Community Grow assistance is primarily to promote and support organisations encouraging local employment opportunities, but all community organisations considering new projects or enterprises can access the service.

Over the past 18 months 26 local groups have accessed Community Grow on a wide range of issues. Inquiries have included project planning, enterprise development, feasibility studies, strategic planning facilitation, business plan development, marketing plans and financial management. Contacts come from people thinking of starting a trust to groups already in existence which want to change.

In response to a community training needs audit carried out late last year, CDC is providing six free workshops to community organisations.

These Communities Mean Business Workshops cover topics such as evaluating organisation performance, strategic planning, and marketing for community organisations.