our website development. We are off to a really good start with the CIC, and the future is positive. We really appreciate your support, and wanted to show you our new website, it is amazing. More contacts are now coming directly to us, and it is a great to have an online platform to showcase our offer.”

Room full of elderly people seated at tables enjoying cooked meals

Want to know we could help your organisation in Oldham?

You can discover more about the support offer for social enterprises and entrepreneurs in Oldham on our dedicated page: Support for Social Economy Organisations in Oldham | Action Together

Alternatively, if you would like to know how Action Together can support you directly with your enterprising idea, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us: development@actiontogther.org.uk

Amazon Literary Partnership 2026

Aims/priorities: The Amazon Literary Partnership supports non-profit literary organisations from all communities in the UK and Republic of Ireland that empower writers to create, publish, learn, teach, experiment, and thrive. Offered once a year, the grants support innovative groups that amplify diverse voices and strive not only for a lasting impact on writers' lives, the literary and publishing communities but also the broader community.

Inclusion & Wellbeing Partnership Fund – Micro Grants

Aims/priorities: GM=EqAl, as part of the Live Well Community Fund wants to put trust and decision-making where they belong: in communities. These micro grants are part of our wider pilot, supporting people across Greater Manchester to connect, create and care for one another. 

This fund is designed for geographically dispersed and intersectional groups, especially those whose voices are often missed by locality-based funding. These are communities whose characteristics may include one or more of the following: 

Energy Redress Scheme - Just Transition Fund

Aims/priorities: The fund, provided by Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme and piloted under the scheme’s Carbon Emissions Reductions priority, aims to build the capacity of the community energy sector and deliver impactful renewable energy projects. It seeks to demonstrate how a just transition to net zero can benefit everyone.

The funding is intended to enable greater community ownership and social benefit from the historic growth in renewable energy over the next few years as the UK transitions to net zero.

Energy Redress Scheme - Carbon Emissions Reduction and Innovation Funds

Aims/priorities: The Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund (CERF) supports initiatives principally aimed at reducing the climate change impact associated with energy use, which relate to Ofgem’s regulated areas of energy generation, distribution, supply and use.

The funding is for projects that demonstrate measurable and lasting reductions in the carbon intensity of energy use and accelerate the transition to net zero. Projects must also have a realistic prospect of delivering broadly replicable benefits to existing and future energy consumers.

Energy Redress Scheme - Main Fund and Small Project Fund

Aims/priorities: The priorities of the Main and Small Grants schemes are to:

  • Support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
  • Deliver benefits to the types of consumers that were negatively impacted by the specific issues that triggered the redress payment.

Who can apply? Registered charities in England, Scotland and Wales that are registered with the Energy Redress Scheme and have passed the due diligence process can apply to the open funding rounds.

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