July, 2010 News

The new Big Society Network has been set up to support neighbourhood projects and the 'Big Society' agenda as a whole. It now appears however that the support network will only be open to those who are willing or able to pay a membership fee...

via Gemma Hampson socialenterpriselive.com

Members of the community will have to pay to be part of the Big Society Network and receive support for their neighbourhood projects.

Three funds targeted at social enterprises have found their budgets cut as the Coalition Government continues its review of spending.

via Chrisanthi Giotis socialenterpriselive.com

Three government funds targeted at social enterprises have had their budgets cut as part of the Lib-Con Coalition's cost cutting drive.

SEN members SAFE Productions and Eskimostephie will be hosting an Art Health and Wellbeing Fair at St Mary's Complex, Bootle on Saturday 31st July and Saturday 28th August.

The fair represents local artists and health promoters and throughout the day there will be a programme of demonstrations such as yoga, qui gong, live music, health promotion talks and childrens story telling.

Next month's issue of Social Enterprise magazine is set to focus on the fastest growing social enterprises in the North. As part of this, they will be pitting the northern regions against one another. So, if you're a Merseyside based social enterprise, stand up for your region!

The RBS SE100 Index is gathering facts and figures about great social businesses, charting both growth and social impact. The top performing social enterprises receive prizes totalling £50,000 so it's a great way to raise your profile and be in with a chance of getting some cash.

Further details concerning the structure and funding of the Big Society Bank, set to launch in April 2011, have been released. Every penny from dormant bank accounts is set to be allocated to the new Bank which will invest in social enterprises.

via Gemma Hampson socialenterpriselive.com

The prime minister today (19/07/2010) announced that 'every penny' of dormant bank accounts in England would be allocated to the Big Society Bank.

Prime Minister David Cameron visited Liverpool during July to launch the Government's new 'Big Society' initiative. The 'Big Society' aims to give charities, community groups and social enterprises more power and responsibility.

via number10.gov.uk

David Cameron has travelled to Liverpool in the first of a series of public events on the Big Society.

The UnLtd Advantage investment readiness programme aims to help social entrepreneurs to prepare for, and find, investment. We support the best social entrepreneurs across the UK who are working on breakthrough ideas that are ready to scale up. The programme provides intensive support to increase your success and save you time.

Images which show business at its best are being sought as part of a photo competition for social enterprises. The competition has been organised by the Social Enterprise Coalition and Triodos Bank.

'Social Vision: business at its best' is looking for images that capture the unique and transformative work of social enterprise. Now in its third year, the photography competition is for the first time being jointly run by Triodos Bank and the Social Enterprise Coalition, in association with Social Enterprise magazine and the regional social enterprise networks.

Following the announcement in June that the NWDA would face budget cuts of up to £52m, the agency have released an update on their current funding situation outlining where many of the cuts will fall.

via nwda.co.uk

Following last year's sucessful programme, when seven co-operatives across the region were supported, Co-operatives North West is delighted to announce that more free business consultancy is now available to co-operatives in the North West. Two days of free, direct, tailored consultancy is available to 15 more co-operatives between now and the end of March 2011.

On Thursday 22nd July over 120 people attended the launch of Can Cook's Pop Up Kitchen on Bold Street as part of their 'Liverpool Cookery Revolution' campaign.

The 10 place Pop Up Kitchen has been brought to Liverpool city centre by the South Liverpool cookery school and Liverpool City Council's Shops Upfront scheme.

Over the next 6 weeks, Can Cook will be running free cookery classes for members of the public to come along and get a taste for their evening and weekend courses in Thai, Indian and Italian cuisines.

MyBnk are an award winning education charity working with young people to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their money effictively and make enterprising choices throughout their lives.

'Our programmes include the first ever FSA approved banking scheme run by young people for young people, providing an accessible place to save regularly and interest free loans to set up enterprises.'

Wirral Borough Council have announced their Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities funding. The closing date for applications is 20th August.

'This brief is concerned with the commissioning of projects for 'hard to reach' learners aged 19+. Wirral Lifelong and Family Learning Service has an allocation of funding from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for revenue projects for Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) for the academic year 2010-2011.'

For the remainder of 2010, the eligibility criteria for the Social Enterprise Opportunities Fund will be changing. Liverpool Vision has teamed up with the Community Foundation for Merseyside to pool funding to support projects offering pathways back to employment to long-term unemployed people.

Health@Work have released their training programme outlining up-coming courses for 2010/2011. If you have more than 5 people who require the same training, a course can be held for your organisation, either at the Health@Work premises or at your own.

The Government has announced its intention to abolish Government Office North West as part of its commitment to decentralisation and the localisation of power.

via insidermedia.com

The coalition government has confirmed that it intends to abolish the Government Office for the North West (GONW) along with seven other regional offices in the UK.

The Communitybuilders Fund offers loans, grants and business support. It offers three elements, which are Feasibility, Development and Investment; all are meant to meet the needs of organisations at different stages in their journey to sustainability.

Merseyside Network for Europe would like to appoint a temporary office supervisor; the role will be to support the organisation through the effective supervision and delivery of tasks within administration and finance.

MNE is a small focused company offering services to the wider voluntary and community sector across Merseyside. Their work is about Europe, the funding opportunities, the EU agenda and activities.

They are looking for an enthusiastic hard working individual who can supervise the office during a busy period of activity.

Woolton Green Energy CIC has been set up to establish a biomass production plant on Merseyside to provide renewable fuel for businesses and homes across the region. Woolton Green Energy CIC are seeking to survey social businesses across Merseyside for feasability purposes.

Currently there is no production facility in the area with the majority of biomass fuels, particularly the wood pellets which they intend to produce, being imported from the continent, North America and China.

Health@Work are offering free places to SME's and social enterprises on the 'Impact on Depression' training course for line managers on Wednesday 28th July 2010 from 1-4pm at the Health@Work offices.

Elixir Foundations have received a raft of praise from the Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, following strong growth and success despite a number of recent burglaries.

via Tom McDonough, liverpooldailypost.co.uk

A Bootle business which was put in jeopardy by a double-burglary has been praised by a government minister.

In April, LDP Business reported how Elixir Foundations lost £30,000-worth of IT equipment and tools in two break-ins in the space of two weeks.

Social entrepreneurs with bright ideas that will provide training, skills development, employment and independent living opportunities to tackle homelessness are being challenged to bid for a share of a £1.6million investment fund.

The Spark 2010 Challenge- building on the success of 2008 and 2009- was launched by founders John Montague, CEO of the TREES Group, and Nigel Kershaw, Chair of Big Issue Invest, with the continued support of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

SEN Associate member Connect Consultancy Organisation are hosting a presentation on Friday 23rd July on setting up 'Job Clubs'.

The event will be held at 2pm the Conservative Party office in Stockton Heath- opposite Morrisons with parking at the rear of the building.

A number of high profile speakers are due to present, including:

Centec is a Community Based Economic Development agency (CBED). As the first CBED of its kind it has over 20 years experience working with, and for, the communities of North East Liverpool.

Centec offers a broad range of services to the local community and is involved in city-wide initiatives. Centec has been awarded the prestigious Matrix award and is able to offer:

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has caused a 'battle of definitions' around what he considers a social enterprise, and the definition being pushed by the Social Enterprise Coalition.

via Gemma Hampson, socialenterpriselive.com

A battle of definitions exploded today after health secretary Andrew Lansley said the Department of Health's vision of the 'largest social enterprise sector in the world' may not fit with the ideals of the sector's umbrella body.