1284 Communications’ non-profit lead, Lauren Cropper, drew on her experience working with charities and community enterprises to help judge a social venture pitch competition.

The Pitch Your Social Venture event - the finale of the Social Venture Builder Series run by LUinc - took place at Loughborough’s Careers & Enterprise Hub.

Lauren judged alongside Lorraine Farley of Charnwood Borough Council, Andy Jervis of Chesterton House Financial Planning, and Natasha Jolob of Kai-zen Change for Good CIC. 

Drawing on her work supporting VCSE organisations with storytelling, campaigns and stakeholder engagement, Lauren focused on how each founder articulated their mission, impact and growth potential.

Four purpose-driven CICs pitched for seed funding - with the winning idea focused on creating better spaces and support for local young people.

Pitches were judged on social impact, financial viability, and presentation. For many of the founders, it was their first time pitching.

Lauren said: "It was inspiring to see founders pitch with genuine passion and conviction. 

“The event highlighted the breadth of support taking place locally, much of which can go unnoticed.It's the kind of positive impact I'm proud to support through my role at 1284.

"For me, Inspire stood out for their clear connection to the young people they support - the garden project was shaped entirely by those who will use it, and that really came through."

Inspire Young People & Families CIC won the £600 seed funding provided by Chesterton House. 

The Loughborough-based CIC supports young people facing challenges including neurodiversity, confidence, and social isolation. 

A theme of 'for the young people, by the young people' stood out throughout their pitch - many of those supported return to volunteer and work for the organisation. 

The funding will upgrade a garden space designed by the young people themselves.

Two Wheel Campus, founded by a Loughborough University student, runs weekly bike repair workshops and bike polo at Fearon Hall. It attracts participants aged 18 to 80 and funds itself through memberships and second-hand bike sales.

Zinthiya Trust, a Leicester-based charity supporting people affected by abuse and poverty, proposed directing funding towards school meals during the summer holidays - part of its wider work tackling food poverty and supporting families in crisis.

Bangali Go CIC, supported by Active Together, pitched its mission to boost fitness within the Bangladeshi community through accessible sports workshops.

All four CICs demonstrate the depth of social enterprise activity across Leicestershire - work that 1284 supports through its VCSE and community sector services.

The programme is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Charnwood Borough Council, supporting community interest companies in the Loughborough area. 

The event was hosted by Tobias Gould from the Community Enterprise Engine, who delivered the Social Venture programme.

The judging reflects 1284's growing work in the charity and social enterprise sector, including its involvement with SoundingBoard - a volunteer-led CIC supporting East Midlands SMEs and nonprofits through no-cost growth discussions.