Nice Ideas Festival hits St Helens Borough

Article date: 18 March 2022

The festival, organised by Kindred and partners in St Helens Borough, was designed to support people and groups in the borough who have a good idea start a social business, set up a market stall or sort a local issue.

Social businesses are ones with trade commercially, but also have a social impact in the communities that they serve.

Sessions took place across the borough from March 8-10 with a range of ideas coming forward.

Councillor Kate Groucutt, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Education, said: "It was fantastic to see people turn out to find out how Kindred can help support their local area. Kindred is establishing itself as a force for good across the Liverpool City Region, investing in the next generation of social businesses who are making change in our communities.

"As a Council we want to support local independent organisations to be ready to fill the stalls and units in our revamped markets and retail space when our exciting plans for St Helens and Earlestown become a reality. And we had a great response from those interested in how social businesses work."

Kindred events organiser Christine Spriggs added: "A huge thanks to everyone who joined us last week from all across St Helens sharing their enterprising ideas, their enthusiasm and their pride in their borough. It was a fantastic week with more than 50 people taking part in the sessions."

The Kindred team will be working with each of the 'nice ideas', offering help and support to get them up and running. That could include introducing people to its wider Kindred networks or linking people up with peer-to-peer support and advice. It will also be offering financial support in the form of awards to both groups and individuals, to help take each 'nice idea 'to the next level. The amount each will be awarded will be decided upon by a panel of local successful social traders, and Kindred.

Mid-May will see all of the St Helens Nice Ideas come together to share each idea, as part of the St Helens Nice Ideas celebration. The ideas will be exhibited, and recipients will receive their money at the same event. The ideas will then be collated into a newspaper to showcase them, which will be distributed across the borough.