By Godson Azu
UK-Based International Relations and Politics Expert, Analyst, and Commentator
This morning, I had the pleasure of attending the “Meet the Funders” engagement session organised by Peterborough Community for Voluntary Service at the Allia Future Business Centre, located within Weston Homes Stadium, Peterborough.
The event brought together representatives from various local community and voluntary organisations for an insightful and practical discussion on funding opportunities available to grassroots initiatives, charities, and social enterprises operating across the region.
A key highlight of the session was an informative presentation delivered by Heidi Haxeltine, Funding Officer for The National Lottery Community Fund in Peterborough. Her presentation provided attendees with a detailed overview of the Fund’s mission, objectives, strategic priorities, application processes, eligibility requirements, common challenges faced by applicants, and practical guidance on developing successful funding proposals.
Expanding Access to Community Funding
The National Lottery Community Fund remains one of the United Kingdom’s largest distributors of community grants, supporting projects that strengthen society and improve lives across the country. During the session, emphasis was placed on the wide availability of funding for organisations working in areas such as:
- Community engagement and cohesion
- Social integration and inclusion
- Youth empowerment
- Environmental sustainability
- Health and wellbeing initiatives
- Grassroots social impact programmes
As highlighted during the presentation:
“Funding is available for organisations creating meaningful community impact—but understanding the right process, timing, and strategic alignment is essential to success.”
My principal takeaway from the meeting was clear: there is significant funding available for community organisations, but many groups remain unaware of how, when, and where to access these opportunities effectively. Capacity-building and awareness remain critical if local organisations are to maximise available support.
This knowledge will be highly beneficial to members of the Peterborough Africa Business Network, many of whom lead or support initiatives focused on enterprise development, inclusion, diaspora engagement, and community advancement.
Strategic Reconnection and Business Development Insight
In the course of the event, I was also pleased to reconnect with my long-time colleague and friend, Mr. Iain Crighton MBE FIMI, Start-Up Coach and Strategic Engagement Lead at Allia.
Our brief but impactful one-to-one discussion centred on sustainable business growth, strategic partnerships, monetisation models, and building long-term commercial traction in purpose-driven ventures. Mr. Crighton shared practical insights and challenged me with key strategic questions around value proposition, business sustainability, and stakeholder engagement.
As part of his recommendations, he suggested the highly acclaimed business development book:
They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
The book, widely regarded as a practical guide for business growth and customer-centred marketing, is expected to provide valuable follow-up insight for refining strategy and communication in modern enterprise development.
A Productive and Resourceful Engagement
Overall, the day proved exceptionally productive and intellectually rewarding. Beyond the formal presentations, the networking opportunities, strategic conversations, and exchange of ideas reinforced the importance of collaborative ecosystems in driving both community impact and entrepreneurial success.
Peterborough continues to demonstrate strong potential as a city committed to fostering innovation, voluntary sector growth, and inclusive community development.
Engagements such as this serve as important reminders that when institutions, funders, social enterprises, and community leaders work collaboratively, transformational local impact becomes achievable.
