Housebuilder to support struggling community businesses across Cambridgeshire as they recover from coronavirus pandemic

Award-winning housebuilder Hopkins Homes has teamed up with a national charity to help community businesses across Cambridgeshire survive post Covid-19.

The company has partnered with the Plunkett Foundation to provide free support and expertise from the charity’s network of advisers under its Hopkins Plunkett Communities Scheme.

Community businesses will be eligible to apply for support from today (June 15).

James Hopkins, executive chairman and founder of Hopkins Homes, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has made everybody take a step back and consider the needs and well-being of their communities in a different way. Hopkins Homes is no exception.”

The Hopkins Plunkett Communities Scheme will focus on getting one-to-one support to groups in Cambridgeshire and wider across East Anglia - which will include free practical support from Plunkett’s national network of specialist community businesses advisers.

All forms of community business – including woodlands, farms, bakeries, pubs and shops – will be able to get support, advice and guidance on a range of issues including:

*cash flow advice

*business planning

*volunteer recruitment and management

*accessing funding

*navigating government support schemes

James Alcock, Plunkett’s chief executive, said: “Throughout this crisis we have seen an outpouring of community spirit, a wealth of new and diverse services offered to meet local need and recruit whole new armies of volunteers.

"That said, the challenges and difficult decisions are ongoing and this new support from Hopkins Homes is so vital and could not come at a more critical time for community businesses to ensure they don’t just survive but thrive.”

For more information on the Hopkins Plunkett Communities Scheme contact Plunkett at info@plunkett.co.uk