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Welcome to the April Social Enterprise Link e-newsletter. Spring is finally sprung, and warmer, sunnier days seem to be upon us at last! Before you think about getting ready for your holidays why not take a look at the variety of events and workshops taking place ober the next few weeks in and around Wakefield.

As ever, if you have any information you would like to promote through the newsletter, please email lucy.p@sesc.info

 

News

Regeneration & Renewal Awards 2007

The Regeneration & Renewal Awards are new. They will seek out, recognize and reward schemes of the highest merit, then applaud and publicise them with vigour.

Regeneration & Renewal magazine is the leading publication in this sector and it will bring its depth of knowledge and editorial rigour to the selection of judges, the judging process and the way in which finalist and winning schemes are described in any published material on the Awards.

Because the Awards are new for 2007, they will automatically attract interest and the expectation is that entry levels in the first year will be high. You are encouraged to enter, too, in the sure knowledge that only the best projects will make it through the first stages of judging, having been scrutinized by some very senior and expert judges.

The Regeneration & Renewal Awards will also make sure that where it is important for judges to visit a scheme to assess it properly, the resources will be in place to carry out the inspections.

This rigorous judging process will allow us to use the Regeneration & Renewal Awards to found a library of best practice and successful projects firmly set in the twenty-first century.

With adequate time to enter - you have until May 2007 to submit your entries - and with an eligibility period that spans twenty months - from 1 July 2005 until 31 March 2007 - you will be able to hone your entries and gather together the support material to provide the judges with full understanding of your work.

Make sure your contribution to regeneration is recognised. Be a part of the first Regeneration & Renewal Awards, which will take place in September 2007 in London.

For more information and entry forms visit the haymarket website

 

Funding

Social Enterprise Fund

From April 2007, the Department of Health will hold a Social Enterprise Investment Fund of at least £73 million over the next four years. Of this £73 million, there will be £1.2 million revenue and £8.9 million capital money in the new financial year 2007 to 2008. Both social enterprise pathfinders and other social enterprises, delivering health and social care services, will be able to apply to the Social Enterprise Fund in the financial year 2007 to 2008.

Q: When can social enterprises apply to the fund in the financial year 2007 to 2008?

A: Pathfinders will have first access to the Fund in April and May. Other Social Enterprises in health and social care can apply in the Summer. The application process and criteria will be on the website early in the new financial year.

Q: What can social enterprises apply for in the financial year 2007 to 2008?

A: The Department of Health will consider a range of business start up costs, as well as initial project development. The majority of the Fund is made up of capital monies.

Timetable

Visit the website for more information

 

Linking Communities - small grants available

Diversity Exchange now have some more Linking Communities funding available. 

The funding is running on a rolling programme:

Application deadlines: 16th April 07, 14th May 07 and 18th June 07, groups will be informed within a couple of weeks after each deadline whether they have received the funding or not.  Money has to be spent by end of September 07.

For further details please contact; Julie Whiting Linking Communities Co-ordinator, Diversity Exchange, 63 Nesfield Street, Bradford BD1 3ET   Tel 01274 201236 or email julie.whiting@dex-online.co.uk

 

Local Network Fund for children and young people – Application form-filling sessions and support in the Wakefield District

Local Network fund is in it’s final year and has £1.6 million to give in grants from April 2007.

Grants of £250 - £7,000 are available, to voluntary and community groups in West Yorkshire, who are working with children and young people up to the age of 19.

The funds aim to enable communities develop projects and activities for children and young people with limited opportunities or access to services which other young people take for granted. A range of activities can be funded from local junior sports clubs, youth clubs, playgroups, young people’s forums, arts groups, anti-bullying projects to projects which deal with issues that are important to young people and which can give them a vote.

Fit4Fudning run free application form filling sessions to help groups make a successful application; the next dates in your area are;

Fit4Funding, 93 Lawfield Lane, Wakefield, Friday 27th April and 21st June (10am – 12.30pm)

Salvation Army, Booth Street, Friday 25th May (10am – 12.30pm)

To book on a briefing session, or to find out if others have been arranged, please contact Bev Poppleton at Fit4Funding on 01924 239063

 

What’s On

Selling Added Value

The Selling Added Value course is now open for bookings for next cohorts!

Do not miss this opportunity to identify your added value for tendering purposes. The course takes two days to complete (the days are three weeks apart) and also offers one to one support.  At the end you will have looked current contract culture for the sector, calculated your added value over and above service delivery and learned how to use it when tendering for business.

visit the events diary at http://www.sesc.info/ or http://www.sellingaddedvalue.co.uk/ for more information and to request a booking pack.

 

Introduction to Social Enterprise

10th May, 2pm – 4pm  Business Link, Westgate, Wakefield

A social enterprise is a business with social aims, where all profits are reinvested back in to the business or community. These workshops are for people who would like to explore the concept of social enterprise, how to set one up and what support is available.

Call the Business Gateway on 0845 8336000 for more information and booking

 

Yorkshire NCVCCO working together with VCS Engage and the Government Office Commissioning Workshop

16th May, Government Office, Leeds

This is a joint workshop which has been organised by the Yorkshire Regional group of the National Council for Child Care Voluntary Organisations (NCVCCO), VCS Engage and the Government Office.

This workshops aims to develop the way that commissioning should develop between the statutory and voluntary sectors.  Alongside presentations from key note speakers Helen Mc Mullen Director Children & Learners, Denis Gale, Principal Commissioning Manager, Services to Children and Young People, City of Bradford Council and June O’Sullivan from Westminster Children’s Society participants will have the opportunity to discuss issues in more detail with colleagues from other organisations.

This event is aimed at staff, volunteers and trustees from across the voluntary and community youth and children’s sector and from both large and small organisations.

The outcomes from the workshop are:

It is important that people feel that the half day clarifies issues for them.  In order to do this a support pack will also be provided on the day that will include useful information.

We anticipate significant interest and as numbers are limited we recommend that you make an early booking in order to avoid disappointment.  To book please complete the booking form below and return to Louise Asquith.  And although this event is free, please inform us with 48 hours notice if you are unable to attend so that we can provide the place to someone else.  Those who fail to inform us of their non-attendance within 48 hours will be charged £10 to cover the cost of lunch and associated costs

Booking forms should be completed before the 7th May, for more information and forms please contact Louise Asquith on 0113 2581100 or email louise.asquith@barnardos.org.uk

 

Winning Council Business Workshop for Black & Minority Ethnic Business Organisations

Wednesday 25th April, 10.30am - 12.30pm, Pugney's Country Park, Wakefield

We are delighted to invite you to join us at this free event

What the workshop will provide you with;

We are committed to making Wakefield an exemplar of how local authorities and local businesses can work together for mutual benefit

The programme is approximately 2 hours long and will start at 10.30am (registration and refreshments from 10am) with buffet lunch provided at 12.30.

To book your place please contact Wakefield Council Procurement Team on 01924 306781 or email procurement@wakefield.gov.uk

 

Tender Readiness Toolkit

4th May, 10am – 12.30pm, The Chestnut Centre, Huddersfield OR

8th June, 10am – 12.30pm, The Social Enterprise Support Centre, Wakefield

If you need an organisational health check before seeking contracts this is probably the most useful DVD you can see. 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 Book online or cal Lucy Piatkowski at the Social Enterprise Support Centre 01924 241330 or email lucy.p@sesc.info

Wakefield Infrastructure Partnership Drop In Event

23rd May, 1pm – 4pm, Horbury Community Centre, Cluntergate

Are you involved in a voluntary, community or faith group? Do you need help with:

....or any other issues

Then come along to one of our drop in events during 2007, to meet organisations in the Wakefield district who can give you free information, advice and support.

For more information contact Voluntary Action Wakefield District on 01924 367418 or fit4funding on 01924239063

 

The Future of the Internet for the Voluntary and Community Sector

WEB 2.0

Find out how to get the most out of the new internet technologies

Tuesday 22nd May, 9.30 am – 4pm, St Catherine’s Centre, Doncaster Road

The main focus of this conference is to show how WEB 2.0 can be exploited for the benefit of the community and voluntary sector, and to give you a chance to experience and try out these new technologies for yourself.

We are also taking the opportunity to introduce you to the delights of such technologies as Voice Over internet Telephony, adaptive technologies, and Free and Open source software which you can try out at the conference.

For more information and booking visit http://www.vawd.org.uk/ or call 01924 787370

 

Gain a Certificate in Project Management

Managing projects efficiently is a vital aspect in running a successful social enterprise.  Therefore the Social Enterprise Support Centre is running an accredited course in Project Management, that will help you to develop the skills to manage a project effectively.  The course is being delivered by Wakefield College and is funded by Learning and Skills Council, in partnership with Social Enterprise Link.

The ASET Level 3 Certificate in Project Management is a qualification accredited under the National Qualifications Framework designed to further enhance the development of those working in the third sector who are managing community projects.

The qualification aims to provide participants with an understanding of the principles of project management and covers the following areas.:

To view the course content in more detail please go to http://www.sesc.info/

The course is being delivered in Wakefield every Thursday in May

Course dates are: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st May 2007

The course is free, and lasts for five days (total of 30 hours tuition), and is open to anyone working for a Social Enterprise in West Yorkshire.  Please note that places are strictly limited and those registering must be able to attend all five days.  If you are unable to attend this course, we will be running another one later this year.  

For further information please contact Rachel Oddie, at SESC on 01924 241330 or email Rachel.oddie@sesc.info. 

 

Useful 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

VCS Engagement Programme 2007

Throughout 2006, Wakefield Council, Voluntary Action Wakefield District and Social Enterprise Link have worked together to deliver a number of Procurement Seminars aimed at increasing awareness of procurement opportunities within the sector.

We would now like to ask you what you would like to see from us in 2007. We can’t guarantee to offer everything you would like but we do want to ensure that the support and events we do provide address what you want to know.

We would be very grateful if you could assist us to meet your needs by completing and returning this questionnaire to: hchapman@wakefield.gov.uk by:Friday 27th April 2007

 

Are you a Community Arts Based organisation?

We would like to hear your views about some ideas that we are investigating developing.  The ideas were suggested by members at the networking events we held last year and we hope to develop them further.  They say two heads are better than one so we would really value your opinions and involvement.  The ideas are a central resource centre for the hire of equipment and scenery, this idea originated when we were discussing the cost of putting on productions, especially for smaller voluntary, community and youth groups. It was also suggested due to the waste that was created in their sector the potential for the re-use of scenery, costumes and other related equipment.

We would be grateful if you could complete the online questionnaire and return it to us by the end of April.  We look forward to hearing from you, and please remember if you have any news or information that we can include in the network newsletter please email it to Rachel.oddie@sesc.info