Background
In May 2003 the North West Development Agency completed a survey of social enterprises in Cumbria. The objectives of this survey were to:
- complete a practical survey of social enterprises within Cumbria
- identify gaps and barriers in the provision of support to social enterprises in Cumbria
- inform a full co-ordinated programme of proposals with partners and social enterprise support agencies for overcoming barriers or filling gaps in support provision
The North West Development Agency announced that funding would be made available to support the social enterprise section in the four sub-regions of Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Cheshire. Social enterprises and community businesses were seen by the North West Development Agency as offering "an alternative model for expanding economic activity whilst securing social gains and building community capacity" and recognised the sub-regional Social Enterprise Partnerships as key organisations in delivering those aims.
