Welcome to the February Leeds 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 online 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:
- on the day, directly to John Bird via the keyboard
- via participation with other online users on the day - after the debate
- post your comments on the website
- via email – just send me any comments, observations, questions or statements in advance by 14th February 2007.
Questions to consider:
- How big can the social enterprise sector get?
- How can new initiatives emulate the scope of the Big Issue?
- How can they learn from the Big Issue’s work with homeless people, empowering and involving their workers?
- Where’s the investment coming from once cash from programmes like Equal dries up?
What other issues can you raise?
- poverty (health, education, housing regeneration)
- economic opportunity
- technological innovation
- global security
- climate change
- public procurement policies at local/regional level
- finance issues for social enterprises
- non-mainstream business support to social enterprises.
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 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
Is yours a sustainable future?
The Sustainable Futures Support Fund is part of the Sustainable Futures Project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Leeds City Council.
The aim of the fund is to provide start up/transitional support to organisations making the move from grant dependency to a more sustainable future. Grants of up to £5000 are available for community, voluntary and faith organisations located within the Objective 2 Priority 3 areas of Leeds. The application forms and guidance forms for round 3 are now available. The closing date for Round Three applications is 13th February 2007.
Grants can be awarded towards the following:-
- I.T upgrades
- Software
- IT Networking costs
- Relocating costs
- Promotional and Marketing costs
- Legal and Insurance costs
- Consultancy Costs
For further information please find the Sustainable Futures Support fund Application Form Guidance under 'downloads'. The application is available to view as a PDF file. For the application form please call or email the Sustainable Futures Team on 0113 247 4742 or email on nhd.socialenterprise@leeds.gov.uk
For information on the Sustainable Futures Project please click on Sustainable Futures Project Overview under 'downloads'. The project provides free organisational assistance to the sector on enterprise development.
LCC webpage address: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/page.aspx?pageID=57a56884-0099-4ef3-8eb1-7f2a856eab75
Social Enterprise Grants from the LS11 Fund
The new Leeds 11 Fund, administered by the Leeds Community Foundation, is now offering grants to groups who are either planning to develop, or are in the early stages of developing, social enterprise or trading activities. Applications are welcome from any group with a LS11 postcode that is based in the Objective 2, Priority 3 area of this part of Leeds namely Holbeck & Beeston.
There are 2 levels of grants available. The first are Social Enterprise Development Grants of up to £5,000. These can be used to develop new social enterprises or support existing ones. In addition to the financial support, practical support will also be provided by the Leeds 11 project team for each successful applicant. The second level are ‘Collaborative Grants’, and are available up to a value of £10,000 for a consortia of 2 or more groups willing to work together to deliver a social enterprise project.
Private sector funding is currently being sought to expand the Leeds 11 grants fund, which will allow the Leeds Community Foundation to offer grants to projects which do not include an element of social enterprise, and to groups within LS11 but outside of the objective 2, priority 3 areas. These grants will be announced separately once available.
Further information and expressions of interest forms are available from the Leeds Community Foundation by contacting Carlos Chavez or emailing carlos@leedscommunityfoundation.org.uk or calling (0113) 2422426.
What’s On?
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
The events are free to attend but places are limited, please book online or email lucy.p@sesc.info
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:
- for men..have you looked deeply into yourself, to know yourself before you try to help other men change. You are your source of knowledge about men.
- for women..do you really know men, or are you mostly dealing with the defences and masks.
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
March 30th 2007 10am – 12.30pm
Leeds Accommodation Forum, Munroe House, Duke St, Leeds
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:
- A where now? Flowchart of possible options/scenarios
- Management information tool to monitor projects/contracts
- Comprehensive assessment of staff skills and aptitude
- An evidence check list of policy statements, quality assessment, financial requirements and sector specific criteria
- Review your service/product and develop them
- 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
Positive Futures
..meeting the needs of refugee, asylum seeker and new migrant children and young people.
Friday 2nd March 2007
At The Met (formerly Metropole) Hotel, King Street, Leeds LS1 3HQ (2 minutes walk from Leeds train station)
Background..
The Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Strategic Co-ordination Group (RSCG) is a strategic co-operation of key service providers engaged in the support of asylum seekers and refugees. The aim of the group is to ensure the needs and aspirations of asylum seekers and refugees are considered in the planning of services and the formation of key regional strategies.
The RSCG is developing a number of sub-groups to tap into the unique experiences of those who deliver directly to this client group to ensure strategy reflects reality. The development of a sub group to focus upon the needs of refugee, asylum seeker and new migrant children and young people is an essential part of this work.
The aims of the conference are to..
- Develop an operational network for those currently working with refugee, asylum seeking or new migrant children and young people.
- Raise and explore the key issues affecting these children and young people, and to inform the work plan of the RSCG Sub-Group.
- Develop a defined strategic sub-group of the RSCG to focus upon the needs of this group of children and young people.
- Identify a range of actions and responses to address the key issues.
The conference will provide opportunities to..
- Become involved in a regional network to support workers and allow the sharing of practice and information.
- Inform and focus the work of the RSCG through the Children and Young People Sub-group.
- Receive up to date information on the development of the UASC Reform Programme and the New Asylum Model 'Minors Segment'.
This event is recommended to all professionals working for children and young people, primarily based within the Yorkshire and Humberside region, and particularly those with a remit prioritising refugees, asylum seekers and/or new migrants.
There is no cost for the conference. Places are strictly limited..
please reserve a place as soon as possible by contacting mani.ray@leeds.gov.uk, or calling 0113 2143948/ 2143950
Launch of '2007, UK Year of Diversity' campaign
This year, the National Centre for Diversity is co-ordinating the exciting '2007, UK Year of Diversity' campaign. A new website for the campaign is almost complete. You can find details about the campaign at http://www.centrefordiversity.co.uk/ or at http://www.nationalcentrefordiversity.com/
There will be a national launch of the campaign on the morning of Friday the 23rd February 2007 in Leeds at the Civic Hall.
Speakers include the Chief Executives of IBM, the NCVO and Common Purpose as well as Secretary of State for International Development, Hilary Benn.
Who should attend? Chief Executives, Directors and Senior Managers from all three sectors. We expect to have about 250 attendees.
If you would like to attend this free event, you will need to book a place by contacting - admin@nationalcentrefordiversity.com .You are advised to book early as there has already been strong interest in the event and campaign - even prior to the information going out.
Please note this event is restricted to 1 person per organisation.
WYCAS Quick Books for Beginners
27th February at the Belle Isle Foundation, 10am – 4pm
For more information and booking contact Voluntary Action Leeds on 0113 2977944
WYCAS Excel for Book Keeping
1st March at the Belle Isle Foundation, 10am – 4pm
For more information and booking contact Voluntary Action Leeds on 0113 2977944
Job Opportunities
Newlands Local Enterprise Ltd (NLEL) has been here for 9 years supporting and developing local community groups and **social enterprises. We have an excellent opportunity for 4 people to join the team and help to make a real difference to the economy of the local area.
All posts are for 6 months to September 2007.
Closing Date: Friday 16th February 2007Clerical Assistant 24 Hours (SCP 6 £11,619) Pro Rata £7,537; Ref: NED/CA24
To provide an effective and efficient clerical service to the staff and directors of NLEL.
Able to demonstrate general office duties including answering telephones, reception duties, filing, hospitality.
Clerical Assistant 30 Hours (SCP 6 £11,619) Pro Rata £9,420; Ref: NED/CA30
To provide an effective and efficient clerical service to the staff and directors of NLEL.
Able to demonstrate general office duties including answering telephones, reception duties, filing, hospitality.Willing to undertaking training in First Aid.
Clerical Support Assistant 24 hours (SCP 11 £13,854) Pro Rata £8,986; Ref: NED/CSA24
To provide an effective and efficient clerical service to our clients and community groups in the area. Minimum of 1 years experience in an office environment (paid / voluntary).
IT Support Officer 30 Hours (SCP 19 £16,740) Pro Rata £13,573; Ref: NED/ITSO30
To provide IT support for NLEL and community groups in the area. Must have practical experience of network administration.
Application forms are available from Newlands Local Enterprise Limited, The Holybrook Centre, Redcar Road, Greengates, Bradford BD10 0DP, Tel: 01274 610222
E-mail: michelle.kear@newlandsenterprise.org
Completed forms should be returned by Friday 16th February 2007
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
New Social Firm at The Leeds Social Business Centre
BRIDGE RECRUITMENT – offering firm links between employer and employees.
Looking for a job to enhance your skills?
Want to return to the work place after time away?
Need some fulfilling holiday work that will look good on your CV?
- Expert advice from respectful staff
- Our jobs often lead to permanent positions
- Choose from a broad range of temporary roles?
Why register with us?
- Respectful Staff
Respect. Our staff has lots of it. We’ll never judge you and we'll always value you. All job seekers are treated with utmost respect regardless of age, disability, work history, ethnic origin, sexuality or education. - Temporary and Permanent Positions
If an employer offers you a permanent role, and if you have been working for them for 13 weeks or more, we won't charge them. Most agencies do, so it puts employers off. Not us. We know that a temporary position can often lead to something more permanent. If that's what you want then we'll encourage it, for free. In fact we'll work hard to make it happen. - Friendly Approach
That's us. We believe in providing a supportive, approachable service that puts you at ease. We care, we listen and we never judge. Our aim is to be warm and professional. We're dedicated to finding you the right temporary role and we won't rest until we've found it. - Lots of Choice
Full time, part time, sector specific, lots of variety. Whatever sort of temporary work you're after, we can help. You might want to gain experience. Maybe you're after a job with hours that suit you. Perhaps you're looking for a stepping stone back to permanent work. We’ll find the right role for you; matching your skills and helping you develop even further.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL PETE WHITEHEAD ON 0113 262 2596
OR EMAIL LEEDSSBC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
Irish History Month to be launched in Leeds March 07
Irish History Month, a pioneering venture in Britain, exists to promote knowledge of Irish History and experiences in Britain and beyond, its purpose is to disseminate information on the many positive contributions that Irish people have made to British society and also to introduce new audiences to the vibrancy of Irish arts, culture and history.
Irish History Month, to be launched in Leeds, takes place in venues across the city throughout the month of March, the month in which St Patrick’s Day is celebrated.
So what’s involved then? There is a programme of events to suit all tastes. Following the official launch with guest speakers, the Experience Ireland day on Sunday 4th March at the Carriageworks Theatre on Millennium Square in the heart of Leeds, is a family-friendly day with music and dance workshops, Irish food, Celtic Arts & Crafts and a performance from the County Mayo traditional band Ceide featuring members from Newport, Westport, Foxford and Aghamore – areas well known to many Mayo born Irish living in Leeds.
A lecture programme is taking place at the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan Universities featuring British based lecturers as well as a number of lecturers traveling from Ireland.
For the fan of visual arts the month features a number of displays including the National Museum of Ireland’s Streets of London photographic depiction of the Irish in Britain in the latter half of the twentieth Century (also featuring many photos from Leeds); The mightily impressive Roisin Bán exhibition about the Irish in Leeds; photographic displays from local groups and photographers and much more.
There are also a number of concerts and recitals featuring local and national musicians and performers as well as schools workshops, literary events and parades.
For further details see file://www.irishhistorymonth.com/