Great past, great future

ABL is a community led organisation, a social enterprise and a development trust established in 1992 to support economic development and social cohesion in the severely disadvantaged area of Manningham in inner city Bradford.

Our purpose is to contribute actively to the regeneration of local communities to create places where people want to live, work and play – quite simply, making Manningham a better place to live and work.  The organisation owns and manages Carlisle Business Centre and is recognised as the community anchor for Manningham.

In 1996 in partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council (BMDC) we rebuilt the then derelict Carlisle Mills to create the modern Carlisle Business Centre – 36,000 sq ft of affordable managed workspace plus excellent facilities for meetings, activities and events from business conferences and training seminars to social events such as mendhis and family celebrations.

In 2003, with support from the Adventure Capital Fund, we were able to purchase the building from BMDC thus becoming a significant asset-owning development trust. The Centre is home to over 50 small businesses, community groups, charities, social enterprises and statutory organisations. Profits are ploughed back into activities to support our local community.

We recognise that for regeneration to succeed there needs to be change in the social and cultural context as well as the physical and economic environment so our approach is holistic. Where possible we work in partnership with other third sector organisations, community groups and statutory agencies to achieve the best outcomes for local residents.

Over the years ABL has managed a number of significant regeneration projects including employment and skills training, enterprise support, a healthy living initiative, Surestart Manningham, financial literacy programmes, social and cultural events. Funders for these projects included the Big Lottery, Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, Working Neighbourhoods Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund as well as ABL’s own profits.

Our community connections are strong through our staff, our volunteers, our activities and communications,  and because ABL’s strategy and policy is set by a board of volunteer directors all of whom live, work or have strong community links in the area. We regularly review our priorities to ensure we are responding to local needs and circumstances.

Our current priorities are supporting enterprise growth, improving health through encouraging healthy lifestyles, enhancing skills and employability and focussing in particular on women’s development and growth.