June, 2009 News

Val Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Social Enterprise North West, SENW, was delighted with the success of the recent Trade Fair, she said “The interest and support for the trade fair underlines the vibrancy and enthusiasm for the social enterprise sector in the North West and we now hope to make this an annual event.

Social Enterprise North West is delivering a mentoring programme supported by Capacity Builders. The attached flyer and application form provides all the information regarding a number of Mentoring workshops in the North West region.

Manchester Development Education Project works with schools and organisations to promote global learning for a just and sustainable world. They are currently seeking to appoint a Project Coordinator who will deliver the activities of the Science for Global Citizenship Project, funded by DFID's Development Awareness Fund.

The broad aims of the SfGC Project are to achieve:
(a) a better understanding of the role science has in development issues.
(b) greater use of scientific skills, including enquiry and practical action, for poverty reduction.

Back for a fifth year and being held at Wirral's newest venue!

Tues 7th July, New Brighton Floral Pavilion
There is now less than three weeks to go until the Wirral and Chester Business Fair which this year is being held for the first time in the stunning new surroundings of the Floral Pavilion on New Brighton's Marine Promenade.

Whether your business is new or long established, large or small, there are many benefits to be gained from attending on the day:

Business to Business Exhibition - featuring a wide variety of exhibitors

Jun 17 2009 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post
MANDI O’SHEA, managing director of Wirral training provider Scientiam is a former YTS trainee who’s worked her way through the training industry.

Now her company, Scientiam, is putting its money where its mouth is by investing its profits into building new training centres of its own.

By David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online, 15 June 2009
The fund is once again accepting applications from the the health and social care sector.
The Social Enterprise Investment Fund, which offers grants and loans to the health and social care sector, is now open for business under the management of Government-backed loan fund Futurebuilders England and infrastructure body Partnerships UK.

By Chip Feiss June 14 2009
Is it possible that a whole new, distinct fourth sector is developing right before our eyes? The modern business world has up to now comprised the private for profit, public/government and non-profit sectors. But today there is a blurring of the lines between these sectors. There is also a burgeoning global movement, known as social enterprise, which straddles all the other sectors.

By Claudia Cahalane Social Enterprise Magazine 11 June 2009
The UK's social enterprise knowledge is a potentially highly profitable export, says the head of the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE).

‘We need enterprising ways of rebuilding our economy and the social enterprise sector here is world-beating,' said CEO Alistair Wilson. ‘We have 30 to 40 international delegations coming to visit a year just at our east London office.'

By Emily Ford Times On-Line 12 June 2009

Were it not for the high barred gates and stringent security checks, there would be nothing to suggest that The Clink was anything other than an ordinary restaurant. The smartly dressed, professionally mannered chefs and waiters running the high-end eatery in HMP High Down prison in Surrey, give no clue that all are serving or former prisoners.

The restaurant, borrowing the name of Britain’s most notorious prison, was set up early in 2009 by the prison’s catering services manager, Chef Alberto Crisci, as a non-profit business. Prisoners cook and serve up to 1,000 meals a day to staff, visitors and commercial customers, often working nine hours a day on weekdays. Every prisoner in the restaurant’s kitchens is working towards a qualification in catering or hygiene, while the furniture is designed and made by inmates. The aim is to give inmates a real chance of finding employment when they come out, says Crisci. “I want people who eat at The Clink to ask, 'Have you got anyone coming out soon?' I want people to hire these guys, not ignore them because of their criminal record.”

Are you a woman looking for something new in your life?     

• Have you ever thought about starting business, but aren't sure what to do next?
• Want to be your own boss, but need help coming up with a business idea?
• Have a firm idea, but just need support finding funding for your venture?

The Future Jobs Fund was announced in the Budget 2009 and has been set up as a response to the recession and rising levels of unemployment – in particular amongst 18-24 year olds and in “unemployment hotspots”.  Its aim is to avoid, or minimise, the impact of long-term unemployment for individuals and for the future of the economy.

The fund, managed by the Department for Work and Pensions, is seeking bids which create at least 30 new jobs over a six month period.

Entrepreneurs organisation Striding Out is looking for local businesses and social enterprises across Merseyside that could provide a job for a young person aged 18 to 24. Each organisation will receive £3,000 of funding for each young person they employ for six months, as well as a training and coaching package.

By Gemma Hampson Social Enterprise Magazine 9 June 2009
A social enterprise casino has opened in Great Yarmouth in an attempt to stop the decline of the seaside town.

Hospitality & Grow was set up last month as part of the Grow Organisation UK, an umbrella for a series of ‘& Grow' social enterprises in the east of England. [read more here]

By Chrisanthi Giotis Social Enterprise Magazine 9 June 2009
The private company that has secured one of the biggest shares of the government's new welfare to work contracts is urging social enterprises to come ‘knocking on its door'.

Richard Johnson, managing director of Serco Welfare to Work which is delivering £500m-worth of welfare to work contracts over the next five years, told Social Enterprise the company would be looking to work with as many third sector sub-contractors as possible.

George Leahy from the Social Enterprise Coalition is looking to gather information from Social Enterprises in the Merseyside area. Social Enterprise Network is hosting a workshop on behalf of Social Enterprise Coalition on Monday 29 June 2009 12.30 - 4.30pm and is looking for approximately 15 attendees to assist in:

•    helping to join up the Social Enterprise (SE) networks
•    seeking information regarding SE experiences in the North West
•    finding out what SE’s want to change in the Merseyside area

Congratulations to Knowsley Development Trust who were successful in winning the Queens Award for Sustainable Development.

This is probably the most coverted of the Queens Awards and KDT was one of only ten businesses to win, the only organisation in the North West and the only Social Enterprise to win this award.

We hope that this recognition serves to boost the profile of Social Enterprise and the area.

at Liverpool John Moores University
Due to the continuing success of our Social Enterprise Management programmes, Liverpool Business School is again recruiting students for a September 2009 start!

Liverpool Business School (LBS) is widely recognised internationally as a leading provider of management development and consultancy to third sector organisations. The MA/PgDip and PgCert in Social Enterprise Management programmes are designed to give participants a critical skill-set to help their own organisations become more sustainable.

By Chrisanthi Giotis Social Enterprise Magazine 02 June 2009
Britain's 2,200 miles of canals and rivers looked after by British Waterways could move from state control to the third sector if a plan proposed by that organisation is approved.

British Waterways, the public corporation responsible for the majority of Britain's canals and rivers, last week called on social enterprises to take part in the six-month public debate which could lead to it being recast as a charitable trust.

By Chrisanthi Giotis Social Enterprise Magazine 02 June 2009

A national body representing community wood recycling projects is calling on the government to help rapidly scale up the industry - pointing to new research that shows it creates green collar jobs and training from very little initial investment.

The National Community Wood Recycling Project 2009 Survey, authored by its assistant director Ali Walmsley, is the most complete survey yet undertaken of the community wood recycling and reuse projects across the UK.

By Gemma Hampson Social Enterprise Magazine 02 June 2009 

A global programme to help fledgling social entrepreneurs around the world attract investment and create successful businesses is being launched by the British Council.

The Skills for Social Entrepreneurs programme aims to reach 10,000 people in 1,000 communities and 100 institutions across the UK and in east Asia, China and south east Europe through international learning and networking.

It will also identify and develop social venture funds to help social entrepreneurs find start-up money and aims to create partnerships across the public, private and third sectors, with particular emphasis on follow-up support at a country level.

By Chrisanthi Giotis Social Enterprise Magazine 02 June 2009

Viewers of BBC1's The One Show were introduced to rural community enterprise through a new BBC project, but sector experts are already raising questions about how it's going to work.

The £3m Village SOS project kicked off last night with a feature on the community interest company Ryburgh Village Shop. The One Show, which attracts on average five million viewers, will feature two more segments on rural community enterprise tonight and tomorrow. Then the search will be on to find six UK villages with an enterprise idea to document for a major new series to be aired in winter 2010.

Hosted at the Holland Hall Hotel Up-Holland Thursday 18th June 2009 12pm till 7.30pm

Connector Media social enterprise exists to inspire and educate women especially those most vulnerable. It is holding “The Alternative Ascot Day” which is a fantastic event that started 21years ago, it has been featured on both ITV and BBC.

Submitted by howard Lake on 1 June 2009

Entries for the 2009 Third Sector Excellence Awards close on Friday.

The awards are open to all voluntary organisations based in the UK, including registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises and campaigning groups.

You can enter as many categories as you like, and you can enter a project in more than one category.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations can enter at no charge. Agencies and commercial organisations have to pay £50 plus VAT.

Health Care Republic 01 June 2009

Social enterprises will not become established in the health service unless ministers tackle problems concerning pensions, the NHS Alliance has warned.

In a discussion paper published this week, Mo Girach, who advises the alliance on social enterprises, said there were still numerous barriers preventing the not-for-profit bodies from playing a greater role in the NHS.

Social enterprises were more likely to flourish if they could attract outside investment, or if all employees owned shares, Mr Girach said.

By David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online, 29 May 2009

£3m Fun and Friendship programme will fund projects for disabled young people

BBC Children in Need has launched a new £3m grant programme focused on charities for disabled people aged between 12 and 18.

The Fun and Friendship programme will help organisations that support independent socialising for disabled youngsters. It will offer up to 12 three-year grants of up to £300,000 each.