Aspire North Northants

16/06/2026

This looks like a great opportunity for organisations wanting to up-skill their volunteers. But do hurry because there is not much time left to apply!

Are you looking to support or upskill volunteers in your club or organisation?

Our Couch to Coach bursary programme has reopened for applications from 1 to 26 June, helping more people take their first steps into coaching, leadership and community activity.

https://zurl.co/lPHYt

10/06/2026

For charities, social enterprises and community organisations.

09/06/2026

This is a fantastic event for those looking to grow and gain higher level funding. More details below

Thinking about raising £250k–£3m+ to scale your business?
Most founders jump into fundraising without a clear plan and lose months in the process.
Getting Ready for High Growth Funding is designed to change that.
Join this practical, in-person workshop from South Midlands Growth Hub and learn how to approach funding the right way, with clarity, strategy, and confidence.
📍 University of Northampton | 🗓️30th June | 🕤 09:00 – 13:00
Led by an experienced scale-up CFO, you’ll gain real insight into how funding actually works and what investors expect.
Reserve your place:https://growthhub.southmidlands.org.uk/events/

04/06/2026

The last PIP chair has been announced, more details below

Former teacher Gail Lewis has been selected as the Chair of Avondale Grange Neighbourhood Board, the body which will oversee the Government’s Pride in Place programme in that area.

The UK Government-led programme will see £20 million of investment over the next 10 years with the Chair convening and overseeing the Board and working closely with the local MP, councillors, partners, community representatives and residents.

Giving to the community – both professionally and through volunteering – has been at the heart of Gail’s 45 years living in Kettering.

Initially qualifying as a dental therapist in 1980, Gail worked across Northamptonshire, eventually becoming the Chair of the British Association of Dental Therapists.

In 2003 she changed career to become a teacher, at first working in Corby before moving into special needs education at Kingsley Special School in Kettering and Kings Meadow School, Northampton.

Gail now devotes her time to volunteering at Kettering Food Bank.
https://ow.ly/4ZbW50Z7aje

04/06/2026

Today is the end of our Volunteers Week celebrations and what better way to end the week?

Join us on Thursday 4th June, 10am -12noon at Green Patch in Kettering for our final Big Thank You celebration.

There will be a tour of the garden, games, planting, maybe even some Tai Chi, artwork with with Many, refreshments and a guest speaker. All completely free for volunteers from North Northants VCSEs.

VCSEs: please book on behalf of your volunteers.

Grab your free tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-thank-you-tickets-1987677548053

A FREE celebration of the incredible work of volunteers from organisations across North Northants!

03/06/2026

Fresh air, good company and a great Big Thank You
On Wednesday 3rd June we're heading out for a guided Greenway walk leaving from The Entertainer at Rushden Lakes. It's a lovely, relaxed way to celebrate Volunteers Week - get outdoors, enjoy the Greenway and spend time with other brilliant volunteers from across North Northants.
Free for volunteers from any North Northants VCSE. VCSEs: please book on behalf of your volunteers. Full details here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/aspire-nn-106053114321

A spire NN provides support to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations across North Northamptonshire. L ed by Groundwork Northants, Aspire NN includes five other partners: Serve, Northamptonshire ACRE, Support Northants, Volunteer Action and the North Northants Social Enterp....

01/06/2026

Our first Big Thank You event is just around the corner
Join us on Tuesday 2nd June, 1 -3pm at Wellingborough Museum for an afternoon of Victorian games, a VIP museum tour, clay tile making with artist Lisa Lovett from with Many, refreshments and a guest speaker. It's a FREE celebration for volunteers from any North Northants volunteer, community or social enterprise (VCSE) organisation - a chance to have fun, connect and feel truly appreciated.
VCSEs: please book on behalf of your volunteers to secure places. Grab your free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-thank-you-tickets-1987675993403

01/06/2026

Last week Lou and Amy from the Aspire team were at the University of Northampton’s Community of Practice Co-Production and Engagement event. This is a great event run by Pauline Bain. Pauline will be joining us for our locality forums in June alongside other organisations doing great examples of co-production.

Why not follow Aspire on eventbrite to keep up to date with all our events.

A spire NN provides support to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations across North Northamptonshire. L ed by Groundwork Northants, Aspire NN includes five other partners: Serve, Northamptonshire ACRE, Support Northants, Volunteer Action and the North Northants Social Enterp....

30/05/2026

Kettering Town Volunteer Fair

28/05/2026

The Corby PIP chair has now been announced, details below

Lifelong Corby resident Alex Bonner will head-up a multi-million pound investment to help a town neighbourhood thrive.

Alex will Chair the Kingswood, Hazel Leys and Exeter Neighbourhood Board, the body which will oversee the Government’s Pride in Place programme in Corby.

The national Pride in Place initiative will see these three neighbourhoods benefit from £20 million of investment over the next 10 years.

Born and raised in the town, Alex has lived on the Exeter estate for 24 years and has worked with young people for more than three decades, 17 of those years have been spent at Kingswood Secondary Academy, where she currently teaches English and sits on the school’s senior leadership team.

The Neighbourhood Board will shape a shared long-term vision and develop a regeneration plan for the area. This plan will identify local priorities and determine how the funding will be spent.

No decisions have yet been made on how the remainder of the board will be comprised, with the next step for the chair to select fellow members.
https://ow.ly/wi7M50Z52AX