Category: News from SW

The first Social Enterprise Summer School for Leaders, which ran from the 7th to the 9th of July was a roaring success.

Designed by COSMIC, with support from RISE as part of the Lively Leadership project, and funded by Capacity Builders and ESF, leaders from Social Enterprises as diverse as Fifteen Cornwall, 2nd Chance CIC and the Real Ideas Organisation came together over three days to participate in an innovative programme of workshops, visits and networking, covering topics such as Leadership in Tough Times, Authentic Networking, Attracting the Ethical Consumer and High Impact Communications, as well as listening to an inspirational after dinner speech from Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition.

Published Aug 27, 2010 - 12:24 PM
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If you have the job of preparing or updating a business plan that is robust and realistic it can be a daunting task. You need a document that will satisfy not only your directors, investors, funders and community but you too!

Help is at Hand...
In response to feedback from participants on other events, Survive & Thrive is offering a free supported learning programme for rural community organisations engaging in enterprise activity and who need to put together a robust business plan.



Published Aug 17, 2010 - 12:25 PM
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Bristol-based social enterprise The Pierian Centre is organising one of the most exciting events of the autumn. Portents is a community art installation that will fill College Green with 50 decorated tents for nine days in September.



Published Aug 17, 2010 - 12:10 PM
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A brand new UK initiative designed to help Plymouth’s young people with learning disabilities into work was launched yesterday at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Ten youngsters with learning disabilities, their parents and Managers at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust gathered to learn more about their journey through ‘Project SEARCH’, a Government initiative that will offer one year internships at Derriford Hospital.

Published Aug 17, 2010 - 12:00 PM
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The Government is proposing to train Community Organisers to help create a Big Society. Community Organisers will lead and coordinate work in their area and help local people work together to make their community a better place to live.

Please come along, and be involved in developing this policy.

Published Aug 10, 2010 - 03:52 PM
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The Furniture Recycling Project is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales to fund a volunteer coordinator post.

Published Aug 09, 2010 - 10:45 AM
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The new case study videos from Survive & Thrive tell the stories of four rural social and community enterprises across South West England. Survive & Thrive helps rural community and social enterprises to build better businesses, make more money, and achieve better social and environmental impacts through training, events and learning from others.

Published Aug 03, 2010 - 01:20 PM
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Do you want to grow, change direction or just increase your profitability? Making Local Food work are currently offering free specialist support to any existing community-owned, local food businesses. They are also offering a Skillshare service which gives peer to peer learning via mentoring or study visits.




Published Aug 02, 2010 - 05:00 PM
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The Fluent Self Company, a newly established social enterprise, has been launched at The Pierian Centre, Bristol. This community interest company promotes and supports the building of effective relationships and grew out of The TIFF Network, a values-led, personal development organisation of practitioners.



Published Aug 02, 2010 - 04:25 PM
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Guildhall Event and Business Manager
35 hours per week, with the need to be flexible
Fixed term contract for one year
26-32k dependant on experience

Closing date: 10th September 2010
Interviews date: 20th September 2010


Published Aug 02, 2010 - 03:50 PM
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Ministers have this week released a statement announcing a brand new employment programme for severely disabled people. ‘Work Choice’ will be introduced in October and will sit alongside the Work Programme. It aims to help people who face the most complex and long term barriers into employment.

Published Jul 30, 2010 - 01:25 PM
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A small group of Exeter residents has set up a social enterprise which aims to takeover two empty shop units in the city centre.

Initially brought together by the ideals of the transition movement, the group have put together a proposition to open a shop, called the Real Food Store, selling locally produced food, together with an in-store artisan bakery and café.


Published Jul 30, 2010 - 10:12 AM
[ Read more... on "Real Food Bid for City Centre Site"
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The Furniture Recycling Project, FRP have recently been the subject of an audit from the Furniture Re-use Network, a national body which supports, assists and develops charitable re-use organisations across the UK.

Published Jul 29, 2010 - 05:00 PM
[ Read more... on "FRP confirmed as one of the top 5% re-use schemes in the Country"
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Somerset Co-operative Services is sponsoring and helping to organise Grassroots, the first Social Enterprise Conference to be held in Glastonbury. It is hoped that this event will be the first of many, providing networking, trading and learning opportunities for existing social enterprises in Somerset, and a source of information and inspiration for anyone thinking about setting one up.

Booking deadline: 12th August 2010

Published Jul 29, 2010 - 11:35 AM
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Community Wildlife is Big Lottery Fund’s new programme for projects that bring local people together to discover, enjoy and protect the wildlife in their local area.

Published Jul 26, 2010 - 12:15 PM
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We would greatly appreciate if you could complete the following 2 minute survey on the help that is available for social enterprises in your area:

http://tiny.cc/w6dug

This survey will form part of the evaluation of the £6 million Capacitybuilders’ Social Enterprise Programme, and is being delivered by Rocket Science on behalf of Capacitybuilders.

Published Jul 21, 2010 - 11:10 AM
[ Read more... on "Social Enterprise Support Provision in your Area"
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A loan from Co-operative & Community Finance combined with the substantial investment of local people has helped a Dorset village to keep open its only shop and post office following the retirement of the previous owners.

Published Jul 17, 2010 - 09:00 AM
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Social enterprise Moving On, a Bournemouth estate agent that donates all its profits to local charity Help and Care has helped 20 older people in Dorset with their Moving Planner service.



Published Jul 09, 2010 - 02:30 PM
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Handiworks Plus, a social enterprise that provides a range of local, experienced, competitively priced and police checked tradespeople is now available to anyone in need of home repairs in Bournemouth, Poole, East Dorset, Christchurch and Purbeck.

Published Jul 09, 2010 - 02:00 PM
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Get FREE support to help you apply for a share of £7m to develop community and social enterprises which can run rural services in the future.



Published Jul 06, 2010 - 03:05 PM
[ Read more... on "Help to 'Grow your own' local rural services"
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