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A second community champion has been appointed as part of a project to help Haverhill people who might want to become their own boss.

Suffolk enterprise agency MENTA, which provides advice to new and established businesses in Suffolk, has appointed Maria Mitchell as a community champion to help residents look at whether self-employment is for them.

The initiative is part of a £100,000 project called Haverhill Enterprising Communities programme which aims to provide support and advice to people in the town to set up their own business.

The project is being run by MENTA and funded by The European Social Fund (ESF) and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

Maria, who works as a volunteer at Haverhill Citizens Advice Bureau and is the community development worker for Ipswich and Suffolk Credit Union, is particularly excited at the prospect of helping people who have been made redundant fulfil their dream of starting a business.

Maria said: “When I was approached by MENTA to help with this project I was delighted because helping people back into work is such an important task.

"This project will particularly help Haverhill residents who have been made redundant and who have never considered working for themselves because they are unaware of the support available.

“I enjoy helping the community, which is why I volunteer at Haverhill CAB, so to continue to support the community through the Haverhill Enterprising Communities project is fantastic.”

Maria will join fellow community champion, Haverhill businesswoman Chrissy Proctor, to explain directly to community groups just how the project could help them.

The work is part of the national enterprise coaching scheme and is tailored to support those who would not normally be able or inclined to access mainstream business start-up support, and are currently not working.

MENTA is holding a series of drop-in sessions as part of the project to provide support and advice to people in and around Haverhill to help them to become their own boss.

The sessions at Haverhill Library, Haverhill Leisure Centre, and Haverhill Arts Centre will enable people thinking of starting a business to find out about the support available to them.

They will also be able to book a free one-to-one session with a business advisor and book free courses on financial issues, marketing, sales, and e-commerce for those considering self employment held at MENTA’s Hollands Road office.

Project manager Rosanne Kilbourn said: “I am delighted that Maria has joined the project as she will provide invaluable insight and experience of working with the community in Haverhill.”

From now until the end of July MENTA is at Haverhill Arts Centre cafe on Thursday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm and alternate weeks at Haverhill Library and Haverhill Leisure Centre on Friday mornings from 9.30am to 1pm. This Friday will be at the Leisure Centre

For more information on the free advice and courses available through the Enterprising Communities Project for people living in Haverhill and thinking of starting their own business visit www.menta.org.uk/enterprisingcommunities or telephone 01440 768333.