Across lancashire, thousands of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are doing vital work — tackling inequality, supporting vulnerable people, creating local jobs, and building places people can be proud of.
But behind every impactful organisation is a committed, often stretched leader — someone doing their best to hold the mission, the people, and the community together. Too often, those leaders don’t get the support they need to sustain their energy, build their skills, or step back and take a strategic view.
Leading Communities Forward is designed to change that. It brings together legacy building businesses, and social enterprise leaders in a shared commitment to develop the capacity, confidence, and clarity of those at the heart of community change. By investing in leadership, we’re not only strengthening organisations — we’re enabling them to do their best work, with greater reach and lasting outcomes.
Leading Communities Forward is a unique, diagnostic-led support programme created to address that gap — giving leaders the space, tools and insight to move from reactive to strategic, and from isolated to supported. It combines a professional diagnostics, leadership insight, and tailored action planning — all aligned with the Social Value TOMs framework.
It delivers measurable social impact while supporting real, lasting leadership change.
Leading Communities Forward offers a structured way for leaders to understand where they are, where they want to go, and how to lead their organisation there – while giving businesses (we call Legacy Builders) a credible, impactful way to deliver and evidence real social value.
Dedicated 1:1 time to reflect on leadership and strategy — not just delivery
Clarity and confidence about where leaders are now and where to prioritise their efforts
An independent diagnostic linked to the real world challenges leaders are facing.
A personal action plan, tailored to leadership style and organisational goals
Connection into wider networks and opportunities for future collaboration
For VCSE leaders, it's space to reset, refocus, and lead forward with insight.
Local and targeted delivery in your community, with real human impact
TOMs-aligned mapped directly to social value procurement outcomes (ideal for tendering)
Professionally delivered with no internal admin or coordination needed
Visible outcomes with case studies, and impact reporting
Reputation-enhancing, positioning your organisation as a community change-maker.
As a legacy builder, you’re investing in a credible, ready-made social impact programme.
While many support programmes target the organisation’s needs — funding, compliance, governance — Leading Communities Forward recognises that real change starts with the person leading it.
When leaders are clear, confident and connected:
They make better decisions under pressure.
They create healthier team cultures.
They advocate more effectively for their communities.
They attract and retain funding with purpose and clarity.
They build organisations that endure, evolve and deliver real impact.
For each VSCE leader we deliver a Diagnostic, Insight Meeting, and Action Plan. We know from experience, that meaningful social value begins with understanding — understanding the strengths, challenges and priorities of local VCSE leaders.
This structured process ensures that every partnership is purposeful, evidence-based and aligned to real community need — turning good intentions into measurable, lasting impact.
Each of the 10 diagnostic themes reflects the most common leadership challenges faced by social and community-led organisations.
Every element links back to outcomes that matter for VSCE organisations looking for public funding and/or private sponsorship
The diagnostic is aligned to recognised TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) used to evaluate social value in procurement and delivery.
After completing the diagnostic, each leader takes part in a 1:1 insight session — a focused space to unpack what the results really mean.
This is a reflective conversation that connects what’s happening inside the organisation with the lived experience of the person leading it.
Together, we explore:
Where things are working well — and why
Where energy is being lost or impact diluted
The silent barriers that may be holding progress back
This session helps leaders cut through the noise, showing exactly where to focus for the biggest strategic and community impact.
Following the deep dive insight, leaders receive a personalised Action Plan — a roadmap for stronger, more focused leadership.
This tailored plan helps leaders turn insight into action, aligned to goals, leadership challenges, and the community they serve.
Translates insights into clear, prioritised actions
Highlights “quick wins” to build early momentum and confidence
Identify the areas of greatest leadership impact
Direct links to live challenges leaders are facing in their team, strategy, or operations
Includes next steps and signposting to additional support or networks
For sponsors, this ensures every leader supported through Lead Forward walks away with not just insight — but a practical plan to deliver change, aligned to social value outcomes and measurable TOMs indicators.
Optional add-ons
Leading Forward Coaching Block: Build momentum and build confident follow-through with high impact, practical accountability.
Peer Learning Circle: Leaders tap into real-world peer advice, and good practice, athrough shared problem-solving.
Board Leadership Workshop: A focused workshop with Chair/CEO/trustees (and senior team as needed).
Ecosystem Brokering: Open doors to funding, skills and collaboration.
Leader Toolkits: Delivery of a targeted capability boost on a live priority.
Team Building Workshop: Strengthen cohesion and clarity, agree roles and norms, and produce a simple “Team Charter”
All are TOMs-measurable
The Legacy Builder Impact Report is a concise, evidence-based record of the social value a business creates through its involvement in Leading Communities Forward.
All evidence is fully aligned with the National TOMs framework and can be used to:
Demonstrate social value commitments in tenders and funding bids.
Support stakeholder communications and impact reporting.
Register verified social value outcomes
Leading Communities Forward: Business Advisor | Executive Coach
Born and raised in Blackpool, Lancashire, Julie is a qualified business advisor, facilitator, and coach. She brings years of cross-sector experience in strengthening the capacity of businesses, the people who lead them, and the teams that drive them.
She has been privileged to partner with blue-chip organisations, and international development programmes, to design and deliver award-winning approaches to people performance and organisational growth, working with leaders and teams across India, the USA and Europe.
Julie's proudest project was leading the Community Engagement Strategy serving on the Blackpool Better Start Operational Board, which helped secure a £45 million Big Lottery grant to improve outcomes for local children and families.
Now based back in Lancashire, Julie partners with socially responsible businesses, councils and anchor institutions to deliver measurable social value across the region. She’s a passionate advocate for socially minded business, inclusive growth, and the power of community leadership to create lasting change.
As former CEO of a registered charity, she has lived experience of the pressures facing sector leaders.
A qualified marketer with a background in stakeholder engagement and partnership development,
Qualified ILM Level 5 Social Enterprise Support practitioner
CMI Level 7 Executive Coach with a focus on values-led leadership
Sitting on the operational board for Blackpool Better Start, led the community engagement strategy and which secured a £45 million Big Lottery bid
Delivering social enterprise advisory and leadership support through Cooperatives North West, growth hubs and innovation networks
Business Coach / mentor and Peer Network facilitator with Lancashire Boost
Like to test building legacy in your community? Our Pilot Legacy Builder is the perfect place to begin.
This low-risk, high-impact offer allows you to support one VCSE leader with diagnostic-led development that strengthens their organisation, leadership and community reach. You’ll get a clear, TOMs-aligned summary of the impact you’ve made — without needing to coordinate or manage anything internally.
Working with Leading Communities Forward delivers two measurable outcomes - NT15: Provision of expert business advice to VCSE's & NT19 Spend with local MSMEs
Diagnostic completion with 1 leader in selected, local VCSE organisation.
1-2-1 meeting with the leader to unpack the diagnostic and gain leadership insight linked to their organisational challenges and goals.
A personalised Action Plan for the leader to translate insights into clear, prioritised actions.
A concise, TOMs-aligned report that captures, and evidences, the social value of your support — clearly and credibly.
Registered VCSEs operating in Lancashire
Organisations with defined leadership (e.g. CEO, senior manager, founder)
Organisations employing staff or managing volunteers
Organisations looking to innovate, and/or build their community services
Leaders open to insight, action planning and follow-up
Willing to consent to reporting for impact measurement
Business who are values-driven: Genuinely care about making a difference in their local community.
Believe in “people-first” leadership — sees the human side of business and community.
Open to innovation in CSR/ESG activity to build credible social legacy.
Looking to support to your existing VCSE partners, or expand your footprint with organisations who are the right fit.