14 May 2008
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Since the Government's strong recent interest in the "third sector" and "social enterprise" and with the latest appointment of Phil Hope as the Minister for the Third Sector (in the Cabinet Office), the social enterprise world is moving and changing rapidly. SENS aims to key you updated on relevant information for those social enterprises in Suffolk... and, if you've got any news or meetings to promote, let us know (Contact Us)...

MAY

Funded by SEEE, the first of a series of SENS workshops got off to a flying start despite the weather.

These workshops are in response to the call for smaller, more local and regular business workshops that also have a social element and allow for more group interaction.

The SENS workshops recognise that smaller social enterprises (typically with less than twenty employees, and often less than ten) do not have spare people to send off on long journeys where the cost, and opportunity, cost are high. So SENS is setting about planning a series of free half-day workshops, with a buffet lunch, for up to around twelve attendees. The workshops are semi-structured to allow attendees to really contribute, on an equal basis, and get involved in shaping the workshop in order to get the most out of it. There are no "networking opportunities during refreshment breaks" where individuals are left to wander about. Instead the whole session is a get-to-know you, your enterprise, achievements and challenges. The idea is to provide more of a self-help forum and information exchange.

At the first event on April 30th, in Felixstowe, eight Suffolk representatives of smaller social enterprise based in not only Felixstowe (venue site) but also Ringshall, Ipwich, Felistowe, Saxmundham & Diss, started to get the ball rolling.The event was a success with a unanimous vote to continue in the same vein and schedlule a six-month cycle to return to each venue to review and discuss progress. Several were keen to go to the next venue which looks like in the latter half of June in the Stowmarket area...

Because these events are run by unpaid volunteers on the SENS management committee there will only be summary reports, detailing any SENS action points. Please make sure you attend these meetings - on a first come first served basis - to make sure your enterprise gets the full benefit!

Check the Events page for the latest information on the next event.

 

APRIL

  • Free Event for the smaller social enterprises in Suffolk

If you're a small social enterprise (less than 50 employees) based in Suffolk, or in the process of establishing one, check out the "Events" page for a free local support workshop...

 

  • A local team of Community Development Volunteers participated in Wisbech Event

left to right: Terry Barrow, Phil Peeling, Katie Hopkins and Don Tricker

Three directors of the Saxmundham & District Community Interest Company – Terry Barrow, Phil Peeling and Don Tricker – were invited to take part in a major regional community event in Wisbech, aimed at helping with the regeneration one of Wsbech's historic buildings.

'You've Been Fired-Up' was an EEDA-sponsored two-day event, run by Action for Market Towns, where 35 delegates from across the country learnt how to renovate old buildings to become community facilities.

Mimicking the Apprentice television series, delegates were placed in teams to undertake six tasks which helped them assess the future use of the Wisbech Institute. Tasks included market research, business planning and a mock radio interview with a BBC interviewer

Their final task was to make a presentation to a panel of experts, which included the glamourous Katie Hopkins - TV star of "The Apprentice" (with Sir alan Sugar) and "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here". The winning team was led by Liz Burton, another local Suffolk Coastal social entrepreneur with Felixstowe Radio.

NB. There is currently regional and national funding to enable community partnerships to take on the management and ownership of buildings which are underused, derelict or in a bad state of repair, in order to unlock their potential for community use.

 

FEBRUARY

  • Government Focus on Social Enterprise

Hazel Blears has announced the creation of a Social Enterprise Unit in the Department of Communities and Local Government, "to make sure that community enterprise runs right through my Department's DNA".

 

  • SENS Strategy to Promote Social Enterprise in Suffolk 

After an extensive consultation period and inputs from large and small social enterprises and infrastructure/support enterprises, please find attached the final SENS Strategy for Promoting Social Enterprise in Suffolk . Many thanks to all those who responded.

In the coming weeks and months the SENS management committee will seek opportunities to hold meetings with social enterprises in Suffolk to flesh out some action plans with measurable objectives.

Meanwhile, you can read the final document by clicking here.

 

  • Free Business Support for pre-start-up and start-up Social Enterprises in Suffolk

Business Link East are offering free eVouchers to those considering setting up a social enterprise or have just started.a local social enterprise. These eVouchers can then be exchanged with approved business support suppliers for one-to-one advice.

For more information on free business advice from Business Link East, please visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk ot tel: 08457 -171615, or contact local SENS member PASTEL Community Interest Company - a social enterprise based in Suffolk - who are one of Business Link's approved suppliers in the eVoucher scheme.

For further information on PASTEL, click here.

 

  • Audit of Social Enterprises in Suffolk

Social enterprises in Suffolk are an important emerging sector with potential significant impact on economic, social and environmental issues and social cohesion. But who are they, what do they look like, what are they doing? And where are they heading?

These are some of the questions to be answered by a current audit, commissioned by Suffolk County Council, and being carried out by a joint SAVO/ICVS project. SENS will be supporting this vital work and sharing in the results to help plan a forward support service. The deadline for the survey to be completed is 31/3/08.

There is currently a great deal of ignorance surrounding social enterprises in Suffolk. They can take several forms (eg Social Firms, CIC, Development Trust, Co-operative, Credit Union etc.), but you can do your bit to help, and promote your enterprise, by participating.

For further information, click here.

 

JANUARY, 2008

  • SENS Strategy to Promote Social Enterprise 

Many thanks for all those who responded to the SENS consultation on shaping the social enterprise outlook for Suffolk. We will ensure that these "bottom-up" findings are fed into other county and regional bodies with an interest in supporting an emerging and thriving social enterprise sector in Suffolk. Over the next few weeks the returns will be analysed and consolidated into a final strategy document with a priority action plan. This in turn will be supported by further workshops to promote the strategy and the actions. Updates will be posted on this SENS news page. Meanwhile, for more details see December news entry...

 

  • Free Coaching for small Suffolk Social Enterprises! (between 1-9 employees)

This is a new a new peer-to-peer support programme.

Have you ever felt that you wanted to talk or learn from someone who understands the pressures on you as a small social enterprise? Would you like to develop your skills in a particular area?


The programme trained leaders and managers of small organisations (less than 10 employees) to become Micro Coaches. Micro Coaches share the specific expertise, skills or knowledge they have about business with other small social enterprises.


If you are looking for help with a skill or area of your organisation and would like an experienced peer to offer you free coaching, search through the Micro Coaches and skills that are available to you by clicking here.

  • Suffolk Enterprise For All

This programme offers free training and business advice to social enterprises. It runs from Jan.23rd to Mar. 12th and covers the following topics:

  • Strategic Management
  • Marketing
  • Business Planning
  • Finance
  • Introduction to PQASSO
  • From Income & Expenditure to Profit & Loss

Venues are in Ipswich, Bury St.Edmunds, Stowmarket and Lowestoft.

For more information, please call Norman Rides on 01223 360977

 

DECEMBER

  • SENS Strategy to Promote Social Enterprise 

The Social Enterprise Network Suffolk (SENS) have produced a "SENS Strategy to Promote Social Enterprise in Suffolk"- with a view to establishing a SENS prioritised action plan to support existing and start-up social enterprises in Suffolk. SENS, as the sub-regional network within Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) is building on the SEEE document (The Social Enterprise Strategy for the East of England - launched some 18 months ago, following extensive social enterprise consultations. To be Compact compliant, the SENS draft strategy is out for over 3 months consultation until Monday, January 21st 2008.

Please read this concise document and let us have your reaction. In particular we want to set priorities and measurable targets - just like any business, so please let us know what you feel these should be to help social enterprise in Suffolk.

For the SENS document in pdf format for easy access, click here.

 

NOVEMBER

  • Public choose social enterprises to deliver local services

A YouGov poll has revealed that over sixty per cent of the British public would choose a social enterprise to run their local services.

The survey was completed on behalf of the Social Enterprise Coalition and asked respondents what type of institution they would choose to run their local services (i.e. healthcare, rubbish collection and transport) as efficiently as possible, assuming the cost of the service would not change.

Out of the over 2,200 people polled across Great Britain, 64 per cent said they would choose a business which reinvests its profits for the benefit of the community to run their local services. Only eleven per cent said they would pick a Government institution.

 

OCTOBER

  • SENS lead on Bid to support Social Enterprises

SENS have submitted a bid to the Suffolk Strategic Partnership's Performance Reward Grant fund to deliver activities that will help to support social enterprises in Suffolk . Specifically, SENS is leading on a bid supported by our partners (SEEE and The Guild). Our bid is broadly to establish Social Enterprise baseline information eg assess the size structure and trends with social enterprises in Suffolk.


AUGUST

  • New Funding for Social Enterprise in Suffolk

The Suffolk Strategic Partnership has launched its Performance Reward Grant worth just over £0.75 million. The grant can be applied for through a tender application process that is open to social enterprises who wish to apply to deliver activities that will help to address:

  • Support for Social Enterprises
  • That promote Social Inclusion
  • The Engagement of Young People
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Improve Rural Service provision
  • That strengthen links between Communtities and the Natural Environment
  • Help Communities to reduce Carbon Emissions
  • Support 2012 in Suffolk

The Suffolk Strategic Partnership is particularly keen to see smaller social enterprises engaged in PRG tenders and would like to encourage partnerships. Individual social enterprises can apply for PRG funding.

For further information, click here.

 

  • Suffolk County Council/ Local Area Agreement

Suffolk County Council have drafted a "Social Enterprise Strategy for Suffolk" document which has gone out for a 4 weeks consultation (22/8), with a deadline for responses by Nov.16th.

SENS, as the trade association for social enterprises in Suffolk and the SEE sub-regional network, will be responding in due course and that response will also be posted on this website.

Click here to view the document.

 


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