Newsletter

Social Enterprise Mark awarded to Zebra Collective
The Zebra Collective have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark by RISE and have joined a growing number of high profile social enterprise Mark holders including COSMIC, the Co-operative Group South West, Mid-Devon Community Recycling, Devon Doctors and the Eden Project. Don't forget if you want to use the Mark and you don't trade in South West England - SIGN THE PETITION!
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Charity Bank: new service, new look
Charity Bank launched a new look, with an aim to more strongly communicate the campaigning ethos and values of the organisation, at its AGM last week, held during the UK’s first National Ethical Investment Week (18-24 May).
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New Deputy Director, Office of Third Sector
James Strachan has been appointed as Deputy Director, Social Enterprise and Finance at the Office of the Third Sector. He will have oversight of Social enterprise policy and promotion and third sector finance policy and programmes.
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Petition calls for national Social Enterprise Mark
Kent social enterprise, The Sunlight Trust, has developed an online petition to lobby for the national roll out of the Social Enterprise Mark and are encouraging others to sign-up. The Social Enterprise Mark is a label that tells customers that a product or service comes from a social enterprise.
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Vacancy: Project Officer, Plunkett Foundation
Enterprise Support for Local Food Project Officer, Woodstock, Oxfordshire: £25-28,000. Closing date: 20.6.08
Plunkett is looking for a highly motivated individual to provide efficient and comprehensive delivery of support to community based food enterprises.
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Vacancy: Part time administrator, Bristol
Sustainability South West are seeking an administrator - fixed term contract until 31 March 2009: Salary band £14,492 - £16,217 p.a. (pro rata 20 hours per week) plus contributory pension.

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STEPS CIC
A unique partnership was commissioned by Manchester and Salford Councils to design and deliver an innovative programme to help people in receipt of benefits, explore the concept of starting their own enterprise. The name of the programme is Steps to Success. In a nutshell, 15 people attended the course, and since completion in March 2008, 8 individuals have already started their own Social Enterprise with a further 5 in the pipeline.
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Vacancies: Point Europa, Cornwall
EVS Sending Coordinator: £15,000 pro-rata, 2.5 days/week; Cawsand
Manager, Project CONVEX: £22,000 pro-rata, initially 3 days/week; Cawsand.

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Vacancy at 10Radio, Somerset
Development Manager (23 hrs/week) - up to £20,100 pro-rata.

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Win national recognition & up to £10,000
The annual Enterprising Solutions Awards celebrate the UK’s best and most innovative social enterprises: imaginative, entrepreneurial and sustainable businesses that are passionate about social change. It doesn't matter how big your organisation is, what its legal structure is, or what sector you work in; if you can demonstrate your social or environmental aims and impact, you could be in with a chance of winning this prestigious award. Now in its 10th year, this year's awards promise to be the biggest and best to date.
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Social lender makes new appointment
Co-operative & Community Finance - the lender for social purpose – is pleased to announce the latest addition to its team. Ian Rothwell has been appointed as Development Manager and in his new role Ian will aim to increase Co-operative & Community Finance’s profile and generate revenue streams in ways consistent with its mission.
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Vacancy: Research Assistant, Cardiff School of Management, UWIC
Applications are invited for the position of Research Assistant at the Cardiff School of Management, UWIC. Be part of a team which is establishing an international reputation in the growing field of social economy research.
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Job Opportunity at ReZolve Kernow
Training Manager: £25,000 - £30,000

ReZolve Kernow are looking for an experienced training professional…someone with a great deal of experience in setting up and running training programmes…someone with a flair for identifying new training opportunities, developing innovative new courses and building lasting relationships with both employers and training organisations…above all else, they need somebody with great communication skills, adept at dealing with a range of stakeholders and vulnerable people at the same time…empathy, compassion, enthusiasm and ability to coach others are a must.

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WIN ... an ethical luxury food hamper worth £100!

RISE is undertaking a piece of research to find out about organisations that are driven by a social or environmental objective, and earn income by providing services or products, either to a paying customer or under a public sector contract. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. You could win a fantastic hamper worth £100! (actual hamper not shown)

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South West Social Enterprise Support Contract advertised on OJEU
The anticipated advertisement for the provision of business support services to social enterprises is now available on the OJEU website. Known as 'The framework for the provision of specialist services to Social Enterprises (in South West England), Serco on behalf of Business Link are advertising the contract.
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Compete For and Winning with 2012
To stay up-to-date with opportunities for supplying the 2012 Olympic Games, visit these resources: CompeteFor and Social Enterprise: Winning with 2012.
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Event Date: Jun 03, 2008
SW - Researching your community project:
All projects need to have done some research to prove need to convince themselves and others to support them. Training to help communities research their own initiatives has note been given the attention that it deserves and requires, but often whether the project is supported is based on a sound demonstration of local need.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 05, 2008
SW - Introduction to Social Accounting and Audit:
Community organisations and enterprises work to achieve social, community and environmental benefit but reports for funders and financial accounting do not tell enough about the real impact on the community. Social accounting is a tried and successful method of keeping and using information to improve effectiveness, understanding and future performance.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 10, 2008
SW - Achieving Sustainable Funding:
10th & 24th June.
A two day course about achieving sustainable funding and the right funding mix for your organisation’s future. The course helps participants construct their own financial strategy, which can be developed in between course dates and will provide one-to-one support on the second day.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 11, 2008
SW - Starting in Social Enterprise:
Do you have an idea for a business that could benefit your community but don’t know where to start?
Maybe you are in the early stages of developing a social enterprise business.
If so, here’s an opportunity to develop your idea into reality.
Free half-day workshop
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 12, 2008
SW - Writing your business plan:
12th & 26th June.
A two day course to help groups develop and write their Business Plans. Good planning is the key to successful projects and enterprises.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 12, 2008
SW - The Charities Act 2006: Public Benefit and What It Means To Organisations:
Leading South West charitable solicitors Foot Anstey and arts governance and finance consultants Rick Bond from The Complete Works and Michael White from Devon Square Partners, have joined forces to help arts organisations plot an easy path through the 2006 Charities Act compliance requirements which became law this month.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 12, 2008
Event Date: Jun 13, 2008
SW - Stroud Communiversity Launch - Creating Healthy, Sustainable Towns and Neighbourhoods:
Stroud Common Wealth in association with Transition Stroud is holding a Launch Event on June 13th for an exciting new concept showcasing some of the unique initiatives that started first in Stroud. Stroud Communiversity – to be held over 6 days in August and itself an entirely new idea - will give those interested in local action on housing, food, enterprise and sustainable environments an opportunity to engage first hand with some of Stroud's ground-breaking projects. Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 18, 2008
SW - So you want to start your own community or social enterprise?:
Getting started is the hardest bit. This one day course aims to make that starting easier, set you off in the right direction for success and give you some useful information and tips.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 18, 2008
SW - Unleashing Enterprise Week 2008 in the South West:
This is one of nine lively regional events run by Make Your Mark. Supported by the South West Regional Development Agency exclusively for Enterprise Week event organisers, enterprise delivery organisations and ambassadors of the campaign, this event is your chance to learn about how Enterprise Week 2008 is going global, with some practical workshops to run a successful Enterprise Week. They also provide the perfect opportunity to network, share ideas, inspire each other and debate the future of entrepreneurship.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 19, 2008
SW - Intellectual Property Awareness Seminar:
Learn more about the value of intellectual assets and how they can be key to your business success.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 19, 2008
SW - Tendering for Manufacturers:
Aimed at Leaders and Senior Managers, this workshop will give you hands-on exposure to different types of tenders, both small and large, for manufacturers.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 20, 2008
SW - Researching your community project:
All projects need to have done some research to prove need to convince themselves and others to support them. Training to help communities research their own initiatives has note been given the attention that it deserves and requires, but often whether the project is supported is based on a sound demonstration of local need.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 21, 2008
Other - Fail Is Not A Four Letter Word:
Many entrepreneurs hold back from going full out 100% for their dreams because of fear of failing. Would you like to be able to fail over & over again - without giving up??
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 23, 2008
Other - Employment and skills for disadvantaged people.:
Social Firms: a solution.

The 2008 annual conference will be held at Reading University from 23-24 June. The conference is relevant for Social Firms, social enterprises and service providers who have an interest and active involvement in helping people furthest away from the labour market into employment and training opportunities. It is similarly relevant for policy makers and statutory agencies that wish to gain more of an understanding about Social Firms and social enterprises that tackle worklessness and achieve social inclusion.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 25, 2008
SW - Researching your community project:
All projects need to have done some research to prove need to convince themselves and others to support them. Training to help communities research their own initiatives has note been given the attention that it deserves and requires, but often whether the project is supported is based on a sound demonstration of local need.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jun 25, 2008
Other - Money for Change:
Wednesday 25th to Friday 27th June
Money for Change is the annual cdfa (community development finance association) conference, which has now become the UK’s premier event in the community development finance field, attracting over 200 delegates from every aspect of this market.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jul 03, 2008
SW - Introduction to Social Accounting and Audit:
Community organisations and enterprises work to achieve social, community and environmental benefit but reports for funders and financial accounting do not tell enough about the real impact on the community. Social accounting is a tried and successful method of keeping and using information to improve effectiveness, understanding and future performance.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jul 09, 2008
SW - Building Healthy Relationships - Unlocking the potential of social purpose organisations in the South West.:
A joint regional conference showcasing good practice in voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working with health and social care agencies, ‘Building Healthy Relationships’ will explore how the potential of these organisations - which are central to the planning, design and delivery of services and in advocacy and campaigning - can be fully realised.
Find out more.

Event Date: Jul 18, 2008
Other - Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 2008:
18th-20th July.

A major annual festival of music, drama and debate - the Tolpuddle Matyrs' Festival is held in Dorset and celebrates the memory of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, a group of agricultural labourers who were tried and transported to Australia for the 'crime' of trying to form a union. Their story is key to the formation of modern trades unionism.
Find out more.