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Welcome to the February Bradford Social Enterprise Link e-newsletter. In this newsletter we aim to keep you up to date with what’s happening in the word of social enterprise. If you have information, news, events or vacancies you would like to promote to the sector, please email lucy.p@sesc.info .

News

Review of the Third Sector

As part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown published the Interim Report of the review on 6th December 2006. To build on this HM Treasury would now like to invite the sector to provide more evidence to inform the longer term vision.  The second stage of the review is about addressing the specific questions set out in the interim review report and attempting to define the long-term vision for the sector. This will take place between January and March 2007 and will be heavily informed by the messages that came through in the initial consultation.

Treasury would therefore like to alert you to its questionnaire and to ask you to send the review team further specific evidence on what you think would help the Treasury in the next phase of the review.

The deadline for responses is the end of February.

If you have any questions, please contact Cressida Woodall at creddida.woodall@goyh.gsi.gov.uk

 


Social Enterprise Online Debate

Please find details of the next online debate arranged for 21st February on Social Enterprise..

Details of the debate are as follows:

·         Title: How big can the Social Enterprise sector get?

·         Date: Wednesday, 21st February 2007

·         Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm

·         Equal-Works Guest: John Bird, Founder of The Big Issue

Contributions can be made:

Questions to consider:

What other issues can you raise?

Further information on the Social Enterprise debate and a bibliography of John Bird can be found on http://www.equal-works.com/.

This will be our second online debate. The first debate took place in November 2006 on Black Minority Ethnic issues with Trevor Phillips, who was the Chair of Commission for Racial Equality (and now chair of CEHR). The video is now available on the equal-works website for you to view (http://www.equal-works.com/DebateDtl.aspx?ety=3281c1c7-3961-43c6-a6f2-9341d03cf1db) and make comments or suggestions on – for which facilities are provided. Please go to http://www.equal-works.com/ and follow the ‘debates’ link to register for online participation.

Please take note of the IT requirements you will need in order to view and participate with the debate.

 

Funding

Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme

Defra are inviting proposals under the third round of the Bio-energy Capital Grants  Scheme.  The deadline is 9 March 2007.

The £10-15m scheme was announced this Spring in the new Climate Change

Programme and the Government response to the Biomass Task Force report.  It will support the installation of biomass-fuelled heat and combined heat and power projects in the industrial, commercial and community sectors, including local authorities and schools.

Capital grants under the new scheme will be awarded towards the cost of the heat or combined heat and power equipment.  There will be a variable rate up to a maximum of 40 per cent of the difference in cost compared with installation of the fossil fuel alternative.

The minimum grant will be £25,000 and the maximum will be £1m. In exceptional cases, higher awards for multiple or bundled applications will be considered. The scheme will run for five years.

AEA Energy and Environment, part of AEA Technology plc, will be administering the bids on Defra's behalf. Full details, including the guidance notes and application form, are available on their website: http://www.aea-energy-and-environment.com/index2.htm

All enquiries should be addressed to AEA Energy & Environment at defracapitalgrants@aeat.co.uk

 

Comic Relief Grants

Just to let you know that Comic Relief large grants (over £5,000) deadlines have now been set for the next 18 months. They are: 2nd February 2007, 8th June 2007, 12th October 2007, 28th February 2008, 15th August 2008. Groups can apply for small grants (under £5,000) at any time.

The programme criteria remain the same:

* Young People  - Young people with mental health problems, Young people with  alcohol problems

* Older People - Promoting Older People's Advocacy and Campaigning, Small grants to combat isolation and loneliness

*Mental Health - Advocacy and Campaigning, Small grants for user-led mental health groups

*Domestic Violence - Supporting Young People (aged 11-21) affected by domestic violence

*Refugees and Asylum Seekers - Supporting Vulnerable Women, Building Community Links

*Disadvantaged Communities - Local Community Groups and Community Enterprise

Full details and application forms can be found at http://www.comicrelief.com/

 

RISE

A programme which has been set up with the Home Office to encourage refugees in England to set up projects that will make their communities a happier, safer, healthier and more just place.

Refugees from anywhere are welcome to apply for money to transform their ideas into projects.

What's on offer?

We will be giving awards of between £500 and £5,000 to help individuals and small groups of refugees turn their ideas into reality.

UnLtd will provide dedicated support to help develop you and your project with a committed staff support, training opportunities, tools and resources to help grow the potential of you and your project.

The scheme will fund and support more than 75 refugees over 2 years and will benefit over 2,000 people in the community.

If you are interested in applying or finding out more please contact alexsobel@unltd.org.uk or call 01274 750638

 

What’s On?

 

Legal Structures for Social Enterprises

5th March, the Cellar Project Shipley, 9.30am – 12.30pm (followed by lunch)

An free, information packed seminar aimed at those looking at setting up a social enterprise, or those considering a change of structure.;

Find out;

Experienced speakers Alice Faure Walkers and Adrian Ashton will tell you all you need to know and then answer any questions you may have around the subject.

To book your free place email lynn.pearson@blwy.co.uk or call 0845 8336000

 

Mergers & Takeovers for Social Enterprises

Tuesday 6th March, 10am – 1pm

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

In the ever changing world of the third sector, merger or takeover may be something you will have to consider to secure the future of your organisation. This informative seminar looks at four of the main issues you might need to address including the opportunity to talk the people who have been through the process

Book online or email lucy.p@sesc.info for more information

 

Community Mentoring Scheme Launch

28th Februay, 10am - 2pm

'Sharing experience for the benefit of the wider community'

CNet have teamed up with Action For Black Community Development, Bradford Trident, Bradford Vision, Bradford CVS, Keighley VS and several other organisations to put together the Community Mentoring scheme.

The aim of the scheme is to develop & support the twinning of Community groups and organisations to share their knowledge, skills & experience of effective participation in their community through shared learning & understanding of difference and diversity.

The Scheme will be launched on

Wednesday February 28th At CNet's Office, 10am - 2pm

This scheme is suitable for anybody who is working with any of the various communities that make up the Bradford Metropolitan district, whether it is in a voluntary or paid capacity.

We will recruit a pool of experienced community workers & activists, to become mentors and will match them up with range of people (mentees) who feel they could benefit from this provision. 

We want to hear from people who wish to improve their existing skills or feel they have knowledge and expertise to pass onto others.

For further information about this scheme or if you would like to attend the launch event please contact Muppett on 01274 714144 or muppett@cnet.org.uk

 

the BRAVE Project -  Training: "Working With Men"

Over four weekends (one weekend a month for four months, in the spring of 2007) a series of experiential, workshop based sessions around what is needed to work with men. Although the focus of the work will be working with men around anger and violence, there will be the opportunity to look at some of the common problems of working with men:

The training will be run in Guiseley, Leeds. Each weekend will have a theme. One day the training will be run by Sue and Pete Dominey of the BRAVE project and will consist of the sort of work that we ask the men of BRAVE to do. You will learn about the work, as well as learning about yourself. The second day of each weekend will have a visiting trainer who will expand on the theme of the weekend.

     …..for more information e-mail: thebraveproject@hotmail.com
Or visit www.brave-project.org/html/workshop_2007.html  for a booking form.

 

Tender Readiness Toolkit Workshop

February 23rd 2007 10am – 12.30pm, Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road, Bradford, BD3 8JX

If you need an organisational health check before seeking contracts this is probably the most useful DVD you can get your hands on. View a demonstration of the toolkit and seek professional advice about your organisation’s capacity to deliver new contracts.

The workshop/DVD includes:

Once completed you will have a comprehensive black and white view of your organisation for future planning purposes.

The events are free to attend but places are limited, please complete the online booking form or email lucy.p@sesc.info

 

FREE Training for Organisations Working with Children and Young People

Preparing for the New Commissioning Framework

Thursday 22nd February - The Colour Museum, Bradford

Saturday 17th March - The Thornbury Centre, Bradford

10am - 2.30pm

NB This is the same event being run on two different days

The re-shaping of services to children and young people resulting from the Every Child Matters and Youth Matters agendas is centred around a commissioning approach that will re-allocate resources to achieve improved outcomes.  This event is an opportunity to learn more about the new approach and prepare your organisation to meet the challenges ahead.

Who should attend?

Staff, paid and unpaid, and management committee members of voluntary and community organisations providing services to children, families and young people - Children's Centres, community nurseries, childcare providers, play schemes, family support agencies, play providers, education providers and youth work projects.

Programme

Overview - Positioning your Organisation to Meet the Challenges

Then an opportunity to attend three of the following five workshops

§          Understanding Contracting and Tendering

§          What is Full Cost Recovery?

§          Evidencing your Work and Demonstrating Outcomes

§          Marketing Your Services

§          Understanding Partnerships and Consortia  

 

To book contact Diane at CVS Training
01274 722772  or email training@bradfordcvs.org.uk  
Or visit www.bradfordcvs.org.uk/training.htm  for more information and a booking form. When booking please specify which workshops you would like to attend. We will try to accommodate your preferences, but numbers may be limited by room sizes

 

Computing for beginners

FREE courses suitable for complete beginners in

The Learning Zone, Bradford Central Library

For more information, or to book a place, contact The Learning Zone Tel. 01274 434870

Opening times

How to Prepare and Interpret Annual Accounts

Tuesday 6th March 10am-4pm

Mabel Booth Room - Bradford CVS

Cost: £40

To Book any of the sessions download a booking form from www.bradfordcvs.orguk in the Training section
Or ring Diane Fox on 01274 722772 and she will email you one

 

Links

 

West Yorkshire Social Enterprise Link:    http://www.wyselink.co.uk/

Social Enterprise Support Centre:           http://www.sesc.info/

Social Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber     http://www.seyh.org.uk/

Bfunded                                                          http://www.bfunded.org.uk/

Supplier route to government                      http://www.supply2.gov.uk/

 

Local Info

Working Together…. Moving On, Moving Forward

Things are moving on!  Working Together in Bradford held a very successful Dissemination Event at Carlisle Business Centre on 11 December 2006, attended by over 70 people representing 50 voluntary and community organisations.   Details of the event and the Event Report will be posted soon on our website www.bradfordlearningpartnership.org.uk/wt  

We are now following up this event with a series of smaller, localised workshops to talk to those who were unable to attend or who want more information on Working Together, and get their input.  Workshops have already been arranged in January in West Bowling, Manningham and Bradford South. 

We are interested in holding more small workshops during February and March to hear from you about:

Ø         Your local networks

Ø         The training needs of your workers or volunteers

Ø         What funding you need, and your views on working in partnership with others to access this funding

We are also URGENTLY seeking your views on a proposal to bid to the Regional Skills Fund to develop (paid) staff in voluntary and community organisations in Bradford.

Please get involved - we need your help! 

We are happy to hold events at neighbourhood level or for groups who share a similar purpose (communities of interest).  We are particularly interested in speaking to small organisations or those supporting marginalised groups.

For further details please email p.tate@yahoo.co.uk or p.tate@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

 

National Offender Management Services (NOMS)



I am working with the Regional Offender Management Service which is
trying to engage with the wider VCS to open up opportunities for them to
work clients in the criminal justice system. Initial anecdotal evidence
from the VCS suggests that expectations have been raised but not
fulfilled. I would be interested in hearing about the experiences of
organisations trying to obtain contracts with either the prisons or
probation services for the first time as well as those who have an
established relationship with those funders. Please contact Mark Crowe
at the Regional Forum (mailto:mark.crowe%40regionalforum.org.uk tel 0113 394
2300).

Bradford's Big Screen

Bradford's Big Screen in Centenary Square is on the lookout for material from local groups, filmmakers, photographers and artists.  It could be a film about a club or society's activities, a series of still photographs of the area which can be made into a slide show, a short film or animation, a digital art project or a musical performance from a local band or choir. 

The Big Screen is a public service broadcasting project operated by the Council and the BBC in partnership with BCR and other local organisations. It's on all the time and shows live content from the BBC along with locally-produced films.  

Anyone organising an event can also send the details to the team for inclusion in the diary panel.  

For more information about submitting content visit
www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/features/big_screen  
Or call Matthew Pells on 01274 841062
Events information and feature ideas can be emailed to bradfordbigscreen@bbc.co.uk

 

Office space available in Manningham Mills Community Centre after Easter 2007

Does your organisation need office/project space?  Manningham Mills Community Association (MMCA) can offer limited office space to a like minded community organisation or project wanting to work with people in the Bradford 8 or 9 area.

Situated in the ground floor of the Silk Mill, Lister's Mill on Lilycroft Road, Manningham, we will be able to accommodate 2 small offices or one large office and a small interview room, a total of 417 sq.' available.  This space is not built and partitioned yet, so could be designed to suit your needs.  The space is offered on a long term booking basis, we cannot offer tenancies.  We may also be able to offer hot desking for single worker projects who cannot afford the cost of renting an office.

The Centre will also offer a large hall (capacity 200, or 100 seated), training/meeting rooms, an IT suite, a community café and childcare, and exhibition space for local artists/crafts people, all of which can also be booked. 

The Mill is the most outstanding heritage landmark building in Bradford, ideally situated in the heart of Manningham, fully accessible (there will be disabled parking outside).  The planned community centre will provide a unique opportunity for local residents to take up training and volunteering opportunities, provision for young & old, the enjoyment of arts and crafts, alternative therapies and leisure activities, as well as having a very attractive venue for your training, meeting and conference needs.

If you are interested, contact Lucy Dowling the Centre Manager, or Sonia Fayyay the Administrator early, as we expect very high levels of interest.  Phone 01274 499382 or email mmca@hotmail.co.uk

 

DisabledGo

The free national disabled access guide DisabledGo http://www.disabledgo.info/  now   covers Bradford. It was funded by Bradford Council and Marks & Spencer, and developed by disabled people for disabled people.

DisabledGo provides free detailed access information for disabled people across the UK. This will empower you to judge for yourself which hotels, cinemas, restaurants, solicitors' offices, pubs, train stations - all kinds of shops and services - are accessible to your particular needs.

Simply choose 'Bradford' from the drop-down box near the middle of the home page, then you can choose different categories, eg 'Food & Drink', 'Leisure & Entertainment'.

The guides will enable you to make up your own mind about what you would like to do today; to leave your home with a thorough understanding of the facilities and levels of access you are likely to encounter and for you to decide whether a venue or service is accessible to you. For example, whether a cinema offers wheelchair access, an accessible toilet, and a hearing loop, whether a hotel has a vibrating fire alarm, on what side of a museum's steps the handrails are, if a solicitor will make home visits, or if a cafe offers its menu in large print.

 

Race for Life - Volunteering Opportunities 2007

I am the Race Organiser for the Bradford 'Race for Life' event in association with Cancer Research UK, this year's event is being held on the 3rd June 2007 at Lister Park, Bradford. 

I am currently looking for volunteers to help out at the event - we have a variety of jobs on the day ranging from handing out goody bags, medals and water to setting up the course and organising the start area.  The Bradford Race for Life is holding two races on the same day, the first starting at 10:30am and then one at 2:30pm. 

If you know of any volunteers that would be interested in helping out then please do not hesitate to contact me, I would be delighted to hear from you!  This is an extremely worthwhile fundraising event and the volunteers will gain some worthwhile experience! 

Regards, Sarah Madden Tel/Fax: 0115 9417729

Register your interest for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2007, supported by Tesco at: http://www.raceforlife.org/  

Community DIY

The UCAN Volunteering Centre, Uni of Bradford, is looking for a community or voluntary group who needs a qualified team of handy people to come in and help them with their building, on a voluntary basis, over a day or two, either this month or next, or as suggested by group. 

UCAN could provide a team of volunteers who could do anything from plumbing, to electrical work, to putting up a shelves, to painting and decorating. 

Many thanks in advance,

Chris Wilson

UCAN Volunteering Centre Co-ordinator, UCAN University of Bradford Union,0.91 Communal Building, Richmond Road, Bradford. BD7 1DP.

Tel: 01274 23 3260, Fax: 01274 23 5530,Mob: 01274 23 1740