Welcome to the Febuary Kirklees 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
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
What’s On?
Are you interested in working with Schools in Calderdale?
If so then please attend a meeting on February at Learning Services Learning Services Heath Training and Development Centre, Free School Lane Halifax, HX1 2PT between 10.30am and 12noon on the 27th February 2007
Numerous schools in the Calderdale area are setting up social enterprises and are looking to work in partnership with other local social and community enterprises. There are a wide range of activities you could become involved in, and can fit in with your timescales and interests. This meeting is to explore the opportunities available and to develop a plan of activities for the next academic year as well as providing you with useful contacts in the education sector. We will also be discussing the development of an education network as an addition to the Social Enterprise Link Networks. Following the meeting there will be a lunch to give you the opportunity to network.
Below are just a few suggestions of how you can get involved with schools in your area:
Ø Mentoring students setting up their own social enterprises
Ø Working with teachers to give them business experience and knowledge
Ø Providing business information that can be used for teaching materials
Ø Career talks to help student them a real insight into of career opportunities in the locality
Ø Developing innovative ideas for enterprises and developing business plans
Ø Promoting the social benefits of your organisation and of social enterprises in general
Ø Encouraging young people to be aware of their community and to develop their social conscience in addition to becoming more enterprising.
The meeting will be run by Mike James, Secondary Consultant 14-19 with Calderdale Learning Services.
For further information please contact Rachel Oddie, Enterprise Network Manager, on 01924 241330 or email rachel.oddie@sesc.info
The Calderdale Ethical Business Chinwag
Networking get-together for ethical and green businesses
and organisations in Calderdale and surrounding areas
When - Thursday, March 1st, 2007
What time - 6.30pm until 8.30pm
Where - The Trades Club, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 8EE (For a map, click here.)
We are very fortunate in this part of the Pennines, having a large number of green and ethically run businesses and organisations locally.
Unfortunately, many of us don't know about each other so we have decided to organise an informal get-together on the 1st of March so we can find out who we are and how we can help each other.
There will be several 3 minute presentations by relevant business-to-business specialists (see below).
There will be tables laid out where all organisations will be able to put their promotional materials, so bring yours!
The bar will be open and there will be a simple but delicious vegetarian buffet. Registration essential.
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
