Roots HR team

Success of free HR support for the social sector

Roots HREstablished in 2009, Roots HR CIC’s vision is to improve social sector outcomes through better people management.

As a social enterprise, their social purpose is to improve the management of people within social sector workforces through the provision of their HR services and via development opportunities for their leaders and managers.

Through profits generated in 2021/22 and in-year, they were able to provide significant levels of FREE HR support into the social sector.

During the financial year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023 the Roots HR team worked with over 200 social sector employers, delivering over 4,600 hours of HR consultancy supporting them with their HR needs in what was a turbulent external environment, post-pandemic and through a cost-of-living crisis.

Some highlights from their latest social impact report include:

✅ Issued over 4,440 free HR Toolkits
✅ Delivered 13 webinars

✅ Developed and delivered an 8-week, modular training programme – HR for social sector line managers
✅ Provided over 68 hours of free HR consultancy to social sector employers

✅ Produced and published 7 blogs, 4 quarterly employment newsletters and updated a portfolio of 27 HR factsheets

For more information, view their full social impact report.

Evenbreak logo

Bumper accreditation and award recognition for Evenbreak

Evenbreak, the world’s first global disability job board run by and for disabled people, has seen a landslide of summer award shortlists and a prestigious accreditation, culminating in four potential trophies and national recognition for their dedication to being the very best in inclusive employment.

RNIB Visibly Better Employer Quality StandardAfter two months of assessment, the business is proud to announce it has been accredited with an RNIB Visibly Better Employer Quality Standard. This recognises that the business has become a better and more inclusive employer for people with sight loss.

With only one in four people of working age with sight loss in employment and around 11,000 people with sight loss in the UK actively seeking work, Evenbreak is hugely passionate about improving these figures, both through its own business and also working with global businesses to support and employ the sight loss community.

Talking about the accreditation, Jane Hatton, CEO and Founder of Evenbreak, said:

Jane Hatton“All of the Evenbreak team have lived experience of disability, and we want to make sure we attract and retain the very best talent by removing any barriers they might face in recruitment and employment practices. People with sight loss are far too often excluded from the workplace, and we wanted to ensure we could access that pool of talent. The Visibly Better Employer standard helped us to check our processes for any barriers, and then let people with sight loss know that we are open to their skills.”

As well as this coup, Evenbreak has also been shortlisted for the following awards:

  • OnRec Awards 2023 under the Niche Job Board category, which will be announced on 14th September
  • UK Social Enterprise Awards 2023 – shortlisted for the category of Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice Award, which will be announced on 30th November 2023
  • The Global Recruiter UK Awards 2023 under the Best Innovation category, which will be announced on 14th November
  • The Go Global Awards 2023, held in Rhode Island, USA, which will be announced on 8th November

Jane Hatton added: “Our team works incredibly hard to open up opportunities for the disabled community in the employment market so to get credit and acknowledgment for this is hugely motivating for us all. We very much look forward to adding to our burgeoning trophy cabinet and supporting even more businesses and candidates going forward.”

For more information about Evenbreak, visit www.evenbreak.co.uk

Navigating Change free events

Charity Bank host free Navigating Change events for social sector

Charity Bank logoCharity Bank is hosting a series of free events in collaboration with local and national sector partners, centred around the critical role of sustainable finance in driving positive change and fostering thriving communities.

These are free half day seminar for charities, social enterprises and community organisations, which will explore the critical role of sustainable finance in driving positive change and fostering thriving communities. Taking place in in Liverpool, London, Wolverhampton, and Southampton, with an additional virtual event to ensure that content is accessible to all, the events will share practical insights and guidance from social sector experts and leaders.

Speakers will include national and regional experts including Locality, Community First, Crowe Accountants, Brabners Solicitors, SIB Network, Charity Intelligence, and others. Together they will discuss how sustainable finance can enable charities and social enterprises to unlock their potential, the state of the sector, local challenges, and explore innovative solutions.

Each event will be hosted from 9:30am – 12:30pm at the following locations:

  • Liverpool (The Bluecoat, L1 3BX): Thursday 28th September
  • London (Museum of Brands, W11 1QT): Tuesday 3rd October
  • Southampton (Ordnance Survey, SO16 OAS): Thursday 5th October
  • Wolverhampton (ASAN, WV2 1EL): Tuesday 10th October
  • Virtual event (Via Zoom): Tuesday 17th October

To find out more and register your place, visit the Charity Bank website.

Photo of two women sat at a desk in conversation

Meet the Social Enterprise Mark Holder: Roots HR CIC

Roots HR

 

Roots HR CIC is the UK’s specialist consultancy for human resources for the social sector. We enable organisations to continually improve performance and sustainability through better people management, whilst ensuring an understanding of and compliance with employment legislation.

We provide high quality and affordable services to social sector organisations. We are the only HR consultancy in the UK to use our trading surpluses to provide pro bono (free) HR services and learning and development to leaders and managers working in social sector.

When did your business become a social enterprise and why?

Roots HR has been a social enterprise since its inception in 2009; this was a key mission of our Founder and Social Enterprise Mark Ambassador, Jan Golding.

 

What social needs are you trying to address and what types of social outcome are you striving to deliver?

Our vision is to improve outcomes for beneficiaries of social sector organisations through better people management.

Photo of a man and a woman sat at a desk with full length glass windows behind themWe provide affordable, accessible and high-quality HR services to enable small to medium social sector organisations best respond to external and internal forces whenever required.

Through the provision of our fee earning work, we can fund our pro-bono services.

Individuals learn from both taking advice/attending training and from the experience of implementing this in practice. Meaning that within these social sector organisations managers are better able to manage people, people management feels inclusive, fair and “normal” to the workforce and people management risks are minimised and key talent is retained within the sector.

Ultimately this means that the social sector organisations can retain more of their income for service delivery to their beneficiaries.

 

What is your main reason for having our accreditation? What were your expectations?

Roots HR have held the Social Enterprise Mark continuously for 11 years. To us it is a visible mark that demonstrates our integrity and credibility as a social enterprise, showing we operate primarily to create benefits for people and planet.

 

What does accreditation mean to you? What does it say about your business?

Holding the Social Enterprise Mark demonstrates that Roots HR continually meets sector-agreed criteria and that we are operating as a genuine social enterprise, committed to creating positive social change.

It means that we can clearly demonstrate best practice in areas fundamental to being a social enterprise such as stakeholder engagement, social impact and ethics. The accreditation facilitates us in achieving our vision, mission, social purpose and values.

 

What benefits has there been as a result of being accredited? 

The accreditation process requires us to undertake a rigorous external assessment which is supplemented by annual checks against criteria. This process ensures that as an organisation we take stock and can reflect on our vision, mission and on the social impact we have created.

As a team we take immense pride in seeing all that we have achieved!

 

Are there any specific achievements/accomplishments that are linked to holding the accreditation?

As a social enterprise operating solely in the social sector, the accreditation is clear proof to our clients, stakeholders and the wider social sector of our social enterprise credentials; which can help differentiate us from our competition.

 

What would you say to another social enterprise considering accreditation?

As a Mark holder for over 11 years and with our Founder operating as a Social Enterprise Mark Ambassador, we would wholeheartedly encourage other social enterprises to go through the accreditation process!

Through this journey you will be able to prove your credibility; demonstrate best practice as a social enterprise and clearly articulate your social impact.

 

Any other comments/feedback?

The team at Social Enterprise Mark CIC are incredibly helpful and at Roots HR we consider them as our partners in helping us to achieve our social purpose.

Photo of a group of people smiling at the camera


Find out more about Roots HR CIC by visiting their listing on our Mark Holder Directory.

What next

If you would like to find out more about becoming an accredited social enterprise please complete our Eligibility Quiz to find out more.

Photo of a woman in a wheelchair wearing a black jumper

HM King’s Birthday Honours List 2023: Tailored Leisure Company

Tailored Leisure Company logoSouth Tyneside based Tara Mackings , Director of Tailored Leisure Company (TLC), was awarded a British Empire Medal in the HM King’s Birthday Honours List, for services to her community.

TLC is renowned in the North East region for their ethos and vision to overcome the barriers and social exclusion faced by disabled people, specifically in terms of access to fitness and leisure activities.

Tara has been a key driving force in developing accessible projects in the local community since its inception. Tara and the team are committed to developing accessible opportunities to get fit, have fun and relax with as little stress as possible and are passionate about overcoming the barriers and social exclusion faced by disabled people.

Tara Mackings BEM said: “I was absolutely shocked and overwhelmed when I was contacted by the Cabinet Office with the news. It’s such an amazing accolade to receive for both myself, the team and Tailored Leisure Company as a whole.

We’ve worked so hard over the years to build the concept and to receive recognition from the highest levels is just awe-inspiring, I really can’t believe it and to especially have my children share this special memory with me is just wonderful.”

The award-winning formula at TLC has seen the team pick up an influx of award nominations and wins for their ground-breaking work and they have established a strong collaborative working approach to drive the development of accessible projects across the region, with partners including SAFCs Foundation of Light, Sunderland City Council and Headway Wearside.

The exciting announcement comes on the back of recent news that the team were successful in securing a £125,000 funding award from the National Lottery Community Fund for a two-year project to further grow their work in the region.

To find out more about TLC visit www.tailoredleisure.co.uk

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Lendology CIC honoured in 2023 NatWest SE100 Awards

Lendology logoLendology CIC has been recognised as a winner in the prestigious NatWest SE100 Awards 2023.

This honour highlights their commitment to driving positive change and sustainability within the lending industry. Lendology was named Climate Champion, solidifying their dedication to combatting climate change through innovative lending solutions.

“At Lendology CIC, we firmly believe that addressing the climate crisis is crucial for building a sustainable future. Being named the Climate Champion in the NatWest SE100 Awards 2023 is a testament to our dedication. We actively incorporate environmental considerations into our lending practices, supporting energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable home improvements. This recognition reinforces our commitment to creating a greener and more resilient society.”Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology CIC.

To find out more about Lendology click here to visit their website.

Help HISBE rock their Crowdfunder

HISBE logoRebel Supermarket HISBE is coming out of the last 3 years swinging! They may have got battered by covid and the cost-of-living crisis, but there’s nothing better to rally the troops than a crowdfunder! It’s had a great start, hitting £50k – and now HISBE need to reach £75k in 14 days, to unlock another £25k in match-funding.

The world needs alternatives to Tesco’s and the like… and this December, HISBE hope to celebrate 10 years of fighting for a sustainable future for food and farming. Please help them get their community supermarkets back on course for growth, by getting behind the fundraiser on Crowdfunder.co.uk.

Their supporters, customers and suppliers have done an amazing job so far, but they now need help to hit the next hurdle!

So, if you care about good food or local community, sustainability, or social enterprise, please get involved. People can simply donate, or there are some exclusive rewards on offer, like discount cards and birthday boxes, coffee training, breadmaking workshops and farm visits – you can even pay to party at the store!

Every pledge is being matched by two other funders, turning your £1 into £3 or even £4. Aviva has teamed up with Crowdfunder to support HISBE’s work through their Community Fund. And as they reach each £25k milestone, The Be The Earth Foundation drop in £25k to match their efforts.

HISBE Co-founder Ruth Anslow says “These last three years have been tough, on all of us. HISBE has been in survival mode – and we are so grateful to all our customers and supporters for sticking with us. HISBE simply wouldn’t still be here without you.

Running any small business at the moment is extra challenging, with rising costs and customers watching their pennies. But it’s even more of a balancing act for HISBE, as a social enterprise. It costs us extra to follow our values and do the right thing, whilst still keeping prices affordable for our shoppers. 

Thankfully we are now seeing the shoots of recovery in both stores, but we also need to raise funding to keep going and return HISBE to expansion-readiness. Our goal is to build a network of stores in Sussex – and we’re in talks with Lewes Council about bringing HISBE store number 3 to Lewes High Street in 2024.” 

To find out more and get involved visit the Crowdfunder campaign page.

Supporting her Enterprise (SHE) logo

Supporting Her Enterprise (SHE) Plymouth Project

Iridescent IdeasThe team at Iridescent Ideas are excited to launch their new project – SHE Plymouth – supporting women in Plymouth to explore their ideas for business or the community, increase their confidence, develop their skills and knowledge and make connections to help them start their journey.

This FREE support is open to all women in Plymouth and will provide them with:

  • Advice
  • Support
  • Training
  • Coaching
  • Networking
  • Peer support

This project is ideal for any women in Plymouth looking to get into employment; return to work after having children or taking a career break; seeking flexible working or a better work-life balance; thinking about a career change; or anyone who has an idea for a social business or to make a difference in their community. SHE Plymouth is funded by The Rank Foundation and Livewell Southwest.

For an informal chat, call Jo on 07561 034982 or email she@iridescentideas.com. Or you can register here https://forms.gle/k3VFc8L2uBsTNYWU9.

Roots HR pro bono HR services

FREE HR services from Roots HR CIC

Roots HR CIC are delighted to offer the following FREE offerings to support charities and other social sector organisations:

To find out more and book your free place, visit the Roots HR website.

A person typing on a laptop with a mug of coffee to the side

Learn the basics of starting your own business – new short course

Are you thinking of starting your own small business?

Bath Spa UniversityBath Spa University’s new Entrepreneurship for Beginners short course teaches you how to find your target audience, market your product or service and manage your business’s finances.

You’ll attend a series of online lectures over four days to kick start your entrepreneurial journey and discover key marketing techniques to establish your business’s brand.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/3oVDXjp

Meet the Social Enterprise Mark Holder: bMoneyWize CIC

 

bMoneyWize CIC logo

bMoneyWize CIC is a multi-award winning and accredited social enterprise. We aim to empower individuals and families to make informed financial decisions by providing accessible, engaging, and practical financial education tools and resources.

When did your business become a social enterprise and why?

We always had a social mission and became a not-for-profit enterprise in 2015. When we decided to be classed a social enterprise when creating educational products, we could diversify our income streams and still support our social cause – financial education and numeracy.

What social needs are you trying to address and what types of social outcome are you striving to deliver?

bMoneyWize addresses these social needs related to financial literacy and education.

  1. Photo of a group of people sat around a table playing a gameImproving financial literacy: Many individuals and families lack basic financial literacy skills, leading to poor financial decision-making, debt, and financial insecurity. bMoneyWize provides accessible, engaging, and effective financial education tools and resources to help individuals and families develop the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions.
  2. Reducing financial exclusion: Low-income individuals and communities and other marginalised groups often face financial exclusion due to limited access to financial services and products. bMoneyWize’s financial education solutions aim to empower individuals and families with the knowledge and skills needed to access and use financial products and services effectively.
  3. Promoting financial well-being: Financial stress and insecurity can have negative impacts on individuals’ physical and mental health, as well as their overall well-being. bMoneyWize’s financial education solutions aim to promote financial well-being by helping individuals and families develop financial habits and behaviours that support their long-term financial goals.
  4. Bridging the financial education gap: Financial education is often not included in formal education curricula, leaving many individuals needing access to basic financial literacy education. bMoneyWize provides financial education solutions that can be used both in schools and at home, bridging the financial education gap and helping to build a more financially literate population.

Overall, bMoneyWize addresses essential social needs related to financial literacy and education, aiming to empower individuals and families to achieve financial well-being and security.

Photo of a group of people sat around a table playing a game

Group of people sat around a table having a conversation

 

 

 

 

 

What is your main reason for having our accreditation? What were your expectations?

We applied for accreditation to

  1. enhance our credibility,
  2. reputation,
  3. and competitiveness,
  4. and to demonstrate our commitment to quality and effectiveness.

We expect that our accreditation status will increase our audience’s confidence in the quality of our products and services.

What does accreditation mean to you? What does it say about your business?

Accreditation can provide several benefits for bMoneyWize, including enhanced credibility and recognition, improved program quality, competitive advantage, funding and partnership opportunities, and, ultimately, better outcomes for users.

What benefits has there been as a result of being accredited? E.g. did you find the assessment process useful? Do you feel the accreditation give you more credibility as a social enterprise?

Some of the benefits of being accredited have included are:

  1. Increased credibility and trustworthiness in the eyes of stakeholders.
  2. Enhanced reputation and recognition as a leader in financial education.
  3. Improved ability to attract volunteers.

The assessment process was helpful for us because there was an acknowledgement of the work we had done over time. The accreditation has contributed to the increase in the number of volunteer applications.

Are there any specific achievements/accomplishments that are linked to holding the accreditation?

We have been able to attract new collaborators on new community projects.

What would you say to another social enterprise considering accreditation?

I would say, “What are you waiting for?”

Any other comments/feedback?

“Financial literacy is key for all young people and can be a significant barrier to social mobility. Promoting and helping younger people access this information can be life-changing,” says one of our volunteers.

 


Find out more about bMoneyWize CIC by visiting their listing on our Mark Holder Directory.

What next

If you would like to find out more about becoming an accredited social enterprise please complete our Eligibility Quiz to find out more.

Launch your career to new heights with Plymouth Marjon University

A woman and two mean stood in front of a blue wall with 'ambition' in letters on the wallThe MSc Business, Enterprise, and Management programme at Plymouth Marjon University is a fantastic opportunity for students from a range of backgrounds to enhance their skill development and launch themselves into a management or leadership role within their chosen context.

Whether you have studied a contextual UG degree, such as sport development and coaching, outdoor adventure education, or even something like SEND or English, this programme will expose you to the world of business and equip you with the necessary business and graduate employability skills. This programme may appeal to students who are considering portfolio or entrepreneurial careers, as students have the opportunity to develop a business idea and plan as part of the course, or those returning to education who are looking to upskill themselves for career development and progression.

Alongside a programme of study, students will also be able to take part in The Enhancement Series, which has been designed specifically for this programme. This series allows students to participate in skills development, professional network development, gain business mentoring support, and hear from industry experts, all structured alongside their academic studies.

The programme benefits from a range of practical assessments and throughout the programme, students will be given the opportunity to report and reflect on an industry of their choice, gaining valuable insights into the drivers and barriers to success within that industry. In addition, students will participate in an innovation task, where they will design and promote a new product. They will also work with real-world organisations to apply their knowledge to offer solutions or innovate for business success.

To find out more, visit www.marjon.ac.uk or contact the Programme Lead Dr Laura Wallis at lwallis@marjon.ac.uk.

Bath Spa University

Learn how to navigate the ESG landscape of the fashion industry

Photo of a woman looking at clothes on a clothes railDo you work in the fashion industry and want to learn more about sustainable business practices?

Bath Spa University is running a new two day short course in ESG Essentials for Fashion Professionals that will develop your expertise in sustainability and give you the confidence to contribute effectively to an increasingly important area in business.

Online lectures and workshops will be delivered by award-winning responsible business specialists Louise McCabe and Tara Luckman, Directors of Flourish CSR. Topics will cover people and human rights, fashion and the environment, creating positive social change and more.

The course takes place on Friday 7th and Friday 14th July, 9:00am-5:00pm.Book your place: https://bit.ly/42Jqs4G

 

B Corp

Social enterprise lender announces new B Corp status

Lendology logoLendology CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise lender, has announced today its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose. Lendology has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement.

A B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.

Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK says, “We are delighted to welcome Lendology CIC to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Lendology are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.” 

Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy, all of which are endorsed as Lendology’s core values.

Emma Lower, CEO at Lendology said, “We applied to become a B Corp because we wanted to demonstrate that we provide high standards of both social, environmental performance, transparency and accountability. So as well as being a social enterprise and a community interest company, being a B Corp will offer us increased employee retention, engagement and diversity. It also means we’re connected to other B Corps in terms of our suppliers.” 

By becoming a certified B-Corporation, Lendology will be held accountable for continuous social and environmental improvements, and as B Corps are required to undergo the verification process every three years in order to recertify. Because of this, B Corps are by definition focused on continuous improvement, leading to their long-term resiliency.

For more information about Lendology’s social impact visit: https://www.lendology.org.uk/about/our-social-impact/ 

Certified Carbon Neutral Lender for Partners, People & Planet

Lendology pioneers sustainable finance with first Community Impact Report

Lendology logoLendology, a social enterprise that provides affordable lending to homeowners, has released its first-ever Community Impact Report.

The report highlights the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact, promoting well-being for its team members, and making a positive impact on the communities it serves.

Lendology’s notable achievements include being the first carbon-neutral lender in the UK and donating 10% of its profits to National Energy Action. The company has also implemented a “Buy Social or Local” procurement policy, installed LED lighting in its office, and donated essential items to Somerset Aid for Ukraine.

The company is committed to supporting the health and well-being of its team members, providing access to counseling services, offering above statutory minimum annual leave entitlements, and partnering with Growing Vision to deliver coaching and mentoring sessions.

Looking ahead to 2023, Lendology has committed to supporting National Energy Action with a percentage of its profits, organizing two volunteer days for all team members to give time to local charities, and trialing a four-day working week to improve work-life balance.

Lendology plans to align its service delivery with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, embed its “Buy Local or Social Procurement Policy,” and train each team member to become “Energy Champions” to support the reduction of energy consumption at work and home.

Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology, said: “At Lendology, we want to go further in reducing our impact on the environment and ensuring our team members are healthy and happy. We are thrilled to launch our first-ever Community Impact Report, highlighting our achievements to date and plans for 2023 and beyond.”

At Lendology, the team believes that every homeowner should be able to live in a home that supports their health and well-being without excess cold or heat, and access to affordable lending is key to making that happen. They are committed to achieving their sustainable development goals and continuing to make a positive impact on the communities they serve.

To learn more about Lendology’s sustainable finance journey, please visit their website and download their Community Impact Report.

For more information about the loan scheme, visit www.lendology.org.uk or call 01823 461099.

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Click start your career with Bath Spa University

Bath Spa UniversityBath Spa University is running a new, fully funded creative digital programme, designed to help you pursue a new career.

Over the 12 weeks, Click Start participants will learn digital skills needed to start a career in tech, including skills in UX/UI design, digital marketing and web development. They’ll be supported through the course by a personal career coach, provided by Catch22.

You must be aged 18-30, live in or near an area of deprivation in the South West and have the right to work in the UK. Click Start starts 24th April.

Find out more and apply now on the Bath Spa University website.

Apply today - ASSETS. Image of a female wearing a white hard hat speaking to a man wearing a yellow hard hat

Support for social enterprises in the construction sector

Are you a social enterprise in the construction sector?

Impact Hub London and Wates, in partnership with the Postcode Innovation Trust and Travis Perkins,  have just opened applications for ASSETS (Assisting Social Enterprises to Succeed). This an innovative 7-month business support programme for social enterprises in the construction industry supply chain, who are aiming to scale their operations nationally and secure larger contracts.

For the third year in a row, social and environmental impact-driven organisations can join this free programme to help their businesses scale up and successfully compete UK-wide.

Visit the Impact Hub London website to find out more, check your eligibility and apply by 7th April.

Photo of a building at night with lights on inside

Mastercall launches Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) service

In response to the recent crisis impacting on the NHS and in particularly the surge in acute respiratory infections, social enterprise Mastercall has launched a new Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) service at its HQ in Hazel Grove, Stockport.

All GP practices in Stockport can refer patients for a same day appointment. Referrals are for adults and children with acute respiratory symptoms. GP practice receptionists can make direct referrals to the service for same day appointments. Patients will be texted with advice and guidance whilst they wait for their appointment. Next day appointments can also be made subject to confirmation from the GP that the patient is safe to wait.

The service is being very well received with great uptake. This will undoubtedly help to reduce the strain on GP practices in the area as well as wider services. The service also provides an excellent patient experience due to same day access appointments. A faster response to treatment will also hopefully reduce worsening symptoms and prevent onward referral to A&E/hospital admission.

Dr Viren Mehta, Chair of Stockport GP & Primary Care Board, says of the service: “Our GP practices in Stockport are already offering more appointments than ever before to our patients, and latest data published shows that our practices offer one of the highest levels of appointments across the whole of Greater Manchester. However, demand continues to outstrip capacity and we are therefore delighted to work collaboratively with our colleagues at Mastercall in launching the new Acute Respiratory Infection service for our patients.

The service is available to adults and children with symptoms of respiratory infections such as coughs, wheezing and fever who may need to be examined by a clinician. People with milder symptoms may be directed to their local pharmacy. We hope this new service helps to ensure people who need a same day appointment can be seen by a clinician and reduce pressure on our emergency services.”

To find out more about Mastercall visit https://mastercall.org.uk/.

Lendology CIC logo

Lendology announces Fair Tax Accreditation

Lendology, a Social Enterprise lender, this week announced its Fair Tax Accreditation, aimed at promoting transparency and ethical practices in the financial services industry. The accreditation outlines Lendology’s approach to taxation and corporate responsibility and reflects the company’s dedication to operating in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Lendology Fair Tax accreditation with photo of CEO Emma Lower

At the core of Lendology’s Fair Tax Accreditation is a pledge to pay their fair share of taxes in the countries where they operate. This means that the company will not engage in aggressive tax avoidance schemes or exploit loopholes in tax laws to minimize their tax bill. Instead, Lendology will work within the legal framework of each country to ensure that they are contributing their fair share to public services and infrastructure.

“Lendology are committed to operating with the highest standards of transparency and ethical behaviour,” said Emma Lower, CEO at Lendology CIC. “Our Fair Tax Accreditation reflects our dedication to paying our fair share of taxes and to contributing to the broader social and economic well-being of the communities in which we operate.” 

“Our taxes as an organisation contribute to a better society beyond our day to day work. I am thrilled to say that we have always been committed to paying our fair share of tax, and the Fair Tax mark now proves this without doubt. I highly recommend the Fair Tax Mark team who are very knowledgeable about all tax matters and are working hard to help organisations demonstrate their commitment to payment of their fair share of tax. We hope that our addition to their members encourages others to join the movement,” said Anna Osborne, Commercial & Finance Director of Lendology CIC.

Lendology’s Fair Tax Accreditation also includes a commitment to maintaining an open and transparent dialogue with tax authorities and to proactively engaging with them to ensure compliance with all relevant tax laws and regulations. The company will provide timely and accurate tax returns, respond promptly to any queries or requests for information, and work collaboratively with tax authorities to resolve any issues that may arise.

In addition to its commitment to fair taxation, Lendology pledges to support its local communities and to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint, support local charities and community organizations, and encourage its employees to volunteer their time and expertise to charitable causes.

Lendology’s Fair Tax Accreditation reflects the company’s commitment to operating ethically and responsibly, and to contributing to the broader social and economic well-being of the communities in which it operates. As consumers and investors become increasingly focused on issues such as corporate responsibility and sustainability, initiatives like Lendology’s Fair Tax Accreditation are likely to become more important in the financial services industry.

For more information about Lendology’s Fair Tax Accreditation, please visit https://www.lendology.org.uk/ or call Lendology on 01823 461099.

Michaela Buck

Mastercall CEO shortlisted for ‘Woman of Impact’ Award

Mastercall logoMichaela Buck, the CEO of award-winning social enterprise healthcare provider Mastercall, has been shortlisted for the “Woman of Impact” category at the Impact Awards 2023.

The award is in the field of social impact technology and acknowledges Michaela as a social entrepreneur, helping to drive digital integration and innovation in health and social care.

This has ultimately helped to drive a positive change in the safe and effective management of patients, empowering them to manage their own health/wellbeing whilst improving health outcomes.

Voting for the awards is now open at https://form.jotform.com/230534089553357. The awards ceremony will take place at Media City, Manchester from 4-8pm on 22nd March 2023.

To learn more about Mastercall, please visit www.mastercall.org.uk

National Empty Homes Week 2023

Lendology raising awareness of Empty Homes Week 2023

Each year, Empty Homes Week offers social enterprise lender Lendology an opportunity to demonstrate the action it is taking to bring empty homes back into use.

Empty Homes Week is a fantastic opportunity to publicise information and assistance for owners of empty properties and to offer residents’ advice on how to report any empty homes causing concern in their neighbourhoods.

Lendology CIC provides council funded loans to homeowners.  The loan scheme allows homeowners to spread the cost of completing a renovation project.  Lendology is able to consider applications from individuals who may have inherited a property but be unsure how to bring it back into use, through to companies converting a portfolio of properties.

Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology said “Empty homes are a valuable resource being put to waste at a time when housing is so important. We understand the challenges people face in financing and renovating empty homes, and a lot of homeowners are unaware of this lending scheme. Our unique approach to lending allows us to solve a range of finance issues in local communities and we love turning empty houses into loved homes”.

For more information about the loan scheme, visit www.lendology.org.uk or call 01823 461099.

Group of people stood outside The ReUsers shop

Social enterprise department store celebrates 10th birthday

Sutton Coldfield-based department store, The ReUsers, celebrates ten years of trading this month.

The social enterprise, part of the JERICHO group, which prevents waste from entering landfill by providing used goods at cost-effective prices, uses its income to help people who face real and significant challenges in getting a job. These could include trauma, insufficient work experience, health & wellbeing needs, education barriers and communication challenges.

Since opening in 2013, a total of 1.3 million kilograms have been diverted enabling over 130 individuals to be supported including 80 young people as apprentices and 16 survivors of modern slavery.

Richard Craythorn, ReUsers Manager said “Over the last 10 years, I have watched the ReUsers grow from an idea to a fully-fledged social enterprise with incredible positive social and environmental outcomes. I wish to thank all of our regular loyal customers, neighbours, partners and supporters for getting behind this project and helping our team to achieve such a positive success. I must also pay homage to the wonderful team who work at ReUsers, day in and day out, whatever the weather. Without their hard work and commitment, ReUsers would have stayed as just a great idea.”

Richard Beard, JERICHO CEO, said “The ReUsers is very much the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the JERICHO family of social enterprises – it continues to deliver unrivalled levels of social, environmental and economic impact and I’m extremely proud of all that Rich and his team have achieved over the last 10 years”

To celebrate ten incredible years, The ReUsers will be holding a 20% off store-wide sale between Monday 13th and Friday 17th February.

Iridescent Ideas

Free workshops with Iridescent Ideas

Iridescent Ideas CIC, which delivers business support for social enterprises and charities across the UK, is running a number of free workshops in February and March:

Wednesday 15th February 10am – 12pm: Leaving the Classroom

Picture of an open red door on a yellow background with white cloudsFREE Online Workshops for teachers, TAs and educators considering a career change, starting your own business or finding a new way to use your skills.

Join Iridescent Ideas Director, Gareth Hart, for this FREE workshop exploring ways you could leave the classroom and still continue making a positive impact as an educator.

This workshop will give you the opportunity to explore, alongside like-minded individuals, other ways you can continue to use your skills, knowledge and expertise, and make your own ideas become a reality.

Gareth will provide an overview of social enterprise, charities and other types of community organisations as potential options for moving forward. You will have the chance to discuss ideas, what support and advice you might need to make a positive change and explore what support is available to help you get there.

To book or for more info visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/511661592597


Wednesday 8th March 10am – 12pm: Start It! How to start a Social Enterprise – FREE Online Workshop

Iridescent Ideas: Start ItJoin us for this FREE session, funded by the Rank Foundation, all about how to get started making your good idea into a social enterprise reality.

Thinking about starting an ethical or social business? Join Gareth Hart, Director of Iridescent Ideas CIC, for this FREE session all about how to get started making your good idea into a social enterprise reality. We’ll cover:

  • basic business planning
  • a simple overview of legal structures suitable for social enterprises
  • how you can put a social vision at the heart of your business

To book or for more info visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/start-it-how-to-start-a-social-enterprise-free-online-workshop-tickets-522536279077


Thursday 16th March 11am – 1pm: Fund It! Funding & Finance FREE Online Workshop

Iridescent Ideas: Fund ItJoin us  for this FREE  online session all about how to finance and fund your social enterprise or community project. Hosted by Gareth Hart of Iridescent Ideas CIC and funded by the Rank Foundation.

This informative workshop will cover:

  • social investment
  • start up grants
  • sources of finance to help you grow your business

To book or for more info visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fund-it-funding-finance-free-online-workshop-tickets-522543891847


Thursday 23rd March 1pm – 3pm Prove It! Measuring Impact FREE Online Workshop

Iridescent Ideas: Prove ItJoin Gareth Hart, Director of Iridescent Ideas CIC, for this FREE session funded by The Rank Foundation, covering how to measure and manage the difference you make AND how to use this powerful information to help you develop your business and earn income.

To book or for more info visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/prove-it-measuring-impact-free-online-workshop-tickets-522549739337

 

To view all Iridescent Ideas’ events, visit their Facebook page.

The Growth Company are Social Enterprise Gold Mark holders

Meet the Social Enterprise Gold Mark Holder: The Growth Company

The Growth Company logo

Established in 1989, The Growth Company is an economic development agency which enables growth, creates jobs, and improves lives.

We are an and are leading provider of education, skills, employment, youth and offender rehabilitation support. We also provide business support and finance services designed to drive productivity, improve innovation and create high quality and inclusive jobs. We work with public, private and third sector partners, delivering economic development projects that achieve growth outcomes across a range of specialisms.

When did your business become a social enterprise and why?

The Growth Company has always identified as a social enterprise. This ties in with our mission to enable growth, create jobs and improve lives. As a commercially driven not-for-profit, any surplus we make is reinvested into our services, supporting growth that has real impact.

What social needs are you trying to address and what types of social outcome are you striving to deliver?

Our core objective is sustainable economic growth, therefore a key focus in our multifaceted work is to support and provide opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses to thrive. This is through advisory business support services, employment and skills platforms and our commercial services offering.

We aim to drive growth that is equitable by ensuring our services meet the diverse needs of the areas in which we work and have core functions/groups within our organisations, such as our EDI Steering Group and sub-networks to drive this agenda both internally and externally.

What is your main reason for having our accreditation? What were your expectations?

We wanted to stand out and really cement our reputation and credibility as a social enterprise and show that we put the interests of people and planet above stakeholder gain. Going through the Social Enterprise Mark, and subsequently, the Social Enterprise Gold Mark assessment process, was seen as the best and most value adding way to help us achieve this.

What does accreditation mean to you? What does it say about your business?

We are immensely proud that we can objectively demonstrate best practice across several key business areas that are central to social enterprise excellence, including governance, stakeholder engagement, business ethics, financial transparency and social impact.

This shows The Growth Company is driven by its values, and continues to make a positive difference to the people we work with and the world we live in.

The Growth Company are Social Enterprise Gold Mark holders

What benefits has there been as a result of being accredited? E.g. did you find the assessment process useful? Do you feel the accreditation give you more credibility as a social enterprise?

Absolutely, being accredited has really helped to give us creditability as a genuine social enterprise and proves our credentials as an organisation which is committed to creating social value for people and the planet.

We found the assessment process extremely useful and value adding. It made us take a step back as a business and reflect on the work we are doing to support our customers and wider stakeholders and made us realise just what a positive difference we make. All the team at Social Enterprise Mark CIC were very helpful and extremely knowledgeable. Our Assessment Manager supported us throughout the process and was always on hand to provide guidance during the assessment process, whilst remaining objective and impartial. His knowledge was exceptional.

Are there any specific achievements/accomplishments that are linked to holding the accreditation?

As above, being accredited has really help to give us creditably as a genuine social enterprise and proves our credentials as an organisation which is committed to creating social value for people and the planet.

We feel we will be better placed to answer this question in more detail when we have held the accreditation for a longer period of time.

What would you say to another social enterprise considering accreditation?

The progress that the Growth Company has made in our journey to gaining accreditation is significant and due to the robust nature of the assessment, we felt it helped to put a mirror in front of our organisation and highlight how well we have developed as a social enterprise in challenging times but also how we can continue to improve our practices to meet the needs of both colleagues, customers and future talent.

The process is detailed and the feedback is honest and challenging which is exactly what we were looking for.

Any other comments?

What worked well for our organisation was to have continued catch up meetings with the Social Enterprise Mark CIC team to update and ensure we were on track. I would also advise keeping contact to one or two members of your organisations who can manage the process centrally. We are a large social enterprise with over 1,500 members of staff, so internally there is a lot of coordination of obtaining information and arranging interview assessments, but throughout we found the Social Enterprise Mark CIC team very supportive and they offered guidance and appropriate timelines that could ensure we were progressing with our application in the best way possible.

 


Find out more about The Growth Company by visiting their listing on our Mark Holder Directory, and find out more about our International Mark Holders on our website.

What next

If you would like to find out more about becoming an accredited social enterprise please complete our Eligibility Quiz to find out more.

Rediscovery Centre achieves the Social Enterprise Mark

Meet the Social Enterprise Mark Holder: The Rediscovery Centre

The Rediscovery Centre logo

The Rediscovery Centre is the National Centre for the Circular Economy in Ireland, a creative movement connecting people, ideas, and resources to support greener low-carbon living.

We bring together the skills and expertise of artists, scientists, designers and craftspeople united in a common purpose of sustainability. Located in a bespoke demonstration eco-facility, we operate a multi-faceted visitor centre and unique social enterprise that champions & highlights the actions required to achieve a circular economy. This includes, a range of educational and research programmes, a shop, a cafe, and four workshops: Rediscover Furniture, Rediscover Fashion, Rediscover Paint, and Rediscover Cycling. Our workshops provide training and courses related to reuse, repair, resource efficiency & low carbon living, and utilise unwanted materials for new product development and design.

When did your business become a social enterprise and why?

We established ourselves as a social enterprise from the very beginning, with the inception of Rediscover Furniture in 2004. The organisation was developed in response to a public consultation regarding the needs of Ballymun during the regeneration of the town, so the ideologies of social enterprise were the foundations of the Centre.

What social needs are you trying to address and what types of social outcome are you striving to deliver?

From the beginning, we aimed to address two key needs in the area: to create opportunities for people to divert their waste into something of value, and to provide employment and training opportunities for local people.

What is your main reason for having our accreditation? What were your expectations?

A large part of what The Rediscovery Centre has been trying to do is to elevate the discourse around second-hand reuse, to show that secondhand items are not low quality. We also wanted to promote the quality of training we provide through our employment progression schemes.

This accreditation elevates the credibility of our social and environmental work.

Rediscovery Centre awarded the Social Enterprise Mark

What does accreditation mean to you? What does it say about your business?

Accreditation means reassurance to ourselves that we are doing a good job, as well as elevating our credibility to customers and clients.

What benefits has there been as a result of being accredited? E.g. did you find the assessment process useful? Do you feel the accreditation give you more credibility as a social enterprise?

It’s beneficial to see what our peers think is important in relation to regulation and accreditation. Additionally, the assessment process allowed us the opportunity to reflect on all that we have done, which is always a useful tool, and to take pride in all we have achieved since the Centre’s inception.

Are there any specific achievements/accomplishments that are linked to holding the accreditation?

We have an incredibly high level of progression of our trainees, which we are very proud of as a social enterprise.

What would you say to another social enterprise considering accreditation?

Go for it!

 


Find out more about The Rediscovery Centre by visiting their listing on our Mark Holder Directory, and find out more about our International Mark Holders on our website.

What next

If you would like to find out more about becoming an accredited social enterprise please complete our Eligibility Quiz to find out more.

Bath Social Impact Network

New network in B&NES dedicated to growing the social economy

Bath Spa UniversityLaunched as a partnership between Bath Spa University and 3SG, the Bath Social Impact Network brings together like-minded groups and individuals to improve and grow the social economy in Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES).

Created with social enterprises at the heart, along with B Corps, CICs, co-ops, and those interested in the work of these types of organisations, the Bath Social Impact Network will provide the support its members need to flourish through collaboration and idea generation.

Find out more at the launch event in Bath on Thursday 23rd February from 5pm-7pm. Find out more and sign up here.

Siul Eile knock mealdown

Meet the Social Enterprise Mark Holder: Siul Eile

Siul Eile is a social enterprise helping communities come together to form walking programs and challenges using the under-utilised local environment in their own community and to develop a sustainable walking culture in their community.

We build walking programs using quiet country roads, forest paths, tracks and trails. It is designed for local communities to live quality healthy lives, socialise together and to combat isolation.

Siul Eile knock mealdown

When did your business become a social enterprise and why?

We became a social enterprise in 2017 after completing a social enterprise incubator program with Social Impact Ireland. The reason we choose the social enterprise route was we could see the positive impact our walking programs were having on communities.

What social needs are you trying to address and what types of social outcome are you striving to deliver?

Removing barriers to improving the health and wellbeing of communities. We are striving to deliver improved physical and mental health as well as creating more social opportunities through our walking programs and events.

What is your main reason for having our accreditation? What were your expectations?

The main reason for having the accreditation is it shows we are a bona fide social enterprise.

What does accreditation mean to you? What does it say about your business?

The Social Enterprise Mark means we can proudly showcase our social enterprise credentials. It makes our business stand out from our competitors.

What benefits has there been as a result of being accredited? E.g. did you find the assessment process useful? Do you feel the accreditation give you more credibility as a social enterprise?

The benefits of being accredited include the time out taken in the assessment process to take a deep look into the social impact and the business side of our social enterprise. The accreditation also gives us more confidence and greater purpose going forward when dealing with other organisations.

Are there any specific achievements/accomplishments that are linked to holding the accreditation?

We are one of the first social enterprises in Ireland to hold the accreditation.

What would you say to another social enterprise considering accreditation?

Go for it! The process is rewarding even before getting the accreditation as it looks into all the essential aspects of being a social enterprise operating at the highest of standards.

Find out more about Siul Eile by visiting their listing on our Mark Holder Directory, and find out more about our International Mark Holders on our website.

Siul Eile logo

What next

If you would like to find out more about becoming an accredited social enterprise please complete our Eligibility Quiz to find out more.

WiSE100 2022 list announced

WiSE100 Announced…. Our Congratulations to All

Exciting announcements this afternoon as the NatWest WiSE100 top women in social enterprise list is revealed!

Pioneers Post has now shared the incredible 100 women in the UK who are leading the way across the social enterprise sector…. and we are delighted that our own Lucy Findlay MBE is featured for the third consecutive year….

I am absolutely delighted to be named again this year in this prestigious list of amazing women.  It’s important to recognise the leadership of women, many often do not identify with the term ‘leader’.  Now more than ever we need a diversity in perspective that can help bring about a better world.

Lucy Findlay MBE, Founder & Managing Director, Social Enterprise Mark CIC

Also in the 2022 list of Women in Social Enterprise 100, we extend our warmest congratulations to Mark Holders who are brilliant ambassadors for the social enterprise sector: Devi Clark and Emma Lange of Impact Hub Kings Cross, Emma Lower of Lendology CIC, Julie Hawker CEO of Cosmic IT, Jacqueline Hollows of Beyond Recovery and Shannon Gorman of Resonance.

Next week, Pioneers Post will reveal the finalists in each of the four awards categories: Social Business Leader, Star of the Future, Environmental Champion and Social Business Champion. This will be followed on 18th March 2022 with a daytime celebration of the final Awards and winners of each category kindly hosted by NatWest Social & Community Capital. Book here to secure your free place (tickets numbers are restricted but still available).

Read more and explore the full #WiSE100 list here.

Roots HR

Success of Free HR Toolkits for the Social Sector

Roots HR CIC launched the first of a series of FREE HR Toolkits in July 2021, releasing 1 Toolkit per month, jam-packed full of useful guidance, templates, tools and training webinars to enable effective people management within small to medium social sector organisations.

To date over 1,000 Toolkits have been provided to organisations on Recruitment, Selection, Pre Employment Checks, Induction, Probation and Agile Appraisal. These free Toolkits have enabled social sector organisations to feel confident and fully equipped to recruit, onboard and manage people effectively saving time and funds to allow them to focus on service delivery for their beneficiaries.

Recipients of the free Toolkits have said:

“We are about to onboard staff for the first time and feel much more confident in doing so now”.

“The templates are super helpful and it’s the right level of information”.

“The templates are really helpful and having the webinars to share with colleagues has been great too”.

Over the next 6 months, Roots HR CIC is looking forward to launching 6 further free HR Toolkits on topics such as Wellbeing at Work, Pay and Benefits, Personnel Files, Leavers, Sickness Absence and Under Performance.

To request the free Toolkits please visit: https://www.rootshr.org.uk/free-toolkits. Roots HR CIC can be contacted on 01562 840060, at charlottebadger@rootshr.org.uk or at www.rootshr.org.uk

Free agile appraisal toolkit for social sector organisations

Roots HR logoRoots HR CIC is giving away an Agile Appraisal Toolkit worth £349, which is jam-packed full of useful guidance, templates, tools and a training webinar to support your social sector organisation.

This Toolkit is aimed at helping small social sector organisations to:

  • Design and deliver effective agile appraisal systems, processes and practices tailored to individual organisations
  • Guide managers in delivering effective agile appraisal to maximise the potential and success of their teams
  • Keep records of employee performance and appraisal
  • Understand and meet minimum legislative requirements during employment
  • Treat all employees fairly and consistently, in line with equality of opportunity, the principles of diversity and inclusion and with transparency and accountability
  • Evaluate agile appraisal processes once implemented and use this information to improve recruitment, selection, induction and probation outcomes in the future
  • Maintain the minimum possible cost and administrative burden balanced against the direct and indirect financial costs of failing to manage performance effectively.

The toolkit includes a training webinar to train your colleagues on the use of the toolkit in your organisation and a voucher for one hour of free HR consultancy support from Roots HR in implementing this Toolkit in your organisation.

Visit the Roots HR website to order your free toolkit.

Help to Grow: Management banner

Apply now for January start of new Government business support course

Businesses in the UK are encouraged to register before Christmas to confirm their place on the latest cohort of an industry-leading national management training course, which is being delivered by Aston Business School.

The Help to Grow: Management course is designed to provide the management tools needed to help talented business leaders innovate and grow their business, driving our economic recovery from coronavirus (COVID-19).

Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, modules cover financial management, strategies for growth and innovation, leading a high-performance workplace and digital adoption. By the end of the programme, business leaders will develop a tailored business growth plan to help lead your business to its full potential with access to mentoring and an alumni network.

Courses at Aston Business School are open for applications – apply and find out more here.

Current programme participant Karla Batchelor, Agilysys Ltd, said: “As a Finance Director, I expected this programme to be formally structured with clear homework and assessment points – that’s how accountancy qualifications work.

“What I have had to realise over the weeks, is that the learning I’m gaining is not necessarily about discovering new areas of knowledge. It is about having the time to re-cap on tools and models that we already have in our portfolio and taking them back into the business.

 “It’s gone beyond my expectations, and the mentor sessions alone are worth the cost. I’d really recommend it.” 

Paula Whitehouse, Curriculum Director for Help to Grow: Management and Associate Dean Enterprise of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, said: “As a small business leader, you have to know about all the key business functions and how to optimise them to drive high performance in your business. 

“Help to Grow: Management will combine this essential business education with the creation of a like-minded business network and support for the practical application of the learning to ensure businesses get immediate results.

“I am excited to be working with Small Business Charter business school colleagues all over the country to roll out the Help to Grow: Management curriculum and ultimately to be introducing many more business leaders from the West Midlands into Aston’s vibrant entrepreneurial community.”

Aston Business School’s Centre for Growth will deliver a special online information session on Tuesday 7th December for business leaders to find out more about the course and have their questions answered.

A group of multi-coloured people icons with a hand holding a magnifying glass in front

Free probation toolkit for social sector organisations

Roots HR logoRoots HR CIC is giving away a Probation Toolkit, worth £399, which is jam-packed full of useful guidance, templates, tools and a training webinar to support your social sector organisation.

This Toolkit is aimed at helping small social sector organisations to:

  • Design and deliver effective probation procedures and practices tailored to individual organisations
  • Guide managers in delivering effective probation processes to maximise the potential and success of new employees in their roles
  • Keep records of probation reviews
  • Understand and meet minimum legislative requirements at the start of employment and beyond
  • Treat new employees fairly, in line with equality of opportunity, the principles of diversity and inclusion and with transparency and accountability
  • Evaluate probation procedures that have taken place and use this information to improve recruitment, selection, induction and probation outcomes in the future
  • Maintain the minimum possible cost and administrative burden balanced against the direct and indirect financial costs of failing to use probation effectively.

Visit the Roots HR website to order your free Probation Toolkit.

Photo montage of Charity Bank borrowers

£4m investment boost to fuel growth in new lending

Charity Bank logoCharity Bank, the loans and savings bank for positive social change, today announced £4m in new equity investments from six new investors as well as an approved investment from its existing shareholder, Big Society Capital.

By leveraging these investments with deposits, the bank will be able to make more than £32m in new loans to UK charities and social enterprises at a time when the social sector is in acute need of sustainable financing solutions.

The Garfield Weston Foundation (£1m investment), The Clothworker’s Foundation (£1m), Bank Workers Charity (£250k), Places for People (£250k), Drapers’ Company (£250k)1and Alternative Bank Switzerland (£250k) become new shareholders in Charity Bank, while Big Society Capital has approved an additional £1m. These follow investments from Barrow Cadbury Trust (£500k) and The Samworth Foundation (£500k) in March 2021, and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (£230k) in late 2020.

These investments evidence the growing appetite amongst trusts, foundations and other impact first organisations to make social investments as an alternative to grant-making to meet their social impact objectives.

Ed Siegel Charity BankEd Siegel, Chief Executive, Charity Bank, said: “Having such a diverse group of impact investors joining as shareholders in Charity Bank is a positive reflection of our success in reaching impact-driven organisations in the UK with specialist financing and support.  With this additional investment, we will be able to expand and broaden our support, helping more charities and social enterprises access the funding they need to sustain and grow their services.”

“UK charities and social enterprises are responding to an array of urgent social issues, but following an extended period of public budget austerity, many have struggled to secure sufficient funding. The effects of the Coronavirus pandemic have only made this situation worse. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, when many lenders moved to the sidelines, Charity Bank approved a record level of new loans. The new equity investments we have secured will enable us to continue to grow our lending and to offer the bespoke financing solutions that will be needed by many organisations as they rebound from the effects of the pandemic.”

 

Carer Friendly Award badge - making a difference

Applications open for Carer Friendly Business Awards

Applications are open for this year’s Carer Friendly Business Awards.

These awards, run by Forward Carers, celebrate businesses and organisations in the West Midlands that have taken steps to  support unpaid Carers in the community or workplace. Whether you’re an employer with great support for your staff who are also in a caring role, an organisation that has made positive changes for your customers or an unpaid Carer who wants to celebrate a local business, you can apply/ nominate here.

There are six awards in total, which includes two new categories for 2021. These are;

  • Carer Friendly Customer Care
  • Carer Friendly Employer
  • The Carers Champion
  • Carer Friendly Dementia
  • Carer Friendly Autism
  • Making A Difference

It’s been a trying period over the last 12 months yet so many organisations have gone above and beyond to make life easier for the unpaid Carers in our communities. Celebrate your good work and apply for an award today.

 

Roots HR free induction toolkit banner

Free induction toolkit worth £349

Roots HR logoRoots HR CIC is giving away an Induction Toolkit, worth £349, which is jam-packed full of useful guidance, templates, tools and a training webinar to support your social sector organisation.

This Toolkit is aimed at helping small social sector organisations to:

  • Design and deliver an effective induction programme that will welcome your employees and enable them to perform effectively as quickly as reasonably possible
  • Understand and meet minimum legislative requirements at the start of employment and beyond
  • Treat new employees fairly, in line with equality of opportunity, the principles of diversity and inclusion and with transparency and accountability
  • Identify the topic areas to be covered in induction for all roles in your organisation
  • Plan who to deliver induction and to design its delivery using a range of techniques to maximise engagement
  • Keep records of induction training
  • Evaluate inductions that have taken place and use this information to improve induction outcomes in the future
  • Maintain the minimum possible cost and administrative burden balanced against the direct and indirect financial costs of failing to use induction effectively.

Visit the Roots HR website to download your free toolkit.

Front cover of Key Fund social impact report

Key Fund unveils £447million impact

Key Fund, a pioneering social investor, has achieved an economic impact of £447million over two decades across the North of England and the Midlands.

The figure has been unveiled to mark the Sheffield-based organisation’s 21-years of investing in community and social enterprises. In that time, Key Fund has safeguarded 2,291 jobs and created 1,442 new jobs, alongside creating 533 businesses, helping to sustain 2,229 businesses.

These figures were released in its annual Social Impact report, which tells the stories of some of Key Fund investees, including a community theatre in Manchester, a domestic abuse charity in Rotherham, and counselling services in Birmingham.

Sam Keighley, Chair of Key Fund, said: “Social enterprise has become integral in delivering key services to society, as well as generating thousands of jobs and contributing to local economies. These figures show how investing the right money, in the right way, into the right hands can support enduring and sustainable social enterprises in poor neighbourhoods, which go on to improve individual lives in innumerable ways.”

Key Fund was created in Sheffield in response to the collapse of the coal and steel industries in South Yorkshire. As a financial intermediary, it helped local communities access EU funding for regeneration projects.

Today, Key Fund provides flexible loans and grants to community and social enterprises traditionally excluded by mainstream finance. It shaped the early development of funding models for community-owned and managed assets, such as renewable energy schemes and community pubs.

The UK’s 100,000 social enterprises have been at the heart of community survival and recovery during the crisis, from making PPE for health workers, to providing food and connection in their neighbourhoods.

Matt Smith speaking behind a lectern branded with the Key Fund logoMatt Smith, CEO of Key Fund, said: “Many Key Fund clients operate at the heart of their communities, focussed on supporting local people. As such, they became frontline responders in the pandemic. Our approach is to support these organisations with finance, giving them the tools to develop, grow and deliver even more. Social investment has never been so vital or needed in supporting these enterprises, who offer hope, regeneration and recovery, especially to those even more at risk of falling through the cracks in society with the fall-out of the pandemic.”

Key Fund actively targets the main causes and impacts of poverty, with 80% of its investments in organisations that are in the top 30% most deprived communities; 20% of the awards were in the 10% of most deprived areas on the indices of multiple deprivation.

In response to the pandemic, Key Fund worked with partners to secure and deliver the £18.7m Social Enterprise Support Fund, made possible by The National Lottery Community Fund. As part of this and other funding streams, in just three months, it delivered £9m of emergency grants to social enterprises hit hard by lockdowns.

A person holding a pen over paper on a clipboard

Free Pre-Employment Checks Toolkit for social sector organisations

Roots HR CIC is giving away a Pre-Employment Checks Toolkit, worth £349, jam-packed full of useful guidance, templates, tools and a training webinar to support your social sector organisation.

This Toolkit is aimed at helping small social sector organisations to:

  • Understand and meet minimum legislative requirements in carrying out pre-employment checks
  • Identify the pre-employment checks relevant and proportionate to roles in your organisation
  • Carry out the most common types of pre-employment checks for roles in the social sector, applying good practice and appropriate flexibility
  • Review and record the outcome of pre-employment checks, determine whether the information received is satisfactory and know what to do when it is unsatisfactory
  • Treat new employees fairly in line with equality of opportunity, the principles of diversity and inclusion and with transparency and accountability
  • Maintain the minimum possible cost and administrative burden balanced against the direct and indirect financial costs of failing to use pre-employment checking effectively.

Order your free Pre-Employment Checks Toolkit here.

Power Up Scotland

Big Issue Invest Power Up Scottish social ventures with £500,000 of investment

Applications are now open for a lending scheme offering £500,000 worth of investment and support to 12 early-stage social ventures across Scotland.

Big Issue Invest logoBig Issue Invest’s Power Up Scotland programme was first launched in November 2017 and has supported 19 social business to date with a total of close to £500,000. The programme is funded by abrdn, University of Edinburgh, Experian, Places for People and the Scottish Government with legal support from Brodies LLP.

Danyal Sattar, CEO of Big Issue Invest, said: “We are really excited about this year’s Power Up Scotland programme. A lot of fantastic early-stage social ventures across Scotland struggle to access small to medium-sized loans, so we are so pleased, working with our brilliant partners, to be able to support those organisations with the investment and business development expertise that they need in order to make an even greater difference within their communities in a post-Covid world.”

The Power Up programme is open to organisations across Scotland. The funding available is to enable organisations to build on the good work they currently do within their communities. Whether it’s buying equipment, hiring new talent, or progressing with business development plans. Successful applicants will also receive mentoring and business development support to social ventures for the two-year period.

The programme has been designed for early-stage social ventures, regardless of company structure – social enterprises, charities, and private enterprises are all welcome, with social value creation being the key criterion. The expectation is that many applicants will be accessing finance for the first time.

Applications for this year’s Power Up Scotland programme are open until 17th September 2021. To apply, visit the Big Issue Invest website to apply.

Image of a winding mountain road with text overlay: 'Discover your impact score. Take the quiz'

Are you making the impact you want?

Good Will Studios logoDiscover your Social Impact Score in just 2 minutes with a new interactive quiz that Will Saunders at Good Will Studios has designed especially for Social Enterprises.

Based on hundreds over conversations with social entrepreneurs and ethical businesses, the algorithm quickly generates your customised score to help you measure and improve the impact you make.

Take the quiz now to see discover your impact score.

Social Enterprise Gold Mark Outstanding Practice

Recognising outstanding practice in social enterprise

The Social Enterprise Gold Mark was introduced almost seven years ago, providing a framework to encourage and recognise excellence in social enterprise, that encapsulated and built upon the standards established by the criteria of the original Social Enterprise Mark.

A few years ago, we completed a review and revision of these standards and the assessment process, which now serves to distinguish organisations that have demonstrated an exceptional level of consistency and depth of compliance across all the Gold Mark criteria. Having completed the re-assessment of all existing Social Enterprise Gold Mark Holders, any organisation that now engages with a Gold Mark assessment can now be awarded one of two levels of accreditation, as follows:

  • Social Enterprise Excellence – where an organisation has demonstrated a range of best practice across all five of the additional Gold Mark criteria as whole, even if they are stronger in some criteria, and less so in others.
  • Social Enterprise Outstanding Practice – where an organisation has demonstrated the highest levels of excellence and has clearly and unequivocally shown robust best practice across all the Gold Mark criteria.

Organisations that demonstrate the highest levels of excellent practice may be awarded the distinction of Social Enterprise Outstanding Practice. This standard is meant to be demanding, and whilst it possible to attain this recognition immediately, it may sometimes only be possible through closely engaging with all the requirements of the framework, which is best achieved through the Social Enterprise Gold Mark assessment and first demonstrating Social Enterprise Excellence. The assessment process helps inform where an organisation stands in relation to the Gold Mark framework, in order to better understand what specific development may be required to achieve Outstanding Practice.

University of WinchesterWe are delighted to announce that the University of Winchester has become the first organisation to be awarded the Social Enterprise Outstanding Practice status.

Assessment and Compliance Manager Richard Cobbett, who was responsible for assessing the University, said: “The Social Enterprise Gold Mark sets standards of social enterprise excellence, which an organisation can work with to help raise their performance and achieve recognition for the highest levels of best practice in what it means to be an excellent social enterprise.

The University of Winchester have held the Gold Mark for several years now, and in the intervening period between assessments, have continued to build upon the levels of excellence they originally reached, particularly in the criteria of stakeholder engagement and reporting social impact. Their progress and achievements in these areas reinforce their award for Social Enterprise Gold Mark Outstanding Practice, the first organisation to have achieved this, and the evidence suggests there is much to come from them as a result of these efforts.”

Our accreditation portfolio provides a pathway for development for all social enterprises, from those just establishing themselves to those who are beacons of a broad range of best practice. Any social enterprise committed to continuous improvement and external scrutiny can engage with the framework to help develop and reinforce recognition of their good practice against clear and robust standards.

If you have any questions about the Social Enterprise Gold Mark and assessment framework please get in touch.

Photo of a woman sat at a desk in front of a laptop showing free recruitment toolkit

Free recruitment toolkit for social sector organisations

Roots HR logoRoots HR CIC is giving away a Recruitment Toolkit, worth £399, jam-packed full of useful guidance, templates, tools and a training webinar to support your social sector organisation.

The Toolkit is aimed at helping small social sector organisations to:

  • Understand and meet minimum legislative requirements in recruiting employees
  • Apply good practice whilst enabling an appropriate level of flexibility in their approach to recruitment
  • Respond effectively, strategically and operationally, to internal and external change
  • Attract and appoint the best possible candidates
  • Treat applicants fairly in line with equality of opportunity and with transparency and accountability
  • Maintain the minimum possible cost and administrative burden balanced against the direct and indirect financial costs of getting the recruitment process wrong.

What’s included in the Toolkit?

  • Toolkit documents:
    • Introduction
    • Contents
    • Guidance notes – direction on implementing the Toolkit
    • Example recruitment process – provides the steps in a typical recruitment process
    • Recruitment toolkit training presentation
    • Roots HR 1 hour free voucher
  • Template documents – These are the main templates you will need to implement this process. They are provided in Microsoft Word and Excel so they can be edited and formatted to the way you wish to use them:
    • Job description and person specification
    • Application form
    • Applicant tracking template
    • Advert template
    • Shortlisting template
    • Example wording for Out of Office Message on recruitment email inbox
    • Unsuccessful at shortlisting letter or email
  • Training webinar – use this yourself and to train your colleagues on the use of the Toolkit in your organisation
  • 1 hour free voucher – free HR consultancy support from Roots HR in implementing this Toolkit in your organisation, should you require us.

Click here to order your FREE Recruitment Toolkit.

 

Forward Carers awards and accolades - collection of awards' badges

Recent awards success for West Midlands carer support service

Forward Carers logoForward Carers, a West Midlands based Carer and family support organisation, has recently had their good work recognised with several awards and accolades.

As well as being Highly Commended by the judges in our Making a Mark competion, Forward Carers also scooped two awards in recent weeks and were named a runner-up in another:

  • Winner of Best Innovation Award at the Working Families Best Practice Awards for the development of the UK’s first 3-in-1 Carers Card
  • Winner of Third Sector of the Year Award at the Birmingham Post Business Awards, in recognition of the extra efforts they went to during the Covid pandemic
  • Runner-up for Best Community Campaign in the SMK National Campaigner Awards in recognition of their Carers’ Voice Unsung Heroes Campaign

To find out more, visit the Forward Carers website.

Making a Mark competition winner badge

2021 Making a Mark competition winner

Today, we are excited to reveal the final winner of our 2021 Making a Mark competition, which celebrates and recognises the incredible impact created by social enterprises during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We usually announce the competition winner at a special awards reception at our annual conference, but, like many events over the last year, this celebration has been moved online. This year, we are excited to be working with our media partner Pioneers Post to showcase the fantastic stories of impact that characterise the social enterprise sector.

Beyond Recovery logoWe are delighted to announce the winner of the 2021 Making a Mark competition is… Beyond Recovery!

The judges were really impressed with Beyond Recovery’s entry (video below), especially as a fairly new social enterprise, which had to adapt quickly when the Covid restrictions meant they weren’t able to deliver their offender rehabilitation programmes in prisons.

On being notified of their success, Beyond Recovery founder Jacqueline Hollows said: “We are delighted to be the winner of the Making a Mark competition. This award means so much to us all after a year of hard work and dedication to supporting our beneficiaries in new and innovative ways. We were also very impressed with the other finalists and wish them all the best in their endeavours and acknowledge the amazing work they are doing.”

You can find out more about Beyond Recovery in a special competition showcase in Pioneers Post.

Forward Carers logoIn addition to Beyond Recovery, the judges also wanted to recognise Forward Carers as a very close contender and have awarded them Highly Commended status.

As Pauline Gannon, Co-Founder of Social Impact Ireland and one of the judges, explained: “I loved how the Foward Carers video gave a voice to so many. They brought you to the heart of their social enterprise and the work they do. It was a very well laid out story and explanation, which showed how they rose to all challenges and showed great adaptability and resilience.”

Beyond Recovery were shortlisted as finalists alongside four other organisations, and we would like to extend our congratulations to the other finalists:

  • Montage of company logosHope Enterprises
  • Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise
  • University of Winchester

Our thanks go to our external judging panel for their time and support:

Celebrating the social enterprise response to Covid-19

After a break last year due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we are excited that our annual Making a Mark competition has returned for 2021.

Earlier this year, we invited our social enterprise community to share their ‘Story of 2020’, which illustrates how they have responded to the demands and challenges created by Covid-19 – i.e. how they are ‘Making a Mark’.

We were really impressed with the quality and variety of submissions, which were scored by an external judging panel, made up of representatives from across the social business sector, including Tim West from Pioneers Post and Ali Ward of Social Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber (SEYH).

We are now delighted to announce the below shortlist:

  • Montage of company logosBeyond Recovery
  • Forward Carers
  • Hope Enterprises
  • Peninsula Dental Social Enterprises
  • University of Winchester

Entries were judged according to how engaging they were in describing the key role of social enterprises in the fight against Covid-19.

Click here to view the entries from each of the finalists.

The winner will be announced in June, with a special competition showcase feature in the Pioneers Post online magazine.

The State of Us 2021

The State of Us; Powerful Communities and Economic Democracy

Real Ideas logoA ground-breaking group of social enterprises, co-ops, think tanks, networks and funders, including Real Ideas, ask you to join them for four focused online sessions exploring The State of Us, which will look at how people are building power and economic democracy in different contexts: our work, in our public spaces and in environmental action.

The State of Us is for anyone working on social, environmental, racial and economic justice, democracy and power at a local level across the UK, whether through local enterprise, community organising, activism, third sector, or local government. The conference will consider big questions, such as:

  • What role do community-focused, economic actors have in building powerful communities?
  • What is best practice?
  • Who are our allies and who shares our values?
  • How can we organise better?
  • What does democracy look like in everyday areas of our economy such as work, public spaces and the production of the goods we consume?
  • How do communities actively create power, within and beyond authority?

The conference is split across four sessions, starting on 20th April. At each of the three lead up sessions, participants will hear from four different activist practitioners, presenting their case studies linked to the session theme and exploring different approaches for discussion. The presentations will be followed by a Q&A and break-out sessions. There will be final discussion to share what has been learnt and decide on next steps.

Click here to find out more and to book your place.

Photos of groups benefitting from Charity Bank loans

Charity Bank secures new investment to fund surge in loan approvals

Charity Bank logoCharity Bank, the loans and savings bank for positive social change, has secured £1m in new equity investments from two investors.

The Samworth Foundation has become the newest shareholder of Charity Bank with an investment of £500k.  In addition, existing Charity Bank shareholder, Barrow Cadbury Trust, has increased their total investment in the bank by £500k to £750k.

The new investments are timely, coming as Charity Bank announces record new lending commitments in H2 2020, approving £49m of loans, the highest amount of new loan approvals over a six-month period in the history of the bank.  Demand for Charity Bank loans is high and continues to grow; with an additional £23m of loans approved in the first quarter of 2021.  Charity Bank has now made over £350m in loans to charities and social enterprises since it was founded in 2002.

To meet the growing demand for repayable finance, including the significant unmet demand for unsecured funding, Charity Bank aims to raise at least £3m in ordinary share capital from new and existing social investors by 2022.  For every £1m invested, Charity Bank can raise around £7m of deposits and thereby make around £8m of social loans.  When these loans are repaid, these funds can be recycled again and again, generating even greater multiples of social impact.

Ed Siegel Charity BankEd Siegel, Chief Executive, Charity Bank, said: “Since we emerged from the first lockdown in mid-2020, we have seen a sustained surge in loan applications from charities and social enterprises looking for support on projects, in part due to a reduced appetite for lending to the sector from mainstream lenders.  

As we emerge from the current crisis, the specialist financing and support that Charity Bank is able to deliver is going to be needed more than ever.  The attraction of new equity investment remains a top priority for Charity Bank as this is an essential component that will determine our ability to continue to meet the financing needs of the social sector into the future.”

There is growing interest in social investment from trusts and foundations in the use of repayable finance alongside grant finance.  The recent Association of Charitable Foundations report, ‘Investment: The Pillars of Stronger Foundation Practice’ suggests that a strong foundation ‘considers how investments can be used to advance the foundation’s mission over and above finance for grant-making’.

Charity Bank’s 2020 social impact study illustrates its influence on its charity and social enterprise borrowers: 69% reported that their Charity Bank loan enabled growth in their service, 81% said their project could not have gone ahead without the loan, while 42% said that the financing actually helped to keep their organisation afloat.

Tessa Durham, Grants Manager, Samworth Foundation, said: “We recognise the importance of blended finance solutions to support charities to flourish.  We see Charity Bank as a strategic partner as we work together to support organisations become more resilient, manage risks and be better positioned to meet the future needs of their communities.” 

Erica Cadbury, Chair, Barrow Cadbury Trust, said: “We see this investment as a means to promote social justice and further develop the social investment market as an additional and vital resource for the social sector.  Charity Bank has proven that its model of lending to charities and social enterprises is a highly effective way to strengthen and grow impact-led organisations, leaving these organisations better placed to address the many pressing social issues facing people and society today.” 

Enterprise Development Programme logo

Enterprise Development Programme supports social enterprise to gain accreditation

Second Shot Coffee logoSecond Shot Coffee, a social enterprise that trains, employs, and supports people affected by homelessness, has met recognised standards of good practice to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark.

The Social Enterprise Mark is an externally assessed accreditation, which provides an independent guarantee that an organisation has met sector-agreed criteria and is operating as a genuine social enterprise, committed to creating positive social change.

Second Shot Coffee was supported to apply for accreditation through the Enterprise Development Programme, which aims to support charities and social enterprises to become more financially resilient by developing new enterprise models, or by growing existing ones.

The Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) is funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment and delivered by a coalition of national partners, including Homeless Link, which is the delivery partner for the homelessness sector. As part of the programme, Homeless Link worked with Julius Ibrahim, founder of Second Shot Coffee, to identify which support could help them grow their enterprise activity to become more financially sustainable.

Murphy Hopkins-Hubbard, Enterprise Development Manager at Homeless Link, suggested to Julius that accreditation may be beneficial for Second Shot Coffee and the EDP grant supported him to apply for the Social Enterprise Mark. After an independent assessment process to ensure the organisation met the sector-agreed criteria, which defines what it means to be a social enterprise, Second Shot Coffee was awarded the Social Enterprise Mark in early February 2021.

Murphy Hopkins-HubbardMurphy said: “We have worked with 20 homelessness organisations this year as part of the Enterprise Development Programme and each of them has undergone diagnostic consultations to understand what support would be most valuable. It’s so exciting to see Julius’s work with developing Second Shot Coffee recognised through the Social Enterprise Mark. We hope to find this accreditation boosts the credibility of the organisation as well as boost opportunities for partnerships.”

Second Shot Coffee was set up to tackle negative misconceptions and lack of understanding around homelessness. By providing employment and training to individuals that have been failed by society, it aims to eliminate these perceptions and bring people closer together, and in doing so improve the long-term life outcomes and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness.

Julius IbrahimOn being awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, Julius Ibrahim said “Creating meaningful impact has been at the core of Second Shot Coffee since we opened in 2016. It’s amazing to now have the Social Enterprise Mark to underpin that dedication and to highlight the work we do. Going forward we’re excited to grow within the community and work with new partners to shout about the importance of social businesses as we progress on to the next phase of the Second Shot story.”

To find out more about Second Shot Coffee click here.

To find out more about Homeless Link and the Enterprise Development Programme click here.

Picture of bags of produce with text: grow your sustainable food business

Support for sustainable food businesses to grow

Are you a sustainable food business eager to grow?

Impact Hub King’s Cross is seeking ethical food businesses to join Feeding the City: Accelerate, a 6-month programme to help your social or environmental-driven food enterprise reach the next stage of growth and scale your impact. 

The programme brings together thought leaders in food sustainability, large-scale buyers, enterprise support providers and investors with the shared goal of supporting social or environmental impact-driven food enterprises with B2B revenue streams to grow and flourish.

Access expert business analysis, mentoring and support from experienced coaches and industry heavyweights, and the Impact Hub global network of 16.5k members. You’ll have the opportunity to meet and network with buyers, including supermarket chains, restaurants and major contract catering companies.

Application deadline: 2nd April 2021.

Visit the Impact Hub King’s Cross website to find out more and apply.

Image of people sat at desks in a co-working space

Looking for an inspiring co-working space in London?

Have you planned your workspace for 2021?

Impact Hub King's Cross co-working spaceImpact Hub King’s Cross brings social entrepreneurs together through an inspiring coworking office. They are part of one of the largest impact-driven networks, with 100+ Hubs across 50+ countries. After almost a year of  Zoom struggles and WFH isolation, they want to help you return to a motivating and supportive workspace once out of lockdown.

They’re offering fellow accredited social enterprises an exclusive offer of:

  • 10% discount on all co-working and fixed desk memberships for the first 6 months
  • FREE 3-month virtual Connect membership

As well as joining a thriving impact-led community, you can take advantage of outstanding business support, meeting room discounts, and smart perks, and direct access to 16.5k+ Impact Hub global members.

Are you part of a team? Fixed desks are an affordable solution to office rent, where you can have a dedicated seat for each team member, or rotate to keep things flexible.

The best part is, while times are still uncertain you can schedule and delay your start date at the Hub.

Curious to discover if an impact-driven workspace is right for you? Just get in touch with their Community Manager Sally. You can also find out more on the Impact Hub King’s Cross website.

Millfields Trust logo on a floral background

How Millfields Trust has supported tenants through the pandemic

Social landlord Millfields Trust has commended their business tenants on their commitment, business acumen, diversity and bravery throughout this pandemic. A situation we all hope not to see again in our lifetime for many reasons, but for business an incredibly difficult time for many.

With a wide range of businesses residing at the Millfields Trust premises, some have been hit harder than others. During this time of uncertainty, Millfields Trust itself has had to adjust and adopt working practices to ensure business continuity. Their priority remains their community of Stonehouse in Plymouth, their tenants and many other stakeholders.

Throughout this time, they have provided support to tenants and changed the way they do things through the following actions:

  • Regular contact from all staff members, ensuring tenants know the support available from the Government regarding available financial support. Many have welcomed a friendly chat as well
  • A competition for a free office makeover
  • Given the buildings and grounds a makeover
  • Each tenant  received a “welcome back” gift after the first lockdown
  • In partnership with Nudge, provided Genesis as a base to increase Wi-Fi for the local Stonehouse community, thanks to Pete at Outersight
  • Table and chairs in a garden covered by a sun awningCreated a new outside meeting space for anybody to use
  • Financially supported tenants where possible
  • Froze rental prices this financial year to continue financial support to tenants
  • Supported tenants who have made the choice to reduce overheads and make the decision to work from home
  • Flexible office spaces have enabled them to accommodate tenants wishing to downsize or expand to meet business growth
  • Office space with a sign on the wall saying 'The Plant Room'Created additional co-working space to meet demand and social distancing guidelines with the added introduction of fixed desks
  • Launched a new website and created regular blogs to keep their audience informed and up to date with latest news
  • Contributed to the `Small Business Toolkit` in partnership with the Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
  • Produced a Millfields Trust Business Start-up guide for people wishing to start their own business
  • All buildings are Covid Secure, including Conferencing facilities.

Millfields Trust has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure their business premises continue to work for all tenants and they very much look forward to the days when the buildings are once again bustling with activity.

Renaisi logo

Outsourced, ethical finance and back office services for the VCSE sector

Renaisi can make your back office and finance processes more efficient, by streamlining processes and taking day-to-day tasks off your hands, resulting in time and cost savings for your organisation.

Finance and Back Office Support Services

Renaisi understands the world you operate in and the challenge of managing finance or administrative tasks with small teams that focused on your social purpose.

Their finance and back office support is designed to suit impact businesses, charities and other VCSE organisations so you focus on your mission.

What you get

  • Review and design your finance functions and processes
  • Set up cloud-accounting software and relevant automation add-ons
  • Provide relevant training and ongoing support
  • Virtual CFO, bookkeeping and month-end accountancy
  • Accounts payable, receivable and cash flow management
  • Business planning, strategy and operational advisory
  • Back office support, payroll and pension management

Why choose social?

It matters not just what you buy, but also where and who you buy from!

As a social enterprise, Renaisi is driven by impact and 100% of our profit is reinvested back into our work. They are an accredited social enterprise and a Living Wage employer and can help you to procure ethically and sustainably.

Visit the Renaisi website to find out more.

Start something badge

How RIO is helping businesses determined to Start Something great

Life-changing technology, seaweed farming, transforming old plastic waste and a twist on artisan gin are just some of the brilliant new business ideas which are getting much needed expert help to flourish during the Covid-19 pandemic in Devon and Cornwall.

RIO logoOver the next twelve months, twenty-five new and fledgling projects will take part in the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO) Start Something initiative – a new business incubator that provides support for brilliant new enterprises, side hustles and pet projects with potential.

When the shout went out for people to take part, the plan was to help ten emerging entrepreneurs. But the quality and breadth of ideas that poured in changed that. With such a high calibre of entries to the programme, RIO made the decision to take 25 businesses onto the programme.

These new projects, some run by people with no previous business experience, will now get access to specialist facilities, co-working spaces, expert business support mentors, events, workshops, webinars and one-to-one coaching. They’ll also have the opportunity to connect with partners, including Crowdfunder to test ideas with the public and raise investment. All this, plus the support the 25 businesses taking part will give each other.

As well as £3,000 pounds’ worth of business support from RIO, they will also get a three-monthly introductory membership of the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.

Lindsey Hall, CEO of RIO, reflected that when Lockdown One hit, action was needed: “The pandemic has changed our lives, the way we work and what matters most. Back in March, we shut our buildings. Challenging as it was, it gave us time to think and ask some difficult questions. Could we share the facilities we have? Did other people need them? Should we stop doing some things ourselves? Yes! was the answer and Start Something the solution.”

The 25 businesses being helped are hugely varied. They include Chameleon Gin, a Cornish artisan gin where you can create bespoke drinks by adding a sachet of hand-pressed botanicals. Precious Plastics Plymouth and Tavistock, which uses technology to transform unwanted plastic into new, useful objects, and Bake Away, combatting social isolation through baking.

Gin being poured into a highball glass with a fire in the backgroundGeorgina Moss, founder of Cornish-based Chameleon Gin, is thrilled with the support: “During lockdown/not lockdown/lockdown, it’s been really difficult to behave like an ordinary business and go and meet other people. Real Ideas has provided an awesome platform for this which everyone on the course has been grateful for. Being able to talk to other start-ups and find support and encouragement really helps – as working from home can be so isolating.”

Visit the RIO website to find out more about these innovative new businesses.

Photo a dental team around a dental chair

Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise recognised in NHS Parliamentary Awards

Peninsula Dental Social EnterprisePeninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) has been recognised as the South West Regional Winner in The Health Equalities Award category of the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2020 for its successful Community Clinic, which supports vulnerable patients who are experiencing homelessness in Plymouth.

The award, which can only be nominated through a Member of Parliament, recognises the work that the clinic, run by a small team of professionals from Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise and local agencies and associations, is providing a number of patients who are currently experiencing homelessness within the city with urgent and routine dental care.

Luke Pollard MP, who nominated PDSE for the award, says: “I’m delighted that Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise’s good work is being recognised on a national stage. We have a real national success story in Plymouth and I want us to tell the whole country that Plymouth not only has one of the best dental schools in the land but that it lives its values on access, innovation and equality.”

Robert Witton, CEO of PDSE and Director of Social Engagement and Community-based Dentistry in the University of Plymouth’s Peninsula Dental School says: “On behalf of PDSE I would like to thank Luke Pollard MP for nominating us for this award. We are absolutely committed to addressing oral health inequalities in local communities and helping those who need it most through the Community Clinic. I am grateful to all of our partners for making this initiative so successful.”

PDSE are now shortlisted for the national award, which will be announced at a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster in July 2021.

The Community Clinic began in January 2018 initially by treating people experiencing homelessness, expanding within the last year to include individuals using drug and alcohol services, as well as vulnerable women who are at risk of having multiple children removed from their care.

As a committed social enterprise, PDSE currently provides this service as a pro bono contribution to the local community as part of its mission to ensure access to dental care for groups who may feel excluded from mainstream dentistry.

Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise is committed to improving dental health in the South West through treatment, education, community and training. Created by the University of Plymouth in 2013, PDSE runs the University’s four Dental Education Facilities throughout Devon and Cornwall and is a NHS training clinic for its dental profession students, including dentists, dental nurses and hygiene therapists, and postgraduate students on specialist courses such as restorative dentistry. The social enterprise was recognised in the 2020 NatWest SE100 Social Business Top 100 Index.

University of Westminster launches first industry-backed Social Enterprise MSc

To coincide with Social Enterprise Day (19th November), the University of Westminster has launched a new Social Enterprise MSc, which is the first course of its kind to gain official endorsement from the social enterprise sector.

We have been involved in the development of the course and facilitated a number of focus group sessions with sector representatives to inform the course content and structure. We are proud to endorse this course, which we believe will equip students with a practical toolset combining the theory, knowledge and skills to make a positive difference through social enterprise.

The course, which can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two, is designed for people with an interest in or already working within existing social enterprises, as well as social entrepreneurs, advisors, officials, and sector representatives. It offers an opportunity to gain a formal qualification, learning from other participants working in the sector and interacting with established social enterprises and their advocates.

Talking about the course, Course Director Dr Joy Tweed said:

Dr Joy TweedIf the pandemic has taught us anything it is that businesses need to adapt to the new normal. Consumers are looking for brands and organisations which are acting ethically, sustainably and empathetically in today’s unsettling world. And, whilst social enterprise isn’t a new concept, it’s certainly gathered momentum in recent years. Given its disruptive nature, it is an approach to business that is well-equipped to support the enormous challenges now facing our society. 

“Social enterprises have the power to deliver the changes now being demanded by society. Here at the University, we’re committed to supporting a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals. We are also committed to empowering people from disadvantaged backgrounds or minorities. Our Masters course is purposefully practical and ‘of the moment’. We don’t just teach you the theory and concepts surrounding social enterprise, but you’ll also develop the essential skills and abilities needed to lead, support or create sustainable social enterprises that not only deliver value to their customers and stakeholders, but also create a positive impact in the communities they seek to serve.”

Lucy Findlay MBE, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said: “We are delighted to provide endorsement for Westminster Business School’s MSc Social Enterprise. During our 10-year track record in social enterprise accreditation, we have often been frustrated at the lack of clearly- focused social enterprise education. It’s great to see a Master’s course that combines academic rigour and practicality within a very engaging format. I hope that it will encourage a diversity of applications from people in all walks of life to develop the breadth of their knowledge in both setting up and working in an existing social enterprise.”

Click here to learn more about social enterprise at the University of Westminster.

Photo of children and teachers in a classroom

Launch of Thriving Lives toolkit to boost support for Service children

A self-reflection tool for schools to consider their support for children in Armed Forces families has been launched today (Tuesday 20 October 2020) by the Service Children’s Progression Alliance (SCiP Alliance), which is hosted by the University of Winchester.

Underpinned by rigorous research and thoroughly tested in schools, the Thriving Lives Toolkit provides schools with a framework of seven principles through which to reflect on their practice and a three-tier set of Continuing Professional Development resources.

The resources in the toolkit have been developed in collaboration with a range of partners across the UK and consist of:

  • an introductory animation;
  • a detailed resource introducing the evidence base, what schools can do to support their Service children and who can help and;
  • school case studies.

The toolkit launched at an online event on Tuesday 20th October, where the audience of policymakers, researchers, charities and school, college and university practitioners heard from the researchers and from schools and other stakeholders involved in the pilot. There was also a policy panel and an opportunity to learn more about the context for Service children’s lives and to hear from partnerships working directly with Service children.

University of Winchester research found that ‘it is in the realm of up to four out of 10 children who, if in the general population would go to university, do not go if they are from a military family’ (McCullouch and Hall, 2016).

Phil Dent“Service children have unique contributions and challenges. These young people are underrepresented in higher education and the University, through its access and outreach activities and its leadership of the SCiP Alliance’s national work, is seeking to change that,” said Phil Dent, Director of the SCiP Alliance.

“Discontinuity in learning, relationships and opportunities due to the complex and highly individual interplay of school transition and separation from parents can have a negative effect on Service children’s achievement, progression, and mental health and wellbeing.

“The SCiP Alliance and its partners understand the importance of ensuring Service children’s voices are at the heart of our work and have been sharing their approaches in this year-long project. Our vision is for policymaking and practice to be informed by evidence, at the heart of which are the voices of Service children.”

Click here to access the Thriving Lives Toolkit.

Photo of Louise van Rhyn announcing she has been named Influencer of Influencers™ by The Africa Brand Summit

Dr Louise van Rhyn named Influencer of Influencers™ for 2020

The Africa Brand Summit has named Dr Louise van Rhyn, CEO of leadership and education non-profit, Symphonia for South Africa and founder of its flagship programme Partners for Possibility (PfP), as its Influencer of Influencers™ for 2020.

Since the Africa Brand Summit’s inauguration in 2018, this prestigious accolade has been awarded by the summit’s convener at his or her discretion to individuals, corporations, non-profits and other organisations that truly stand out and play a remarkable role in society by, amongst others, building bridges between troubled communities, speaking truth to power in order to push back against actions that hurt the global reputation of countries on the African continent and coming up with extraordinary approaches to solving Africa’s challenges. The purpose of the Africa Brand Summit is to establish an Africa-based global destination image ‘research and advisory service’ to provide globally applicable best practice in destination rebranding, positioning and destination reputation management.

As the 2020 recipient of the Influencer of Influencers™ award, Louise is among the likes of South Africa’s Chief Justice, Mogoeng Mogoeng, and former Public Protector, Professor Thuli Madonsela, who both received the award in 2018.

‘‘We applaud Louise’s tenacity and tireless dedication to creating and building the Partners for Possibility programme over the past 10 years. This is great opportunity to publicly acknowledge celebrate and amplify her invaluable contribution towards a more just, equitable and socially cohesive, South Africa,.’ says Dorcas Dube, Marketing and Communication Manager for Symphonia for South Africa.

Partners for Possibility logoPfP brings together skilled business leaders and school principals of under resourced schools in 12-month programme of leadership development for both partners. Together, the partnership receives world class leadership training and the support of similar partnerships, while they apply their new skills and existing abilities and tap into their networks to tackle the unique challenges faced by schools in South Africa. To date, over 1 million learners are attending over 1,300 schools across South Africa in which the leadership has been strengthened through PfP.

The multi-award winning programme was founded in 2010 when Louise became the first business leader to partner with a principal in an effort to improve a school’s education outcomes. Her partnership with Ridwan Samodien, principal of Kannemeyer Primary School in Grassy Park, Cape Town, led to positive change at the school and the community at large.

The school’s success, and the success of this first partnership, has been the model for the PfP programme that exists today, and the lessons learnt along the way have been applied to subsequent partnerships, as school principals and business leaders continue strive to improve education in South Africa together.

For more information about the PfP programme, visit www.PfP4SA.org

 

Green Minds logo

Community businesses in Plymouth receive funding to grow green

Several Devonport and Stonehouse community businesses have been awarded a share of €50,000 to help restore nature and connect communities with Plymouth’s green spaces, as part of the Green Minds project.

Grant winners will each receive up to €10,000 and will work with project partners, Real Ideas Organisation, to deliver their business proposals and bring long term benefits to people and environment.

Led by Plymouth City Council, Green Minds is a €4million project funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Urban Innovations Actions programme, that is  building a city wide movement to finding innovative solutions to rewilding our urban landscape, bringing people closer to nature, and a better quality of life for us all.

Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet member for Street Scene and the Environment, said: “I’m really pleased that these well-valued community businesses will receive funding as part of this great scheme. It will be fantastic to see what they can achieve in order to bring green space and nature closer to residents in Devonport and Stonehouse.”

This latest financial boost follows other successful schemes such as Empowering Places funded by Power to Change, and the ongoing Future Parks Accelerator, that have both been instrumental in nurturing a growing ecosystem of community businesses across the city. Providing social, environmental, and financial value, these organisations are collectively leading the way in building a fairer economy that is naturally regenerative.

Award winners include Stiltskin’s Soapbox Children’s Theatre in Devonport Park, which hope to create a nature rich Community Art Garden to run theatre productions; and Pollenize CIC, which will be bringing live video of bees inside high-tech hives to public spaces. A full list of grant winners can be found here.

Snapdragons CIC, one  of the grant winners based in Victoria Park, said “We’re so excited to have been successful in our Green Minds Bid – this money is a real game changer for us as it allows us to buy in the rest of the soil we need…. and allow us to buy in our polytunnel and sheds… We are so looking forward to reviving the site, improving the biodiversity in the area and bringing communities together through nature.”

Photo of two beekeepers in protective clothing looking in a beehivePollenize CIC said “We are really proud to have been awarded funding for our project. We will be lifting the lid on the hive, revealing the world of the honey bee, and making nature more visible.”

Tom Butt from Real Ideas said “A new wave of businesses are emerging in Plymouth that are leading the way to build back better, regenerating our environment and communities. Not content with the ‘old normal’, these social entrepreneurs are caring for and restoring nature for us all, whilst providing livelihoods and economically benefiting the city. We are excited to work with them at Real Ideas.”

If you want to know more about the grant winners or to get involved in building a green movement in Plymouth then please get in touch at https://realideas.org/about-us/our-work/green-minds/ or attend the upcoming webinar ‘Eco Biz – Meeting Plymouth’s Green Minds’.

 

Yellow background with blue text: Why go back to normal when you can go back to better!

HISBE launch new campaign to engage people in better food and farming

Brighton’s rebel supermarket HISBE offers up some positive news in these challenging times. They’re announcing the opening of their second store and acknowledging that this is also a time of great opportunity to go “back to better” food and farming.

HISBE Food is a social enterprise supermarket based in Brighton, with a big focus on local suppliers, packaging free food, values-led brands and sustainable shopping options. HISBE’s purpose is to transform the British food industry, by reinventing the way supermarkets do business.

Photo of an empty store front with posters announcing a new HIBSE store opening in January 2021In January HISBE successfully raised £450,000  for expansion, through Triodos Bank’s crowdfunding platform and planned to open their second store, in Worthing, in May. The Coronavirus pandemic changed that, but post-lockdown, HISBE has announced a January 2021 opening date for the store and a new Back to Better campaign to engage people in better food and farming. The campaign is about showing more people what they do and inviting them to switch from their regular supermarket to HISBE.

There’s renewed hope, because public interest in good food has shifted due to Coronavirus, at a time when it’s more important than ever to tackle the issues in the food industry.

Ruth Anslow, who launched HISBE’s pilot store in Brighton in 2013 with her sister Amy and their friend Jack, expresses gratitude and optimism in the emergence from lockdown:

“It’s been a crazy six months since March when, like for everyone else, a virus-shaped spanner was thrown into our works… no sooner had we signed a lease on the Worthing premises and raised the money to refit it, when everything changed. Our Brighton shop was suddenly in survival mode. But we were committed to staying open, to keep good food flowing, keep our staff in their jobs and protect our suppliers’ livelihoods. We’re grateful that the business has made it through this difficult time and happy to find there’s a sort of new appreciation for good food and independent food businesses.”

“So, these are uncertain times, but there is also opportunity,” she continued. “HISBE is delighted to announce that we will open our second store, in Worthing, in January 2021. And we’ve launched a new campaign called “back to better” to show more people what we do and invite them to switch from their regular supermarket to ours. After all, why go back to normal, when you can go back to better?”

Partners for Possibility is now a Vanguard member of the Million Lives Club

Partners for Possibility recognised for far-reaching impact in South Africa

Symphonia for South Africa is celebrating the inclusion of its flagship programme, Partners for Possibility (PfP), in the the Vanguard cohort of the Million Lives Club (MLC), a global initiative which recognises innovators and social entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact in addressing global development challenges.

In reaching this milestone, PfP has successfully scaled their solutions to impact the lives of over 1 million people. PfP first joined the Million Lives Club initiative as a Voyager Member in October 2019.

PfP Founder and CEO of Symphonia for South Africa Louise van Rhyn said: “We are humbled by this validation of the PfP programme that continues to have a transformative impact on the lives of our participants and their respective communities. We are eager to leverage the benefits of greater visibility, shared learning and the funding opportunities that come with being a Vanguard member, but also understand that a recognition of this nature and its associated benefits comes with even greater responsibility.”

PfP partners business leaders with principals from under-resourced schools in a year-long, collaborative and practical journey. Since 2011, the programme has impacted education outcomes in over 1000 schools in every province of South Africa by strengthening the leadership of school principals whose influence on the quality of teaching and learning in the school is pivotal. To date, this process has transformed the lives of over 1 million learners.

 

Heidi Fisher

What’s stopping you scaling your social enterprise? Or what has stopped you?

Heidi Fisher of Make an Impact CIC is undertaking some research to look at the barriers to scaling social enterprises – with a view to identifying if the barriers that women face are different.

Heidi is keen to speak to social entrepreneurs that:

  • Have scaled their social enterprise;
  • Have considered scaling their social enterprise and decided not to; or
  • Are planning on scaling their social enterprise

You can participate in the research in two ways:

  1. By arranging an interview (via zoom or telephone and approximately 20-30 minutes long) – please email heidi@heidiLFisher.com to arrange a convenient time
  2. By completing the online survey.

Heidi is aiming for the research to reflect the diverse nature of the social enterprise sector and would welcome the opportunity to hear about your experiences around scaling your social enterprise and any specific barriers you faced.

Charitable Travel Weekday Wellness

Free weekday wellness sessions for families this summer

New social enterprise travel agency Charitable Travel has launched a partnership with The Mintridge Foundation and Atlantic City USA to provide free, Olympic inspired, ‘Weekday Wellness’ sessions for families to help keep children active and learn about fitness and nutrition during the school holidays, with the opportunity to ask advice from world-class athletes.

Photo of a blonde woman in running gear running through a leafy avenue with her arms outspreadCharitable Travel Weekday Wellness is a series of live, online sessions, hosted by personal trainer and Charitable Travel Wellness Ambassador Jenny Tomei. The sessions will be held on Zoom at 8am every weekday from 13th July throughout the summer holidays.

Incorporating fun and flexible full bodyweight work outs and covering ideas and tips on diet and nutrition, the sessions will provide young people of all ages, abilities and physical capabilities with the chance to increase their fitness participation and create greater knowledge of health and wellbeing. The interactive sessions hosted by Jenny will also offer young people the opportunity to ask Olympic and Paralympic athletes’ advice.

The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport, working with sporting role models from a wide range of disciplines to develop confidence, resilience and create awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing. Over 40 team and individual athlete Mintridge Ambassadors will drop in to some sessions to answer questions from participants and parents can nominate children (aged between 9 – 18) for the chance to win a virtual Mintridge mentoring session with double Olympian Marilyn Okoro.

Charitable Travel is the first of its kind, social enterprise travel agency providing travellers with the unique opportunity to donate 5% of the cost of their holiday to a charity of their choice through a partnership with Just Giving. The sport empowerment charity The Mintridge Foundation has been selected as one of the travel company’s recommended charities for 2020 thanks to its fantastic work in engaging and mentoring young people across the UK, harnessing the power of positive sporting role models to improve lives. Atlantic City USA, a destination offering a wide range of sporting activities on the beach, water and boardwalk, is also partnering with the initiative to celebrate the importance of active lifestyles both at home and when on holiday.

Founder of Charitable Travel Melissa Tilling said:

Melissa Tilling“We have clear objectives to support local communities and are keen to embrace the need to keep talking about wellbeing, whether in fitness, mindfulness or nutrition. Charitable Travel’s Weekday Wellness will provide families with easy, free access to a daily session, Monday to Friday, covering a work-out, warm down, stretches and advice about the relationship we all have with food.

Whilst the sessions are free, we would love those taking part to make a small donation of £10 per week to The Mintridge Foundation through a special JustGiving link shared during sign-up”.

Alex Wallace, Managing Director & Founder of The Mintridge Foundation said:

Weekday Wellness is the perfect way to kickstart our partnership with Charitable Travel. Our mission is to promote greater physical and mental health through sport and this perfectly aligns. Having purpose and motivation over the past few months has been extremely difficult for so many and we are delighted to be joining the initiative to help so many build regular physical and mental wellbeing into their routines.”

To sign up to the free, Olympic inspired Charitable Travel Weekday Wellness sessions register at www.charitable.travel/weekday-wellness. Participation is free, however, those joining will be invited to donate £10 to The Mintridge Foundation to help support their work in communities across the country.

Photo of a train running along a track next to a river with mountains on the other side

Making travel a force for good

Charitable Travel logoA new type of travel business has launched – Charitable Travel is a social enterprise with the clear aim of ensuring travel is a force for good, helping holidaymakers combine their travel planning with support for charities in the UK and around the world.

Charitable Travel has a unique business model; the first nationally available Community Interest Company (CIC) social enterprise in the travel industry, it is a not-for-private-profit travel agency, which provides customers with the opportunity to book a holiday to anywhere in the world and donate a proportion of the holiday price to a UK registered charity of their choice through a platform partnership with JustGiving.

The concept is simple, Charitable Travel sacrifices travel agency commission. Therefore, when customers book a cruise or a holiday, they convert 5% of the total price of their trip into a donation to a charity of their choice through the dedicated JustGiving webpage. Empowering customers to share the pleasure that a holiday brings by supporting local communities both at home and abroad.

Marshall Simmonds, JustGiving’s Director of Sales and Partnerships, said: “The combination of the travel industry, an underlying social and charitable purpose and an effective mechanism for fundraising through JustGiving makes Charitable Travel a powerful opportunity for travel consumers wanting to make a real difference in personal giving at no extra cost when they book holidays, flights cruises and hotels.”

As a social enterprise, supporting those in need and aiding fundraising is at the heart of everything that Charitable Travel does, so customers can rest assured that every penny of profit generated is invested in good causes and charity partners can benefit through raising brand and campaign awareness as well as fund-raising support and securing donations.

Melissa Tilling, founder and CEO of Charitable Travel, who has more than 33 years’ experience in managing travel companies, said: “I have always been a fervent believer in the good that travel and tourism can bring to local communities in the destinations served and although the industry is facing an incomparable crisis right now, we are resilient. UK travellers are passionate about their holidays and determined they will travel again once it is safe to do so.

During the current COVID crisis we have seen an inspiring show of unity from people across the country, a true community spirit has arisen as we realise the importance of appreciating and supporting one another. Charitable Travel wants to help encourage a continuation of this more thoughtful mindset by helping travellers combine philanthropy with their holiday planning, providing the opportunity to donate part of their holiday cost to a much-needed charitable causes.
When customers are ready to start booking holidays again, we offer a new way to book that will ensure travel will be a force for good, regardless of the destination and travel type, because every booking creates a positive outcome for a charitable cause.”

Through the Just Giving platform, customers can choose their preferred charity to be the recipient of their holiday fund donation, however Charitable Travel is also seeking to work with a variety of partners to help raise the profile of campaigns and fund-raising needs amongst customers. Charities that would like to register interest in working with Charitable Travel for joint PR/marketing opportunities to reach holidaymakers should email help@charitable.travel.

Photo of a laptop and notepad on a rock on the Moors

Cosmic cuts 60,000 driving miles during Covid-19 lockdown

Cosmic logoDevon-based social enterprise Cosmic has cut 60,000 miles of driving during lockdown by transitioning to virtual skills training delivery. The company has a vision to inspire people to achieve success in the digital world, and has used the Covid-19 situation to alter the way they support communities in Devon and Somerset.

Over the course of 3 months since early March 2020, Cosmic has ceased all road travel. Ordinarily, the forty-strong team of Digital Skills Trainers, Technicians and Developers travel thousands of miles around the counties of the South West – helping businesses and communities to develop new digital skills.

Cosmic has become increasingly aware of the Carbon Footprint of this process, and has big ambitions to reduce their impact. In 2019, they planted 400 trees around Dartmoor to offset the unavoidable programme of travel, whilst accepting that offsetting alone would not be sufficient to minimise the harm to the environment.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, they have taken advantage of the lockdown, transitioning all face-to-face digital skills training and services to virtual sessions. The popularity has been enormous, with hundreds of small-business owners from the South West attending online courses over the ten weeks.

The result has been a saving of:

  • 60,000 miles of commuting and business travel – not driven
  • And 20 tonnes of CO2 – not released into the atmosphere
  • It would take 40 mature oak trees a year to capture this much carbon

The Covid-19 situation has accelerated Cosmic’s ambitions to become greener. Even if social distancing were fully removed, the Company aims to deliver more of its training remotely and significantly reduce staff-travel. Cosmic now wants to encourage all industries to rebuild themselves in a greener, more sustainable way.

The cost saving for Cosmic has been enormous. If other organisations could realise similar savings, the surplus funds could be utilised to enhance investment in digital resources and digital skills for staff, future-proofing businesses & organisations in our region.

Photo of the front entrance of the University of Winchester campus

University of Winchester set to welcome students back to campus in September

The University of Winchester is planning to welcome new and returning students onto its campus and into student accommodation at the start of the new academic year in September.

The University is putting in place a range of appropriate measures for a ‘Covid Safe Campus’ to ensure students and staff are safe. The plans were announced in a letter to staff, students and applicants.

For the whole of the next academic year (2020-2021), students will experience a combination of small group, on-campus sessions with large group teaching taking place online. Most courses at Winchester are already taught in small group settings, leaving the University well-placed to accommodate social distancing measures set out in national guidelines. Students required to continue shielding beyond the start of the academic year will receive additional online support to enable them to start their course.

The University is also setting up a new ‘Ask Winchester’ help desk for new and returning students, with a dedicated team in place to help make the transition to university as smooth as possible.

Professor Joy CarterVice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter CBE DL said: “I am pleased to confirm that the University is planning to be open in September to welcome new and returning students. Our plans are guided by national advice alongside our own passion for giving students the best possible experience at Winchester.

“Over the coming weeks we will be developing our plans further and will continue communicating these to our students. As with many aspects of our life in lockdown, we have all become used to different ways of interacting. Our top priority is that our students have a thoroughly enjoyable and safe time here. We will be working with Winchester Student Union and others in the city to explore ways to help students safely enjoy life as a student in the beautiful city of Winchester.”

More detailed information about how Winchester is preparing for September 2020 can be found on the University website.

Photo of two adults with a group of schoolchildren with banner saying 'We are celebrating 10 years of impact'

Partners for Possibility: 10 years of far reaching impact across South Africa

Symphonia for South Africa is celebrating 10 years since the launch of its flagship programme, Partners for Possibility, which was launched with the aim of developing leadership capacity among school principals and business leaders, reducing inequality in education and ultimately creating a more just, equitable and joyful future for all South Africans.

Partners for Possibility logoPartners for Possibility (PfP) is a nation building programme that partners school principals with business leaders on a carefully designed, 12-month leadership development programme, in which much of the learning and development takes place while business leaders and school principals work together in partnership to address challenges in under-resourced schools. Both partners attend a number of leadership training courses and facilitated sessions with other principals and business leaders. Through this, principals are empowered to embed their schools at the centre of their communities and to improve the quality of education being offered to our youth.

While meeting this need for skills development is a mammoth task, it is not an insurmountable one if the private sector offers its expertise and support. Without skilled leadership, schools cannot provide the quality of education that gives young South African’s the prospect of a bright future as productive members of society and the future workforce of the country.

This year, PfP marks 10 years of sustainable impact and innovation. Co-founders Dr Louise van Rhyn and Principal Ridwan Samodien courageously spearheaded this programme which has gone on to impact over a million lives across South Africa.

To put this into perspective, PfP has now reached 1,000+ under-resourced schools, 30 000+ teachers, 500,000+ families and 1 000 000+ learners, all within a 10-year period. This is of particular significance as it means that PfP is on track to realising its goal of impacting 2,000 schools by 2022. By achieving this, the programme will have reached 10% of the estimated 20,000 under-resourced schools in South Africa.

This significant milestone has coincided with the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. When schools closed due to the lockdown, nine million children normally fed through the government-funded National School Nutrition Programme were left hungry.

A group of people congregated into an open space with food parcelsMoved by the gravity of the situation, Louise initiated the Food 4 Hungry Children project, which sought to capture data on the food needs of learners and their families from a network of over 1,000 school principals part of the PfP programme. Through collaborations with Pick n Pay, FoodFoward SA, the Solidarity Fund and many more organisations, thousands of vulnerable learners and their families were able to receive food parcels.

For more information, visit www.PfP4SA.org.

Roots HR CIC extends free HR advice line services for employers

Roots HR logoRoots HR CIC has extended its FREE HR advice line services for the smallest social sector employers, funded by its trading surpluses.

Social sector employers with a turnover of under £50k p.a. can now receive up to 1 hour of FREE advice PER MONTH for COVID-19 related employment law and people management support.

This will continue through the furlough grant period, currently lasting until 30/6/20, but may be extended.

This is a broadening of the usual one-off free 1 hour of HR advice, provided by Roots HR to all social sector employers. This additional resource is offered to support the Boards and leadership teams responsible for the sustainability of the smallest and most vulnerable not-for-personal profit organisations during this unprecedented time.

Qualifying organisations wishing to access free advice should email hello@rootshr.org.uk or call 01562 840060 Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5pm.

Partners for Possibility logo

Maximising the Leadership Lessons from COVID-19

South African leadership development programme Partners for Possibility is working tirelessly to help prepare their community for a post Covid-19 world, by building a body of knowledge around the leadership learnings from Covid-19 for business leaders , school principals , community stakeholders and funders.

They are releasing a series of opinion pieces, which aim to maximise the leadership lessons that can be learnt from the current crisis:

Partners for Possibility Maximising the Leadership Lessons from COVID-19

Charity Bank: a bank for good

Social Investors Respond to COVID-19

Social investors realise that this will be a challenging time for the charities and social enterprises they work with, many of whom work with the most vulnerable people

Along with other social investors, Charity Bank has issued a joint statement on the COVID-19 outbreak:

Social Investors Respond to COVID-19: our support & commitment

We want to reassure all of the organisations we invest in that we will support you and be as flexible as possible in the coming months. We are actively working together on how we can adapt existing schemes and funds. We are also working with government and other funders to establish new programmes that may provide additional help. We recognise that grants and business support will be at least as important as social investment.

The most important message is to get in touch with your social investor if that hasn’t happened already:

  • if you have investment from one of us and think you may need support or flexibility, please get in touch; we will do our best to help
  • if you might need investment to help you through difficult trading, please speak to us

We have created a dedicated page on Good Finance which will be updated regularly with any new information (including on any emergency funding sources) as well as via our social media channels.

Signatories

Access
Architectural Heritage Fund
Arts & Culture Finance by NESTA
Big Issue Invest
Big Society Capital
CAF Venturesome
Charity Bank
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Ethex
Key Fund
NatWest Social & Community Capital
Northstar Ventures
Resonance
Social and Sustainable Capital
Social Investment Business
Social Investment Scotland
UnLtd

 

RIO Future Make workshops

Future Make workshops for 7-11 year olds in Plymouth

Future Make, presented by Real Ideas Organisation, is a holiday club in Plymouth that features a series of groundbreaking programmes and projects for children aged 7 – 11 years old. Get a taste of the future: flying drones, designing tech, creating digital immersive experiences and engineering extreme structures. There will be plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, try out new ideas and – above all – have an awesome time.

Workshops

  • Extreme Engineers Mon 30th March, 9:00am – 3:00pm – You will be an engineer, designing and building your own unique structures and landscapes of the future.
  • Remote Operators (Drones, RC Cars, Buggies) Tues 31st March, 9:00am – 3:00pm – What does it take to operate exciting remote technologies in order to capture footage of the future? (Involves plenty of drone flying and extreme fun!)
  • Ideas Designers Weds 1st April, 9:00am – 3:00pm – You will be a designer in the ‘ideas factory’, finding out about the creative potential of technology for good – and coming up with your own exciting ideas for the future.
  • Immersive Media Creators Thurs 2nd March, 9:00am – 3:00pm – Participants will become digital designers, creating unique immersive experiences through animation, digital mapping, sound design and projection.
  • Future Me* Fri 3rd March, 9:00am – 3:00pm – Participants will apply all they have learnt and explored in previous Future Make activity. They’ll then take on a challenge designed exclusively for them!

Children need to bring a packed lunch. Parents are welcome to come early for pick-up and watch some of the afternoon activity. This is a fully supervised activity with all the necessary safeguards in place. You can drop your child for a great day of learning and fun and enjoy the rest of the day!

The cost is £35 per child for one day or £150 per child for the whole week.

For more information and to book places, visit the Real Ideas Organisation website.

*Future Me” is dependent on having attended at least one Future Make holiday activity day or having been part of a 10-week Future Make club.

University of Winchester strategic vision

University of Winchester becomes member of UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

The University of Winchester has become the newest member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), underlining its commitment to tackling the significant global challenges the world now faces, including climate change.

The announcement follows the launch of the University’s new 10-year Strategic Vision 2030, which identifies its aim to help shape a better world and puts the climate emergency alongside its students’ success at its heart. The University’s Strategic Vision was developed to align with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Professor Joy CarterVice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter CBE DL, said: “We are delighted to become a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. As global challenges that are evolving by the day grow in number and intensity – from the climate emergency to global health crisis – they will seriously impact how future generations live and work and take care for the planet and all life.

As a university, we must step up to play our part and our Strategic Vision 2030 sets out how we will make a difference. Guided and driven by our values and a commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, it is our roadmap for how we will strive to have impact, be the difference and make the world a better place. Founded in 1840 to train teachers to teach in poor communities, the University has a lot to build on. Our vision is to be a global beacon for sustainability and social justice – in every aspect of what we do, from excellent teaching and learning, to driving up environmental standards across the board and bold, ethical decision-making.” 

Watch a short video about the University of Winchester’s Strategic Vision below:

The team at HISBE supermarket

HISBE looking to expand with crowdfunding campaign

HISBE logoHISBE Food CIC, a social enterprise and sustainable supermarket in Brighton, is targeting a £450,000 bond raise through an investment crowdfunding campaign on the Triodos Crowdfunding platform.

HISBE’s mission is to transform the food industry, by reinventing the way supermarkets do business. HISBE does things differently. You can do your whole shop at HISBE but you won’t find any big global brands on their shelves; instead you will find more ethical and considered versions of everyday products.

Ruth Anslow, who launched HISBE’s first Store in Brighton in 2013 with her sister Amy and their friend Jack, says: “Much of the UK food industry is reliant on intensive industrialised food production and cheap food produced with little regard for the environmental or social costs which have to be paid by society as a whole. The result has created a wasteful food system that is unsustainable.”

HISBE’s first store in Brighton has been open since 2013 and now has turnover of £1.8 million. HISBE (which stands for How it Should Be) has secured a site for the new store in Worthing and plans for it to open for business this summer. The crowdfunding campaign will raise money to fund the fit-out of the shop, provide working capital and cover the anticipated first year trading loss for the Worthing store. With a second shop, HISBE can scale the operation and reach financial stability.

Ruth continued “We’re really excited by this opportunity, we have a great site secured in Worthing and expanding to our second shop is something we have been working hard on for more than two years. We created HISBE to transform the UK’s food industry, because right now it just isn’t sustainable. We think supermarkets can be part of the solution instead of part of the problem and we are on a mission to reinvent the way supermarkets do business. We want to show that it is possible to buck convention and break the mould.”

The minimum investment for the bond offer is £50. The bond will pay 5% gross interest per year for its seven-year term. As with all investments, capital is at risk and returns are not guaranteed.

As a community interest company (CIC) HISBE has impact embedded into its governance and financing structure as well as through its operations and activities.

  • HISBE does not make big pay-outs to shareholders or directors, instead it puts money back into making the prices fair for customers and paying suppliers fairly.
  • HISBE staff all get contracted hours, paid the real living wage and 20% discount off their shopping. HISBE does not do zero-hour contracts or unpaid breaks.
  • HISBE invests back into the local economy. For every £1 HISBE spends, 58 pence is spent locally (in Sussex) on stock, wages and services.

Dan Hird, Head of Corporate Finance at Triodos Bank UK said “Triodos is an ethical and sustainable bank and we offer a more conscious approach to finance and banking. HISBE is doing much the same, making it easier for people to consume in a more sustainable way. It’s great that HISBE is ready to expand and we are delighted to be raising the capital to support it.”

Click here to find out more.

Charity Bank State of the Sector report

Charity Bank launches its
State of the Sector report

The social sector is feeling the pressure of meeting an increase in demand for services, while dealing with widespread budget cuts, new research from Charity Bank reveals.

Charity Bank polled 182 social sector leaders for its State of the Sector report, which found that 85% of charities expect demand for their services to grow over the next two years. However, 86% are concerned about future grant funding and 82% don’t think they’ll be able to sustain donations over that period.

Government policy continues to pose a challenge for 63% of respondents, while the sector is split on what Brexit means for them. Almost half (49%) think it will present issues, while 46% are unclear and 13% think it could create opportunities.

Ed Siegel Charity BankEd Siegel, Chief Executive, Charity Bank said: “The social sector is entering this new decade under a cloud of uncertainty, and with the majority of organisations worried that funding will be more difficult to come by, many are looking at alternative ways to generate income and this can increasingly involve repayable finance.

When Charity Bank was founded, the very idea of social investment was controversial – charities and social enterprises were expected to survive on hand-outs from the Government and the public, but today that’s an unrealistic goal. Almost two-thirds (62%) of the organisations we spoke to see social investment as an opportunity for growth. With the recent launch of the Impact Investing Institute, we’re also hoping that social investment will increasingly be seen as a great opportunity for investors that care about the impact that their money can have.”

Download the full report from: charitybank.org/2019

University of Winchester Vice-Chancellor appointed to UK Climate Commission

Professor Joy Carter DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, has been appointed as the University and GuildHE representative on the council of the Climate Commission for UK Higher and Further Education Leaders, which was launched on 13th November at Ravensbourne University, London.

The commission aims to be a catalyst for real action and long term change. It will develop an action plan in response to the government’s stated climate and environment emergency, which was declared on 1st May 2019. This comes after the University’s climate emergency declaration during September’s Global Climate Strike. The Climate Commission’s emergency framework will be drawn together to initiate a strategic sector-wide approach to tackle the most pressing climate issues. This framework will guide and support all UK and Irish universities and colleges to be net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

The University of Winchester’s work towards a sustainable future has earned the institution a place in the top 100 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings and Responsible Futures accreditation with the National Union of Students. Winchester student teachers are training to be among the world’s first United Nations accredited Climate Change Teachers.

“As a provider of higher education, it is the responsibility of the University to lead by example when it comes to tackling the climate agenda.” said Professor Carter. “We provide the tools for students to take charge of their futures. Together we are working to enhance climate change education, training, public awareness and access to information – recognising the importance of these factors is essential to preserving the natural world.”

The University is taking radical action to reduce its environmental impact – from pledging to eliminate the use of unnecessary single-use plastic by the end of 2020 and being carbon neutral by 2030, to opening a zero waste shop for staff, students and the local community early next year. All new developments across the estate meet the highest sustainability standards, no waste goes to landfill and all electricity comes from renewable sources. This includes the recently WELL Certified West Downs development, due to open in 2020. Additionally, all catering outlets across campus offer only Local, Independent, Fair and Ethical (LIFE) products and continue to encourage the use of reusable cups.

Professor Carter is joined on the Climate Commission council by:

  • Steve Frampton, AoC President, AoC representative;
  • Professor James Longhurst, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England and EAUC representative
  • Professor Judith Petts CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Plymouth and UUK representative

These education providers have been selected for their unique positions, in order to prepare their institution for, and act against, the climate crisis. A final report will be presented at COP26, the UN’s climate change summit, in Glasgow November 2020.

Partners for Possibility announced as Voyager Member of Million Lives Club

Symphonia for South Africa is pleased to announce that its flagship programme, Partners for Possibility (PfP), has been selected as an official member of the Million Lives Club (MLC), a global initiative that celebrates innovators and social entrepreneurs who are scaling impact in improving the lives of those living on less than $5 (approximately R74) a day.

Partners for Possibility logoPfP is an award-winning, internationally recognised initiative which partners business leaders with principals from under-resourced schools in a year-long, collaborative and very practical journey.

Since its inception in 2011, the programme has sustainably impacted education outcomes in over 1000 schools in every province of South Africa by strengthening the leadership capacity and boosting the confidence of school principals whose influence on the quality of teaching and learning in the school is pivotal. To date this process has positively transformed the lives of 1,035 principals and 1,035 business leaders, and approximately 28 375 teachers, 454 000 families and 908 000 learners.

In addition, Partners for Possibility is a Scale Leader, selected and recommended to the Million Lives Club by ReachScale, a global network that identifies and supports the most scalable solutions for social challenges.

Louise van Rhyn

Dr Louise van Rhyn

Upon receiving the news, PfP Founder and CEO of Symphonia for SA, Louise van Rhyn, said: “The PfP community is elated to learn of PfP’s inclusion in the Million Lives Club initiative. We are humbled by this latest validation of the PfP programme as an innovative, creative solution that has and continues to have a transformative impact on the lives of our participants and their respective communities.

Of course, we are excited about the many prospects and opportunities that come with being a Million Lives Club member. However, we realise that a recognition of this nature and its associated benefits come with great responsibility.

We are now more than ever determined to reach more of South Africa’s 20 000 under-resourced schools, thereby impacting more lives for the better.’’

Million Lives Club logo

The MLC comprises three cohorts of innovators and social entrepreneurs. These include the MLC Vanguard which celebrates those who have directly impacted 1,000,000+ clients with their innovations, MLC Voyager which recognises innovations expected to impact 1,000,000+ clients within 18 months and MLC Pioneer which highlights innovations that have scaled to meet the needs of 40%+ of their target populations.

As a one of the club’s first Voyager members, PfP is well on its way to reaching the 1,000,000 client mark within the next 18 months. As it stands, an impressive total of 938 455 lives have been impacted through the programme.

This announcement underscores a year of accelerated growth for the PfP programme. In April, PfP reached an important milestone when it launched its 1000th partnership. This is of particular significance as this means that PfP is on track to realising its goal of impacting 2000 schools by 2020. By achieving this, the programme will have reached 10% of the estimated 20 000 under-resourced schools in South Africa in just 10 years.

The MLC recognises the importance of a customer-centric focus in global development and believes that collectively highlighting social innovators that have reached transformative numbers of clients will act as a powerful platform to encourage the uptake and scaling of innovations for global good, everywhere.

The club seeks to nurture innovation ecosystems by recognising innovators and social entrepreneurs whose innovations have scaled to serve 1 million customers, or are rapidly approaching this milestone. It is an initiative inspired by members of the International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) and supported by a growing partnership of leading development organisations.

For more information on PfP progamme, please visit www.PfP4SA.org. Learn more about the Million Lives Club by visiting https://millionlivesclub.org/.

Aston Productivity through People 2020 programme

Aston Productivity through People Programme 2020

The Aston Business School Productivity through People programme is back for 2020 and is now accepting applications.

Productivity through People is a unique six-month national programme that has stemmed from research into the UK’s productivity level. It is the only productivity-focused programme of its kind for SME owners and members of senior management. This programme is grounded in practical application, influenced by productivity experts, involves an excellent peer-to-peer network and one-on-one mentoring from a Productivity Coach.

Programme Details:

In brief, Productivity through People:

  • Is dedicated to transforming leadership and management capability in order to develop modern, high-performance workplace practices in SMEs.
  • Gives a framework to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of businesses.
  • Provides an unparalleled opportunity to meet the people behind award-winning organisations where excellence in productivity lies at the heart of business. For example, previous applicants benefited from exclusive visits to businesses like Williams F1 Advanced Engineering, Rolls-Royce and EY.
  • Enables business leaders to work with leading experts and like-minded individuals in an exclusive peer network achieved through a collaboration of leading organisations and a world-class business school.
  • Emphasises on how businesses can improve their workplace strategies and employee engagement

For more information and to apply, visit the Aston Business School website.

Realise Futures #WhyNot campaign poster

Realise Futures asks #WhyNot employ disabled people?

Disability and learning skills specialist Realise Futures has launched a campaign aimed at boosting the number of people with disabilities into work in the East of England.

The #WhyNot – Why Not Employ Disabled People – campaign is calling for greater awareness of the real benefits of employing people with disabilities – including better staff retention, production and lower recruitment costs.

The Ipswich-based social enterprise has well-established expertise in helping employers in Suffolk and Essex recruit valued employees with disabilities and supporting individuals with disabilities into work. Employers include John Lewis, Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Costa Coffee.

It also runs six commercial businesses in Suffolk, including cafes and plant centres and a wholefood shop, which provide real jobs for people with disabilities and/or disadvantages. More than 40% of its workforce have disabilities.

Realise Futures has created a video to promote what employers are missing out on and how the company can support them:

The unemployment rate for people with a disability (April – June 2019) was 7.3% , compared to an unemployment rate of 3.4% for people without disabilities, according to government figures.* A survey by the charity Leonard Cheshire** found a quarter of employers (24%) said they would be less likely to employ someone with a disability, with 66% citing the cost of workplace adjustments as a barrier.

But, Realise Futures says many employers do not realise they can access full funding to pay for adjustments required. There are many other benefits employers can gain and the company is keen for business owners to contact them to find out how they can boost productivity, cut costs and boost their reputation by employing disabled people.

Realise Futures Managing Director Sally ButcherManaging Director Sally Butcher said: “There is a lack of awareness of what’s involved in employing a person with a disability, such as autism or Asperger’s, but there’s plenty of evidence from employers we have supported who are delighted with their employees, and the great qualities they bring to their company.

“As a business, we have many years’ experience of matching disabled employees with jobs, either within our own social businesses or externally. What we are trying to do is to inform employers about the many benefits to be gained. For example, disabled people become your customers – the total spending power of families with at least one disabled person is estimated to be worth £249 billion*** a year.

“Our own experience shows that employees with a disability have less time off work, are dedicated and loyal. Employers we work with say their employees are hardworking and reliable. Employers looking to promote diversity in the workplace can also benefit and enhance their reputation with their commitment to equal opportunities.

“We can help employers right through the process and support them with any worries or issues they may have. They will see that the benefits far outweigh any perceived disadvantages. We welcome calls from employers considering employing someone with a disability.”

Employers are encouraged to contact Realise Futures on 01473 242500 or email info@realisefutures.org.


*People with disabilities in employment by Andrew Powell. Briefing Paper, 2 October 2019
** Leonard Cheshire disability facts and figures
***Scope

(left to right): Angus Mackay (UNITAR); Professor Joy Carter CBE, DL (Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester), Melanie Harwood (Harwood Education), and Dr Janice de Souza (Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Winchester).

World-first in climate change teaching for University of Winchester

University of Winchester teacher training students are set to be among the world’s first United Nations accredited Climate Change Teachers.

Winchester is the first university in the world to offer student teachers the opportunity to undertake the Climate Change Teacher course, which is designed to equip future educators across all age groups and disciplines with the knowledge and confidence to deliver lessons on climate change. Students will cover a range of topics including climate change science, gender and environment, children and climate change, cities and climate change, and human health.

Winchester is one of the most highly sought-after universities for teacher education in the country, with OFSTED rating its primary and secondary teaching training ‘outstanding’ and consistently high rankings in league tables.

Dr Louise PagdenDr Louise Pagden, Co-Director of the University’s Institute of Education, said: “One of the most important issues children face is climate change. So this is set to become a really important part of how we train primary and secondary teachers of the future here at the University of Winchester.

“By training teachers to educate children about the impact of climate change, we will enable them to be responsible citizens of the future. Completing the course will give teachers confidence in their own understanding of the issues and in their position as a UN accredited specialist, to teach children effectively.”

Professor Joy Carter CBE said: “As the university for sustainability and social justice, I am really proud Winchester is the world’s first university to partner with the creators of the eduCCate Global Climate Change Teacher Academy to offer every student on our teacher training degree courses the chance to become a UN accredited Climate Change Teacher.

“Winchester is already leading the way in climate change education, which is embedded across our courses, inspiring students and staff to learn about the wide range of issues generated by this pressing global issue. As we prepare to tackle the climate emergency, this is a fantastic opportunity for us to be the first university to support the UN Sustainable Development Goal of having an accredited Climate Change Teacher in every school across the UK.”

The Climate Change Teacher course will be rolled out at Winchester over the coming academic year, with an official launch in spring 2020. Alongside the course, the University is hosting a series of public lectures for students, teachers, parents and the general public, jointly with WinACC (Winchester Action on Climate Change). The lectures will cover the course topics, including cities and climate change and human health and sustainable diet.

Delegates at a training workshop

Aston Programme for Small Business Growth open for applications

Aston Centre for GrowthThe Aston University Programme for Small Business Growth aims to support SMEs to grow by increasing their turnover and creating jobs within Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull.

Don’t miss your opportunity to benefit from the unique tools and knowledge provided by experts in SME leadership and management, as well as network with like-minded ambitious early-stage business leaders.

  • Participants increased their turnover by an average of 37% one year after completing the programme*
  • 94% of participants are more confident in the growth of their business after completing the programme*
  • 18% higher turnover for businesses on the programme than counterparts who were not
  • 79% of participants improved their ability to use financial date more in decision making

The core of the fully-funded programme delivered across a six-month period includes:

  • Practical workshops which cover topics relevant to leaders of growing SMEs
  • One-to-one mentoring to tackle business issues and support with building a targeted growth strategy
  • Networking with other early-stage business owners

The programme has a competitive application process so don’t delay!

Email centreforgrowth@aston.ac.uk to refer a business or receive an application form. Interested businesses will receive a complete breakdown of workshop details and requirements via email.

*Statistics taken from the industry standard programme evaluation 2019 which was based on participants who completed the programme during 2017-2019.

People celebrating at PfP event

Annual celebrations to mark significant growth

Partners for Possibility logoPartnering organisations, funders, schools, business leaders and other interested parties will once again gather in Cape Town and Johannesburg this October to celebrate the continually expanding footprint of the Partners for Possibility (PfP) programme and to reflect upon the tremendous strides made by the PfP team in 2019.

Held annually, these celebratory events showcase stories about the transformational leadership growth experienced by principals and business leaders who have journeyed together for a year and beyond as partners for possibility.

This year, the Johannesburg leg of the celebration will feature a keynote address by Nolitha Fakude, the executive director of energy company Sasol. Crispin Sonn, executive director of the Gamiro Investment Group, will be the keynote speaker at the Cape Town event.

In April 2019, PfP reached a major milestone in the organisation’s nine-year existence with the launch of its 1000th partnership. Since its inception, the PfP programme has grown steadily, and its reach now extends to cities, towns, and in some cases remote areas, across all nine of South Africa’s provinces.

With these forthcoming events, PfP will celebrate another successful year and encourage more active citizens from all walks of life to connect, break down barriers, and inspire change in South Africa through the extraordinary PfP process.

Below are the details for the celebratory events taking place in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Johannesburg

Tuesday, 8 October 2019

FNB Conference Centre, 114 Grayston Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg

RSVP to Lubelihle@Symphonia.net

Cape Town

Monday, 17 October 2019

Sports Science Institute of South Africa Auditorium: Boundary Road, Newlands, Cape Town

RSVP to Melissa@Symphonia.net

Chocolate Films top ten tips to win at online video

Ten tips to win at online video

If you haven’t already, how do you get started with video marketing? If you do use online video, how do you make it most effective and achieve measurable results?

It really doesn’t have to be complicated, laborious or expensive. In this blog post and the below video, the Chocolate Films Glasgow team shares its ’10 Tips To Win At Online Video’.

1) DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE

audience

Do you know your audience? Who do you want to reach: where are they – online and offline – what do they like, what are they looking for? You will have to translate your message into a different plot and a different tone depending on your audience.

Targeting your content in the right way is also incredibly important when making and publishing online video. If your audience’s favourite platform is Facebook and they visit pages about healthy living, you’ll want to make a video optimised for Facebook and boost it towards people with that interest.

Do research into your audience. This is your first step towards video success.

2) SET YOUR GOAL

target

Now you know your audience, what would you like to achieve from them? And how quickly do you want to achieve it? A video to promote your business will likely be quite different from an explainer of your latest product. Thinking about goals is key to video production, as your goal will influence every part of the process – from what story you want to tell, to how you will tell it, how long the video will be and where, when and how it will be published and promoted.

In order to achieve measurable results, you first need to set a clear goal.

3) STRUCTURE YOUR STORY FOR ONLINE

structure

On social media, you have to stop people from scrolling!

Slow burn intros, that look great in cinema documentaries, can be death to social video. Front-load the key information and then develop the story once you’ve caught the audience’s attention.

4) CREATE CONTENT WITH PLATFORMS IN MIND

platforms-1

Optimising for different platforms is something you want to keep in mind when making decisions about video content. Your film will need a different shape and duration to be effective on your website than when being used as part of an Instagram campaign. Based on our years of experience at making online video and measuring results, we recommend the following shapes and durations:

  • YouTube: landscape; up to 3 minutes
  • Facebook: vertical; up to 2 minutes
  • Twitter: square; less than 45 seconds
  • Instagram: square; less than 30 seconds

Are you ready for Vertical Video? Read more here.

5) KEEP IT VISUAL

visual

The visuals tell the story. Online video needs to grab attention and to be understood just by looking at it. When someone is scrolling through the feed of their favourite social platform, you have got a great opportunity to reach them with a message that they are truly interested in. But your window of opportunity is short.

Be there, be quick, be attractive, be visual.

6) TURN THE SOUND OFF

sound offWe know this is controversial, and we love to watch a great film with great sound too. But with online video, the use is different. Your audience is not watching from a cinema screen surrounded by an advanced sound system. They are much more likely to be watching your film on the Tube, without headphones and not wanting to disturb other passengers by playing sound from their phones. On Facebook 85% of video content is watched without sound!

So turn off the sound and let the visuals tell the story.

7) USE WELL DESIGNED ON-SCREEN TEXT

text 3

On-screen text is now arguably more important than interview audio.

It is a great way to get your message across with online video – keep in mind that commuter browsing his phone, it’s him you want to reach. Make the text short and memorable. 60 words per minute, in 10 sections is sensible for social video.

8) MAKE EYE-CONTACT

eye contactMoving away from television content where contributors usually look past the camera, talking directly to camera can build stronger engagement for online video content. It gives the audience the feeling that they are making eye contact with the person on their screens.

When you talk to someone in person you communicate better with eye contact. When you make a presentation, you try to make contact with your audience. When you vlog, talk on Skype or Facetime, you look directly to camera.

So make eye-contact and you’ll make more engaging online videos.

9) BUDGET FOR PAID PROMOTION

budget-1

Films can go viral. We love those moments when we go online 1 day after a video has been released and we see it has been shared numerous times and has received 100s of organic – unpaid – views. But it is unsafe to rely on unpaid views. On Facebook for example, less than 1% of reach is organic (Squared Online by Google, 2017).

Do set a budget aside for promotion. How much this should be, depends on the platform you are boosting the video on, the size of the audience you want to reach and the popularity of your page. If you decide make a film with us, we can advise on budgets too.

10) TEST, TEST, TEST

testHere’s one of your greatest advantages working with digital content: you can measure the exact amount of impressions – this is how often your content has been seen – clicks, 10-second video views, full views, interactions and more. When using ‘classic’ advertising like a flyer to promote your upcoming event, you don’t know how many people have seen it, have glanced over it before stuffing it away in their bags, or have actually read it.

So measure and test.

If you see that a specific video format does well on a specific platform, you’ll want to create it again. If next to no-one has clicked the video thumbnail in your newsletter, you’ll want to try something different and not keep spending on what doesn’t work. Online platforms offer free and easy to access analytics. So TEST, TEST, TEST and you’ll find your holy video.

Book a free consultation about Online Video.

Beco soap bar packaging

Social enterprise soap brand wants you to steal their staff

BECO. logoBECO., the social enterprise soap brand, is taking a new approach to business, calling on competitors and UK employers to take a stand when it comes to recruitment.

1 in 5 people living in the UK are disabled and an estimated 48% are unemployed – that’s over one million job-seekers looking for opportunities and a disability unemployment gap of 30% (only 52% of disabled are employed vs 82% of the general working population). BECO. is on a mission to change that.

BECO. parent company CLARITY & Co. has supported the employment of people with disabilities for 165 years and today sees BECO. launch an employment drive calling on employers to #STEALOURSTAFF and help close the disability unemployment gap.

80% of BECO.’s workforce is visually impaired, disabled or disadvantaged – they want to show big corporations the value and skillset in every person by encouraging employers to follow suit and see workability, not disability.

The #STEALOURSTAFF campaign highlights their staff in the hope that those who want to, will go on to secure jobs outside of the organisation and free-up opportunities for new staff in need of employment. Staff profiles will take over BECO. packaging in key retailers Waitrose and Sainsbury’s and on the BECO. website, showing consumers and would-be employers the chance to get to know the talented workforce behind the brand.

Michael BECO employeeI wish other organisations would give people like us a chance. There are so many disabled people unemployed and I’m sure there are plenty of big companies that can do more to help.” says Michael, Team Leader at BECO.

“We want to give people who want to work, the opportunity to work. It’s as simple as that. Some of our staff have been at the organisation for more than 30 years, and as much as we love our team and their loyalty, we want to help them and others have opportunities and so that as a society we can close the disability unemployment gap. We need people to start acting and living their values, not just talking about it.” says Camilla Marcus-Dew, Head of Sustainable Growth at CLARITY & Co.

How you can help make a difference

  • Help BECO. share the suds – Keep buying BECO. soap for your homes and offices. Everyone can create real and sustainable change, just by washing their hands. Every bar of soap and bottle of handwash BECO. sell helps to provide real jobs for people with disabilities. If every person in the UK switched to BECO. soaps, the brand could create 45,000 new jobs for people with disabilities.
  • Make a new hire – Whoever you are looking for and whatever the skill, the BECO. team are some of the most passionate staff you’ll come across, many with decades of experience. Take a look at BECO.’s
    employees and their CVs on the BECO. website.

 

Execs Back 2 School event in South Africa

Executives schooled on South Africa’s education challenges

Top executives from some of South Africa’s most prominent companies traded their usual routine of boardroom meetings for classroom lessons when they participated in the one-of-a-kind Execs Back 2 School event in Cape Town and Johannesburg this month.

Symphonia for South AfricaThe event, organised by  Symphonia for South Africa (SSA), was created to expose business leaders to the working environment and challenges faced by school leaders in South Africa’s chronically under-resourced schools.

Each executive was given the opportunity to spend the day at a different government-run school, and accompanied the school principal as they performed their daily duties.

The business executives engaged with learners and parents, attended classes, and met with teachers and school management to understand the operational realities faced by the school. The day forged closer ties between school principals and top executives by providing a platform to share knowledge and leadership experiences, while exploring the potential for enduring, cross-sectoral collaboration between schools and the private sector.

According to Itumeleng Kgaboesele, CEO of black-owned investment holding company Sphere, which partnered with SSA to deliver the event, all South African businesses have an obligation to support disadvantaged schools:

“As business leaders we all have our schooling to thank for giving us access to further study and professional life. To succeed as a country, we need thriving communities built around successful institutions like schools that offer pupils hope and opportunity.”

“Over the last three years, working with two different principals, I have seen the positive impact that sharing management experiences with the principals can have on the school community and on learners’ achievements.”

Execs Back 2 School event in South AfricaThis year, much-loved role model, Lucas Radebe, participated in the programme, spending his morning at Soweto’s Nomzamo Madikizela Mandela Primary School speaking to learners, attending classes, and meeting with teachers and school management to understand the daily life of the school. Explaining his participation, Radebe said supporting education should be a national imperative:

“Schools are the centre of our communities and are an essential building block for the nation’s future. Effective schools equip the next generation with the values, skills and education they need to fulfil their individual potential at work and as active citizens contributing to sustainable communities.”

The Execs Back to School day is a spin-off of New York City’s successful ‘Principal for a Day’ initiative. SSA organised this event to complement their internationally recognised, award-winning Partners for Possibility programme, which pairs principals and executives on year-long leadership development journey.

Collaboration between the educators and the private sector contributes to social cohesion and strengthening the nation’s social fabric, believes Robyn Whittaker of SSA:

“Sometimes I think it’s the CEOs who learn from the principals when they step out of their comfort zones and become personally involved. Building direct relationships with a school and its principal makes support for schools more effective and teaches executives powerful management lessons,”

Execs Back 2 School will be repeated next year. Companies and executives interested in joining a Partners for Possibility programme or signing up for next year’s Execs Back 2 School day should contact Symphonia for South Africa on 011 259 4031, send an email to dorcas@symphonia.net or visit www.PfP4SA.org.

IC24 welcome box

Integrated Care 24 gives a Gold star welcome to new employees

Urgent care provider and Social Enterprise Gold Mark holder Integrated Care 24 (IC24) has rolled out a new starters’ gift box to give a warm welcome to its new recruits.

Contents of IC24 welcome boxAs part of a focus on the employee experience of working for IC24, the concept of a welcome box was devised, to present to new employees when they join the organisation to set them on their way in their new careers.

All of the items in the box help new employees to get started in their new role; a notepad and pen for making notes, a travel mug and water bottle to keep hydrated, and a pair of headphones to allow new-starters to listen to their essential learning packages at their workstations. As part of the roll out, IC24 has stopped selling single use plastic bottles in the tuck shop to play their part in the reduction of single use plastic.

James Pope, Learning and Experience Manager said: “We want to recruit great people, but it is just as important is to retain them. We see the employee experience of working for IC24 as really essential to our success, and the box contains a few small but practical gifts to welcome them to their new workplace.”

Charity Bank Road to Growth events banner

Charity Bank takes to the road with free regional events

Charity Bank logoThis September and October, Charity Bank is partnering with NCVO and other sector leaders to deliver a series of regional half day seminars.

Complimentary tickets are available for trustees, directors, CEOs and managers of charities, social enterprises and community organisations.

  • Hear the latest analysis on the state of the sector and on the issues that matter
  • Gain practical insight and guidance to help your organisation thrive in a changing world
  • Engage with leading social sector experts and hear inspiring stories of success
  • Receive details on some of the latest funding and grants available for social sector organisations

Panelists will share research and insights on the state of the sector, how political and Brexit uncertainty are impacting the sector, examples of how charities and social enterprises are responding, as well as the latest on funding, regulation, technology and governance.

You will also receive an overview of the funding environment and details on some of the latest funding and grants available to help social sector organisations grow, improve their sustainability and make a bigger difference.

Ed Siegel, Chief Executive, Charity Bank said: “We’re hosting these free events as part of our mission and commitment to support the social sector. Attendees will receive high quality and practical insights, knowledge and ideas from our expert panelists, which they can then implement in their own organisations. The events will also act as an opportunity for delegates to network with like-minded peers who have similar goals. We’re really looking forward to hosting the events and meeting individuals in each region who are at the forefront of social change.”

Secure your place at charitybank.org/growth.

Road to Growth events programme:

London, 18th September – register

Tunbridge Wells, 26th September – register

Leeds, 3rd October – register

Reading, 8th October – register

Derby, 16th October – register

Manchester, 17th October – register

Millfields Trust team celebrating their 20th anniversary

20 years of business where community profits!

Millfields Trust logoMillfields Trust chose the best day of the year, the Summer Solstice, to celebrate their 20th Anniversary.

With guests including Board Members and tenants past and present, stakeholders and friends of the Trust in attendance, they were treated to an evening of fine food and great entertainment, all hosted by the Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth.

Over 140 guests were entertained by Dave Wright Saxophone, and a ‘surprise’ visit from the Silver Service Singing Waiters, followed by an awe inspiring close to the evening by the Marine Cadet Corps of Drums.

Roger Pipe, Chief Executive and Mandy Toze, Business Development Manager have been with the Trust from day one and were presented with gifts from the Board to say thank you for their long service.

Mandy Toze said: “I am so privileged to have worked for the Trust since the beginning, and we thought 20 years deserved a big celebration.  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and supporters of the Trust in one place.  The Barracks was a wonderful venue and they did us proud.”

Charity Bank logo

Boost for Charity Bank with £5million deposit from Power to Change

Charity Bank has announced a £5 million deposit injection from the independent charitable trust Power to Change. With seven in ten people agreeing that charities should invest their savings and investments ethically, Charity Bank is calling on other organisations to align their money and mission.1

Charity Bank and Power to Change

The deposit will increase Charity Bank’s lending capabilities, improving access to finance for charities and social enterprises. This is increasingly important, as 78% of those who borrowed money from Charity Bank say their project would not have gone ahead without it and 30% said it helped keep the organisation afloat.2

The organisations helped by Charity Bank include Imago, a social action charity supporting communities across the South of England which purchased a new premises with funding from Charity Bank, and Burton Street Foundation, a community benefit society in Sheffield which has also been supported in the past by Power to Change. Burton Street Foundation works with almost 250 adults and 50 children every week, with needs ranging from moderate learning difficulties, to profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Ed Siegel, Chief Executive at Charity Bank comments, “Responsible investment is an important and growing area of focus for many charities and social enterprises. This deposit from Power to Change will undoubtedly help us in our mission to provide social enterprises with the financial resources they need to help vulnerable people and communities across the UK, outcomes which, we understand, are supportive of the social objectives of Power to Change.”

Vidhya Alakeson, Chief Executive at Power to Change said: “Power to Change exists to create better places through community business and we know that by saving with Charity Bank, our cash is being used as a powerful tool for social change. The deposit we’ve made will support Charity Bank in tackling some of the most challenging societal issues facing the UK today, while still earning a good rate of interest, which is great news for our endowment and for improving lives.”

Charity Bank is encouraging charities to invest their savings and investments ethically and in support of their mission, through its Money on a Mission campaign.

Charity Bank #MoneyOnAMission

 


About the research:

An online survey of 4,000 nationally representative UK adults (aged 18+) carried out between 27th February and 6th March 2018 by Opinium on behalf of Charity Bank. The results have been weighed to nationally representative criteria.

Charity Bank Impact survey was conducted in February and March 2019. It was sent to 235 of Charity Bank’s current borrowers, with 105 completing the survey either online or via a telephone interview.

Plastic water bottles

University of Winchester announces pledge to eliminate single-use plastic

The University of Winchester has pledged to eliminate all unnecessary single-use plastic by December 2020 and calls on individuals and the higher education sector to stand up and take action to combat the climate crisis.

“We are facing a global crisis and it’s time we all did more,” said Professor Joy Carter CBE, DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester. “Eliminating unnecessary single-use plastic is just one of many initiatives here at the University to minimise our environmental impact and make a positive difference to the world.”

The University – which is recognised globally for its pioneering work in sustainability and social justice – is implementing the single-use plastic pledge across offices and teaching spaces, catering and sporting facilities, and halls of residence.

Single-use plastic will be replaced where there is a viable alternative, with the aim of significantly reducing their use as well as minimising plastic waste on campus. The University will also work with suppliers to identify items that are not made from recycled material and are not recyclable, and will consider the environmental footprint of potential replacement products to ensure they are as sustainable as possible.

The University is also set to open a new zero waste shop, as part of the West Downs development on Romsey Road in Winchester. From early 2020, staff, students and members of the local community will be welcome to do their grocery shopping on campus.

“As a University, we have a responsibility to ensure we actively engage in sustainable practices ourselves, but we are committed to ensure our impact goes far beyond this,” added Professor Carter. “Sustainability and social responsibility is embedded across our teaching and other activities, as demonstrated by achieving the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Responsible Futures accreditation last month. Through our Climate Change Education Strategy, we ensure our students graduate with an understanding of how climate change is relevant to their subject area and their everyday lives.

“As the University for sustainability and social justice, the climate emergency is at the forefront of our minds but the higher education sector as a whole must work together to make the climate emergency a higher priority than it is at present. Sustainability must be considered as part of every new strategy developed, course planned and contract signed. As big purchasers, we should be putting pressure on supply chains to see real behaviour change.

Earlier this year, the University of Winchester placed in the top 100 of the worldwide University Impact Rankings put together by Times Higher Education. It recognises universities for their social and economic impact on society, based on their success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“I encourage every individual, organisation and sector to stand up and take action” said Professor Carter. “Be inspired and empowered by the Greta Thunberg’s of this world; take the lead from school children who are protesting for change. We need to be positive, peaceful activists to collectively combat the challenges faced as part of the climate emergency.”

FamilyCarersNet named 2019 Making a Mark winners

Andy Lewis of FamilyCarersNet receiving the Making a Mark award from Besma WhayebFamilyCarersNet, a social enterprise providing vital support for unpaid carers, was announced as the winner of our 2019 Making a Mark competition at a special celebration at our conference in Birmingham earlier this week.

Besma Whayeb, a Year of Green Action Ambassador, presented the award to Andy Lewis of FamilyCarersNet during our annual awards reception. His colleague Simon had earlier spoken at a panel session looking at how social enterprises can achieve sustainable business growth without compromising their social mission.

Andy was presented with an award specially created for us by Social Enterprise Mark holder Start Creative *, a social enterprise which provides a range of high quality hand crafted products and services to public, private and social sectors, whilst providing positive commercial experiences to volunteers who are referred via mental health services.

Simon Brown, founder of FamilyCarersNet said: “It was quite a shock, there were many fantastic organisations shortlisted. It’s our first national award and really pleasing for everyone involved to gain recognition from others in our sector for the impact we have in supporting unpaid carers, both in Suffolk and across the UK.”

The annual Making a Mark competition celebrates how accredited social enterprises are creating considerable impact within their local communities and in wider society. This year, we asked Mark holders to submit their ‘Social Enterprise Story’, encapsulating who they are and the nature of the social impact they create – i.e. how they are ‘Making a Mark’.

We were really impressed with FamilyCarersNet’s video submission, which illustrated a sense of genuine stakeholder engagement in how their business is managed and delivered, and clearly demonstrated their purpose and explained how the help and benefits they deliver translate into social outcomes for beneficiaries.

Andy Lewis of FamilyCarersNet with the Social Enterprise Mark CIC team

Andy Lewis of FamilyCarersNet with the Social Enterprise Mark CIC team

FamilyCarersNet was shortlisted alongside five other organisations, including AUARA, who were Highly Commended. The shortlist was decided by the Social Enterprise Mark CIC team, which also voted on the final result. We were really impressed with the quality of submissions, and would like to extend our congratulations to all of the competition finalists:

  • Making a Mark competition finalistsAUARA
  • Brighter Futures
  • FamilyCarersNet
  • Hope Enterprises
  • Millfields Trust
  • University of Northampton
Lightbulb in thought bubble on blackboard

Tender opportunity for social economy research in Coventry

The City of Coventry has been invited to submit a proposal to the Local Access Programme, a new fund created by ACCESS – The Foundation for Social Investment and Big Society Capital, to take a place based approach to transforming the social economy through blended finance.

Coventry is one of only 12 places invited to take part in a competitive process, where 5 places will be offered a share of £33m of blended finance to develop a strong social economy.

Coventry Social Enterprise CityThe bid is being developed by Coventry Social Enterprise City Partnership; an informal body made up of Coventry City Council, Coventry University Social Enterprisesectoral support agencies, social enterprise and charity leaders and 2 universities, including Coventry University Social Enterprise. They are now inviting tenders for a research exercise into market opportunities for the social economy in Coventry where sustainable business models might be developed which build the sustainability of charities and social enterprises.

The Brief

The Partnership requires a specialist consultant with the expertise to identify social economy market opportunities. They expect this work will consist of:

  • Undertaking research and analysis of potential market opportunities in Coventry and surrounding areas which have the potential of being delivered by the social economy
  • Engage with relevant stakeholders to understand the local context and direction of travel
  • Presenting to the partnership conclusions in the form of presentation and report

Early discussions have highlighted the following areas may be useful areas to explore:

  • Private Sector (increasing the value of spend by the private sector with social economy organisations)
  • Homelessness & Housing Services
  • City of Culture 2021
  • Young People

Budget

A maximum of £10,000 inc expenses

Selection Criteria

  • Excellent track record in research
  • Strong end evidenced understanding of the Social Economy (ideally in Coventry)
  • Ability to identify, quantify and articulate local market opportunities for social economy organisations
  • Willingness to work and consult with key partners and stakeholders
  • Value for money

How to Quote

Please provide a fully costed proposal which sets out:

  • Your approach
  • An indicative work plan
  • Relevant experience
  • How you meet the criteria
  • 2 referees

Send your proposal to Keith Jeffrey, MD of CU Social Enterprise CIC by 5pm on Friday 28th June. You can contact Keith on 07557 425016.

Timeline

June 28th              Submission Deadline

w/c July 8th          Interviews

Sept 20th               Submission of final report

Andy Ibbotson, student at University of Northampton, presenting at ‘Map the System’ competition

Northampton sport student maps his way to prestigious competition

A student at the University of Northampton used his personal interest in strokes and stroke rehabilitation to win a place at a prestigious competition and talk about his own research.

Andy Ibbott – who has just finished the second year of his foundation degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Northampton – suffered a near fatal stroke in 2011 during a hospital operation, which left him needing to re-learn how to walk. He was also left with the condition aphasia, which makes it difficult for him to understand or produce speech.

The ‘Map the System’ competition is an initiative of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and other leading higher education institutions. Students and educators who take part are tasked with thinking differently about social and environmental change by researching an issue and communicating their findings to an audience.

Andy competed against the likes of Harvard University students as he explored aphasia. His research sees a possible benefit to the reclassification of this condition as a brain injury, potentially combining resources and making access to support easier. He was one of only four representatives from UK universities, out of 20 total entrants, and although he did not win, he has already started further research to compete again next year.

Andy said: “Presenting my research in front of guests from universities like Harvard was a bit daunting at first, but the experience as a whole was powerful and inspiring.

“I’ve fully embraced the Changemaker philosophy at University of Northampton but don’t see myself as ‘only’ a poster child for stroke recovery and I look very much toward the future. But if getting out on the road talking about aphasia helps push for better support, I’m more than happy to do it.”

Andy received one to one coaching from Julia Jolley – Community Engagement Adviser in University of Northampton’s Changemaker Hub – to support his application and was supported at the competition by Bruce Paterson, Credit Union Officer at the University. The Changemaker Hub works with students before, during and after their studies to develop and enhance employability. Map the System will be built into the University’s student offer next year.

Andy’s efforts getting back into full-time employment were featured in the BBC TV programme Employable Me in 2017, and he has gone on to give motivational speeches around the UK and Europe, which have assisted with his speech and communication rehab.

 

University of Winchester building

University of Winchester recognised by National Union of Students

University of WinchesterThe University of Winchester has been awarded the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Responsible Futures accreditation for its commitment to embedding sustainability and social responsibility in its teaching and other activities.

The award recognises the partnership between the University and Winchester Student Union to promote education for sustainable development, helping students at Winchester to understand the sustainability challenges facing society and preparing them to become globally responsible citizens.

Professor Joy Carter CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “In partnership with the Student Union, we have been working hard to create an environment where education for sustainability and social justice can flourish and be a part of every Winchester student’s higher education experience. This accreditation highlights that we are very much on the right track.

“Our commitment to sustainability and social justice are at the heart of our determination to make a positive social and environmental impact and create a better world for the future.”

Winchester’s pioneering activities in sustainability education include the Climate Change Education Strategy, which commits the University to ensuring all students graduate with an understanding of how climate change is relevant to their subject area and their everyday lives and how they can address the challenges it presents.

Carole Parkes, Professor of Responsible Management, who led the University’s accreditation work, said: “The Responsible Futures accreditation underlines the strength of the partnership between the University and the Student Union in ensuring sustainability is embedded across the institution. Together we will be creating more opportunities for students to engage with real world issues as part of their time here.”

Tali Atvars, Winchester Student Union President, said: “Receiving the Responsible Futures accreditation is the result of the strong working partnership between the Student Union and the University. Our students and graduates have to step up to take on the challenges of the century ahead of us and this is a very positive step towards shaping the minds of our students to think about sustainability and how it applies to not only their education but to life after graduation.”

The accreditation follows the news that the University of Winchester’s work in sustainability and social responsibility has earned it a place in the top 100 of the first-ever global University Impact Rankings put together by Times Higher Education. In the ranking, Winchester was ranked second in the UK for Sustainable Development Goal 4 Quality Education.

PELC logo

PELC continues to improve CQC rating across its services

The Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC) has had its Out of Hours services rated as ‘good’ across the board by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This builds on its exceptional 6-month turn-around of the Emergency Urgent Care Centre (EUCC) at the King George Hospital, Ilford.

PELC’s Out of Hours care operates from a number of sites in East London, including Queens Hospital (Romford), King George Hospital (Ilford) and Gray’s Court (Dagenham). Its service, which runs from 6.30pm to 8am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays, includes GPs and healthcare professionals working in primary care centres, minor injury units and urgent care centres.

The CQC has given an individual and overall rating ‘good’ across its five key areas; safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership. Good shows that the service is performing well and meeting the CQC’s expectations.

The Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC) is a not-for-profit social enterprise that serves more than 2million people across East London and West Essex. It delivers NHS integrated urgent care services (Clinical Assessment, GP Out of Hours, Prison healthcare and Urgent Care Centres).

“This is another great achievement for our organisation” said Brian Jones, Chief Executive of PELC. “Our team continues to go above and beyond to ensure that our patients receive the best care possible, which has, once again, been recognised and reflected by our industry’s regulatory body.

“We continue to work to our vision, providing a patient-focused health system that delivers clinically excellent and cost-effective care with highly exceptional outcomes and patient satisfaction.”

IC24 logo

IC24 publishes first social impact report

Integrated Care 24 (IC24) has recently published it’s first ever social impact report, which is designed to showcase the breadth of contribution that the organisation makes to the healthcare economy, wider society and the people it serves.

IC24 provides urgent unscheduled primary care services across the south and east of England, and as a social enterprise ensures that any surpluses are reinvested into the service and good causes. Throughout the year, it has raised thousands of pounds for charity, and invested in new technology and development opportunities for staff to make sure that it is a sustainable organisation, which continues to provide great care to patients.

Social Enterprise Gold Mark

The concept for the report came following feedback from the full review of their Social Enterprise Gold Mark accreditation last year, which IC24 has held since 2014. This process emphasised the importance of not just being a good social enterprise, but evidencing it too, and prompted IC24 to develop their own impact measurement and reporting systems.

IC24 Chief Executive Yvonne Taylor said: “Our recent Gold Mark re-accreditation process highlighted the importance of not just saying we are a good social enterprise, but also demonstrating that too, which is why we have produced this report.

“Each month we receive lots of feedback from our patients thanking us for the care they have received. We continue to improve the quality of our services through the investment of any surplus into our services and our people so we remain an innovative sustainable organisation for years to come.”

Richard Cobbett, Assessment and Compliance Manager at Social Enterprise Mark CIC, who was responsible for the review assessment, said: “IC24 have been a Social Enterprise Gold Mark for over six years now. Their recent social impact report is a testament to how working with such standards is as much about informing their development as a business committed to maintaining social enterprise excellence, as it is about recognising such practice through holding the accreditation.

The report is a direct response to how they have responded to different criteria requirements and assessment feedback, using this to reflect upon their operational practices and outputs, so that they can better focus and report upon what distinguishes them as an excellent social enterprise, working in a very challenging sector.”

Click here to download the social impact report.

PELC logo

PELC delivers top-notch employee satisfaction in six month transformation

Following a significant turnaround of the Emergency Urgent Care Centre (EUCC) at the King George Hospital in Ilford by the Partnership of East London Cooperatives (PELC), a recent staff survey has shown that 100% of participants now believe that they are able to give the care they aspire to give.

100% of respondents also stated that they felt trusted to do their jobs, are satisfied with work flexibility and felt encouraged to report errors, near misses or incidents. 97% said that training and development has led to better patient care.

PELC has implemented new initiatives and benefits for employees, including providing its junior members of staff with access to apprenticeships and its middle managers with access to independent company mentors. Senior staff also benefit from external mentoring opportunities. These initiatives form part of PELC’s drive to help staff reach their career aspirations.

93% of participating staff said they would recommend PELC as an employer – an improvement from 87% last year.

Paul, Clinician, stated: “I am able to work at PELC because of their family-friendly working arrangements that allow me to contribute around my personal responsibilities as a carer. All of my line managers are available, listen and work with me to develop services that are based upon patient needs.”

This staff satisfaction survey follows an exceptional turnaround by PELC in the CQC rating of the EUCC at King George Hospital.

Brian Jones, PELCBrian Jones, Chief Executive of PELC, commented: “Our focus over the past few months has been an all-consuming endeavour to improve the facilities and resources at the EUCC, including our staff support and training. We are only as strong as the sum of our parts and our individual staff members are the very backbone of the EUCC, essential to delivering results in caring for the local area.

“I am thrilled at the outcome of our staff survey and we will continue to build upon our infrastructure to allow each and every individual to achieve their potential and give the very best in patient care.

“By successfully bringing our CQC rating up by two grades, we are showing our commitment to our patients so they know they can put their trust in us, and to our staff, so they have the support and resources with which to do their job to the very highest standard.”

Celebrating the impact of accredited social enterprises

Our Making a Mark competition is back for another year!

This annual competition for Social Enterprise Mark/Gold Mark holders celebrates and promotes the vast impact that accredited social enterprises make through their diverse activities, illustrating how social enterprises are creating considerable impact within their local communities and in wider society.

This year, we invited Mark holders to submit their #SocEntStory, using a medium of their choice, which helps encapsulate who they are and the nature of the social impact they create – i.e. how they are ‘Making a Mark’. We were overwhelmed with the quality and variety of responses, and were left with a difficult job in shortlisting entries.

We are now delighted to announce the below shortlist:

  • Making a Mark competition finalistsAUARA
  • Brighter Futures
  • FamilyCarersNet
  • Hope Enterprises
  • Millfields Trust
  • University of Northampton

Entries were judged according to how engaging they were in describing what it means to be a genuine social enterprise, trading to deliver social benefit above that of personal profit.

Click here to view the entries from each of the finalists.

The winner will be announced at a special reception at our annual conference (in Birmingham) on 19th June.

 

 

Chocolate Films e-book

How To Effectively Use Video For Your Business – free ebook

Chocolate Films logoAre you unsure how to make a first corporate video? Or have you done video marketing before, but are you looking for new ways that drive better results?

Learn how to effectively leverage video for your business – Chocolate Films has released a free e-book sharing tips from over 17 years of experience in video production for the arts, heritage, corporate, medical, education, charity and public sectors.

The e-book offers 5 techniques to create great video content:

  • HERO content to drive Brand Awareness and for Product or Service Promotion
  • HELP films to answer your audiences’ questions and drive Online Traffic
  • Case Study Videos
  • Animated Explainers
  • Social Media Videos

Click here to download the free e-book.

 

 

PELC logo

PELC improves CQC rating in outstanding 6 month turnaround

Emergency Urgent Care Centre (EUCC) at the King George Hospital in IlfordFollowing a full inspection of the Emergency Urgent Care Centre (EUCC) at the King George Hospital in Ilford, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has, in an exceptional move, upgraded its rating across all its services up by two positions, just six months after being placed into ‘special measures’.

The EUCC is run by the Partnership of East London Co-operatives (PELC), a not-for-profit social enterprise delivering NHS integrated urgent care services (NHS 111, Clinical Assessment, GP Out of Hours and Urgent Care Centres), to more than 2million people across East London and West Essex.

In August 2018, the EUCC was placed into special measures by CQC following a rating of ‘inadequate’. In the six-month period that followed, PELC has raised its overall rating by two grades to ‘good’, improving in all of the individual five key areas assessed by the CQC; safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.

Immediately after the previous inspection, the team made important improvements that had a major impact to how the overall service was delivered. The new report recognised significant improvements made to the quality of care provided by the EUCC, including:

  • A strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation
  • Leadership and governance arrangements to support the delivery of high-quality and person-centred care
  • Monthly governance meetings to learn and improve from safety incidents
  • A staff bulletin to share learning and development
  • New protocols and training to support how clinicians assessed patients
  • Improvements to the physical layout to make it more conducive to maintaining patients’ privacy

Brian Jones, who took over as chief executive of PELC following the previous report, said:

Brian Jones, PELC“This is fantastic news for the King George’s EUCC and the communities we serve there. We are incredibly proud of our staff and the services we provide and the CQC findings are testament to the continued determination to provide the best possible care for patients.

“This is an incredible turnaround by the team achieved within the space of six short months. We are one of a very small number of organisations in England that have jumped from ‘Special Measures’ to an overall of ‘Good’ in such a short space of time.”

The EUCC is a walk-in NHS service based at the King George Hospital in Goodmays, Ilford, for patients whose condition is urgent enough that they cannot wait for the next GP appointment but who do not need emergency treatment at the emergency department (A&E).

Brian continued: “Our vision is to provide a patient-focused health system that delivers clinically excellent and cost-effective care with highly exceptional outcomes and patient satisfaction.

“This announcement highlights the considerable progress we have made at the King George Hospital. However, we will not rest here – we continue to work hard across all our services to provide high quality, responsive and personalised care for our patients.”

Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings

Winchester listed in top universities for environmental and social impact

The University of Winchester’s pioneering work in sustainability and social responsibility has earned the institution a place in the top 100 of the first-ever global University Impact Rankings put together by Times Higher Education.

The new ranking recognises universities across the world for their social and economic impact on society, based on their success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Winchester is tied at 76th in the overall impact rankings, out of 500 institutions from 75 countries. Its ranking is based on its performance on SDG 17 – Partnership for the Goals – and three other SDGs:

  • Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)
  • Quality Education (SDG 4)
  • Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

Professor Joy CarterProfessor Joy Carter CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, said: “It’s a huge achievement for Winchester to be placed us among the world’s top universities for social impact in these new rankings. It also demonstrates how our commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals translate into groundbreaking work helping to transform the world we live in. We are a community committed to making a difference and our values – compassion, individuals matter and spirituality – inform why we do this and how we achieve it.”

The University’s pioneering activities in promoting the SDGs include:

  • The Climate Change Education Strategy commits the University to ensuring students graduate with an understanding of how climate change is relevant to their subject area and their everyday lives and how they can address the challenges it presents.
  • The University’s Sustainability Statement, launched in 2018, sets out what sustainability means to the institution and how it will be achieved in practice.
  • The University has saved over 72,000 disposable cups from being used on campus through the introduction of a surcharge and free reusable cups for students and staff. An average of 33 drinks in 100 are now served in a reusable cup, up from just three in 100 in 2015/16. All new students are given a reusable cups, which are Gum-tec Americano mugs – made of 20 per cent recycled chewing gum (around 42 pieces per cup).
  • The University aims to make a positive environmental impact through the management of its estate. It has the sixth most carbon efficient estate in the higher education sector relative to floor area. All electricity comes from renewable sources. None of its waste goes to landfill, with a recycling rate of 60 per cent, up from 14 per cent in January 2009. A two-bin system operates across campus and in halls of residence for dry mixed recycling and general waste. Food waste from catering outlets and office kitchens is sent for anaerobic digestion and waste cooking oil is converted into biodiesel.
Goodbye Europe movie nights

Goodbye Europe, Hello Londoners

1000 Londoners, a Chocolate Films project, has had the first two screenings of its brand new series of Movie Nights Goodbye Europe, an anthology of new short films featuring Londoners from the 28 nations of the EU. These micro-documentaries tell the unique tales of people living across the capital, from all different backgrounds and walks of life.

Last Friday, they were at the National Portrait Gallery, as part of the popular Friday Lates programme. There was a completely packed out screening, with an excitable buzz of anticipation in the air. From meeting young Arthur, a baby from Ireland, to Jewish refugees and couple Bob and Ann who were brought to the UK on the Kindertransport, the audience laughed, smiled and reflected upon the different stories they were hearing.

Chocolate Films Goodbye Europe film screeningAfterwards, a panel discussion gave people the chance to meet Isabelle from France, a pioneer in mobility, Roland from Italy who has a music studio in Ealing, Diana from Romania who enjoys the Romanian music scene available in London and Lina from Lithuania, whose demanding job as a social worker doesn’t dampen her spirit. Led by Creative Director of 1000 Londoners Rachel Wang, the audience got the chance to ask questions to the contributors as well as the independent filmmaker Christine Lutzu.

On Monday, the screening took place at the Museum of London, as part of their Brexit Talks event, where museum team members were on hand to gather oral histories and views on Brexit from attendees. After the screening, there was the chance for people to discuss 1000 Londoners further, as well as meet some of the contributors, all the while viewing objects from the Museum of London’s collections.

There are more screenings on the way, and more chances to watch this fascinating project on the big screen! Join Chocolate Films at:

See below for a trailer of Goodbye Europe.

Wheelchair access sign

L&Q sets out disability inclusion commitment

Leading housing association and developer L&Q has partnered with two leading not-for-profit organisations to ensure it is offering the best service to its disabled staff and residents.

EvenbreakAs part of their disability inclusion initiative, L&Q will work with Evenbreak, a not-for-profit social enterprise that helps inclusive employers attract and retain more talented disabled people.

L&Q is also working with disability charity Scope to develop housing advice content for their website and advice line. The two organisations have worked together for the last 18 months to upskill L&Q’s employability service, so that they can better engage and support their disabled residents in securing sustainable employment.

Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people. To reduce the barriers facing disabled people, L&Q will advertise all its jobs on Evenbreak’s website, a specialist job board run by and for disabled people.

L&Q’s other disability inclusion initiatives for 2019 include:

  • Improving physical access for disabled staff, residents and visitors over and above legal compliance
  • Organising disability awareness training by Enhance UK
  • Upskilling staff so they can give great customer service to disabled residents
  • Reporting on the disability pay gap from 2019 as part of L&Q’s annual Fair Pay report
  • Offering flexible working for all its roles, including in its contact centre, which will break down barriers for disabled staff or carers
  • Becoming a Disability Confident committed employer, which means that candidates are guaranteed an interview if they meet the job criteria
  • Working with Genius Within to help staff understand ‘neurodiverse’ cUonditions such as autism

Jan Gale, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at L&Q, said: “By partnering with Evenbreak, we are investing in our people. We want our workforce to reflect the diverse make-up of our residents, and we also want to attract people with a wide range of different skills and expertise.

“If we can harness the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse teams, it will help us play our part in solving the housing crisis. There is a huge array of talent out there that organisations can’t afford to ignore as we seek to deliver quality services to our residents whilst building new homes to tackle the supply gap.

“It’s important that there are no barriers to disabled people working at L&Q, and that includes at the very start of their journey as a prospective L&Q employee.”

Jane HattonJane Hatton, Founder and Director at Evenbreak, said: “We are delighted that L & Q are leading the way on disability inclusion for housing associations. The benefits of employing disabled people can have an enormous positive impact on all aspects of social housing, including having a more diverse workforce that residents can relate to. Advertising all of their vacancies on Evenbreak will support L&Q in being the type of organisation that excels.”

Stephanie Coulshed, Programme Lead at Scope said: “Based on our in-depth research into the information that disabled people need about housing, Scope’s content designers will collaborate with subject experts at L&Q to develop accessible advice that helps people solve problems. We believe that L&Q’s knowledge of housing issues and commitment to tackling them, combined with Scope’s expertise in content design, will result in an outstanding partnership that has real impact.”

Goodbye Europe

Goodbye Europe; 1000 Londoners Movie Nights

In the days that the UK leaves the EU, 1000 Londoners (a Chocolate Films project) invites the people of London to join ‘Goodbye Europe’ – a unique film screening created specifically for this historic moment in the capital.

‘Goodbye Europe’ is an anthology of new short films about the London lives of people from each of the 28 nations in the EU. It will show parts of the city that you may never have seen – profiling the rich and poor, the young and old, the integrated and the outsiders, from the West End all the way to the ends of the Tube lines. This will be a documentary experience like no other – a journey through the lives of European London, shot in the final months of the UK’s time in the EU.

Included in these 28 micro-documentaries are the stories of:

  • A German man and woman who came to the UK on the Kindertransport in the World War II era and met and married in later life.
  • A Czech man who by chance discovered he was fluent in Russian at the age of 12.
  • A Dutch stay-at-home Dad who offered his spare room to a Syrian refugee.

The films will take you inside a cage fight, an evangelical church and a rehearsal room at the Royal Ballet. They will show you the perspectives of a Bulgarian abseiler, a Swedish economist, a Spanish Big Issue vendor, a Finnish hairdresser and many many more.

The films will be edited along BFI footage from the 50s to today, curated by the archivists from London’s Screen Archives. Following each screening, we offer a panel discussion with filmmakers and contributors.

1000 Londoners‘Goodbye Europe’ is the 15th and most ambitious 1000 Londoners Movie Night to date. 1000 Londoners was launched in 2014 to tell the epic social story of our city today through 1000 documentary portraits of Londoners.

See ‘Goodbye Europe’ at the National Portrait Gallery on 15th March, the Museum of London on 18th March, Ritzy Cinema on 27th March, Curzon Soho on 28 March and Hackney Picturehouse on 29th March.

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They are offering 3 personal or business coaching sessions for just £445 + VAT for a limited time only.

This offer is available until midday on 11th February 2019. Contact Roots HR to order your coaching package.

Sanitary items donation

IC24 donates sanitary items to those in need in Ashford

Staff at Integrated Care 24 (IC24)’s head office have got in the festive spirit this year, by donating hundreds of sanitary items to The Hygiene Bank charity.

For the last two months, staff at the integrated urgent care provider, which provides the NHS 111 and out of hours GP led service in East Kent, have been donating items such as soaps, razors, toothpaste and other sanitary items to pass to The Hygiene Bank for distribution.

The Hygiene Bank is a charity that was set up to tackle ‘hygiene poverty’ and make sure that those who are living in poverty have access to basic hygiene products such as deodorants and shampoo. In the UK 37% of people have had to go without basic hygiene products, or cut down on them, due to lack of funds*.

The collection, which took place at IC24’s head office on the Orbital Business Park in Ashford, was organised by Data Protection Officer Claire Walker (pictured below) supported by Helen Meyler and Terri Richards from the Learning and Experience team.

Claire Walker and Stephen ElliottClaire said: “I had heard about the great work of The Hygiene Bank and wanted to help. At IC24 we try to raise money for a lot of good causes so I knew that everyone would get on board by buying items to donate. In total we donated two boxes and three bags full of items, weighing over 25 kg.”

The items have now been collected by The Hygiene Bank and are already being distributed across Ashford.

 


*Source: Kind Direct, 2017

Evenbreak wins UnLtd award for driving social change

Evenbreak, a pioneer in disability specific recruitment, has secured support from UnLtd, the UK’s foundation for social entrepreneurs. The funding and tailored support package will help the organisation continue to drive lasting social change at a time when the UK is beginning to wake up to the value of the purple pound.

UnLtd award

Evenbreak is a multi-award winning and values led social enterprise, founded by Jane Hatton in 2011. A strong believer in ‘nothing about us, without us’, Jane created the UK’s first and only jobs board to connect inclusive employers with an untapped pool of talented disabled candidates. Evenbreak’s entire team is disabled, providing unique insight and valuable expertise to both the candidates and employers that they serve.

Savvy organisations seeking to address the looming skills shortage, are well aware of the benefits that employing a diverse workforce has to their bottom line. Once an employer commits to employing disabled people, they open the doors to a wider talent pool, a more loyal, engaged and productive workforce and an increase in revenue, profits and market share.

However, taking that step can be daunting for some, so Evenbreak also supplies employers with a best practice portal to guide them through their disability confident journey. The portal is packed with resources and advice from disabled people themselves and leading disability employers and clients, such as Channel 4.

Jane HattonJane Hatton, Evenbreak, said: “We know that our specialist job board allows talented disabled candidates find opportunities with inclusive employers who will value their skills. But we can only help the disabled candidates who know we exist! The grant from UnLtd will enable us to reach out to far more disabled people so that they have the opportunity to find jobs with inclusive employers of choice too!”

Nas Morley, UnLtd Director of Partnerships & Influence, underlined the importance of the expertise and support on offer and said: “Enterprising people are at the heart of so much positive change across the UK, so it’s wonderful for UnLtd to be able to provide support for this social venture. We hope that our tailored package of support will help to develop many more sustainable businesses that will deliver lasting social impact. We’re living in particularly challenging times, so some of these ideas and innovations are urgently needed.”

UnLtd is working hard with partners from both the public and private sectors to help deliver social impact by harnessing the huge potential of social entrepreneurs to solve society’s biggest challenges. The organisation is focused on three big impact areas; resilient communities, employability and solutions for an ageing society.

More information on UnLtd’s latest funding opportunities is available online.

Ed Siegel Charity Bank

Charity Bank responds as ‘inadequate’ UK care homes make £113m profit

Charity Bank Chief Executive Edward Siegel has commented on a recent Guardian investigation which found that some of the country’s worst care homes are owned by companies that are turning over large profits:

“It is shocking to hear a Guardian investigation reveal that some of the country’s worst care home operators have made £113m in profits despite their residents receiving ‘inadequate’ care.

“This highlights yet another example where non-profit-maximising social businesses offer a more appropriate and effective means for providing such critical public services. 

“Charity Bank provides significant financial support to the health and social care sector, with £22.9m currently lent out to 47 different providers, and Care Quality Commission ratings are a key criteria in our credit assessments.

“We know from experience that charity and social enterprise operators, because they are not beholden to shareholders seeking to maximise investment returns, are able to reinvest their surpluses to improve care quality for the benefit of their residents and their families. They are inherently driven to deliver the highest quality care.”

The Soap Co. stocked in John Lewis

John Lewis & Partners to sell
The Soap Co. products

The Soap Co. logoIn a major achievement for CLARITY-The Soap Co., the social enterprise announces that in time for the busy Christmas period, high-end department store, John Lewis & Partners, is to sell its luxury, ethical, eco and bee friendly collection across various of its stores nationwide.

Camilla Marcus-Dew, Co-Founder of The Soap Co. said: “The fact that John Lewis & Partners have selected The Soap Co.’s Eco & Bee Friendly collection to sit on their shelves alongside well-established luxury brands (with big budgets) is a huge endorsement, with confidence that their consumers will love our products and values. It firmly positions us in the high-end retail sector and clearly illustrates that luxury, ethical beauty with measurable social impact has hit the mainstream. It’s been quite the journey to get here, but big retailers are now giving a voice to ‘disruptor’ brands like ours and we are proud to be leading the charge with the support of one of the most respected names on the high street globally. We will also be turning our attention to the luxury hotels sector in 2019.

Created with eco-certified ingredients that are not harmful to aquatic life all products from The Soap Co. are crafted by a workforce, 80% of whom are blind, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged.

Soap Co. employeesAs Camilla explains, “Our goal is to create meaningful employment that changes people’s lives for the better, and to create ripple effects through the beauty industry and beyond. I would like to thank you John Lewis & Partners for joining the movement to address disability unemployment and underemployment in the UK, as we craft products with purpose and challenge consumers to expect more from their soap.

The Soap Co. collection will available on John Lewis online, where 50% of total John Lewis sales are achieved and will be in store at their Cambridge, Welwyn Garden City, Reading and Southampton sites, with an ambition for a wider national rollout in 2019.

Charlotte West, Assistant Buyer at John Lewis & Partners: “We are pleased to be launching The Soap Co. into our assortment. The products and unique placement of The Soap Co. in both the blend of scents and being made locally is one we excited to show our customer base.” 

The Soap Co.’s eco and bee friendly collection is vegan and biodegradable, and available in 3 British inspired fragrances: Geranium & Rhubarb, Wild Nettle & Sage and Mulberry & Amber, as a hand wash (300ml), hand lotion (300ml) or cold processed bar soap (125g). In addition, The Soap Co.’s luxurious 100% natural Rose, Uplift and Detox bath oils (100ml) with antioxidants, jojoba seed and evening primrose oils are also included, alongside three stunning gift sets priced under £40 RSP:

  • Rose Oil Duo
  • Geranium & Rhubarb Hand Gift Duo
  • Mixed Body Gift Trio, exclusively for John Lewis & Partners, which comprises Geranium & Rhubarb body lotion, Wild Nettle & Sage bar soap and an exfoliating soap pebble.

The Soap Co. stocked in John Lewis

START Common Room workshops

Common Room creative workshops in Salford

START is excited to announce our new Common Room creative workshops, open to everyone.

The Common Room is a programme of public workshops at The Make Space, START’s studio in Walkden. The workshops are all taught by professional artists and offer a friendly place to learn new skills and meet others.

Sessions include:

All sessions take place from 1.30-5.30pm.

Workshops start at £25 and the proceeds will support START’s projects that deliver creative arts sessions for people experiencing mental ill health, which promote emotional wellbeing and recovery for people across Salford.

Tickets can be bought at https://thecommonroombystart.eventbrite.com

Windrush Generations from 1000 Londoners

1000 Londoners presents:
Windrush Generations

1000 Londoners

In a brand new series of 15 short films, the multi award-winning documentary series 1000 Londoners , the flagship project of Chocolate Films, discovers the lives of 4 generations of Londoners with Caribbean heritage.

Each of the films portrays the experiences of a single Londoner, including:

  • Dame Jocelyn Barrow, knighted for her achievements in race-relations, who recalls persuading the shop owners in Oxford Street to employ Black women on the shop floor;
  • Teacher Sara Burke who led the 2018 protest about the treatment of the Windrush Generation;
  • Ground-breaking BBC journalist Alex Pascall who reminisces about interviews with Bob Marley, Mohammed Ali;

and many more.

Alongside the short documentaries, you will see new edits of rarely-seen Super 8 footage from Brixton during the 1960s to 1980s, from former pentecostal Minister Clovis Salmon aka ‘Sam The Wheels’ who came to London from Jamaica in the 1950s; and of BFI archive from Notting Hill Carnival.

‘Windrush Generations’ has been curated by 1000 Londoners Creative Director Rachel Wang, whose mother moved to London from Jamaica during the Windrush era. Rachel will host a panel discussion on the Legacy of the Windrush Generations with some of the Londoners featured in the films after each screening.

‘Windrush Generations’ is the 14th 1000 Londoners Movie Night. Previous movie nights have looked at themes as varied as food in London, women and London’s dog owners.

There are a series of screenings in London in November:

Both screenings will be followed by a short panel discussion about the legacy of the Windrush Generations, with Rachel Wang from Chocolate Films and several of the featured Londoners.

Dementia Friends

Campaign to make Bristol first Dementia Friendly City

BS3 Community Development logoBristol based social enterprise BS3 Community Development has started an ambitious campaign to make Bristol the first Dementia Friendly City in the UK.

Friday 21st September is World Alzheimer’s Day and BS3 Community has been working with Bristol Dementia Alliance to support local retailers in the city to understand dementia and how it effects people in order to make their shops and cafes dementia friendly.

They are offering training sessions to retail and hospitality staff, after which attendees are awarded lapel badges as an acknowledgment and a sign that they are a ‘Dementia Friend’. Outlets receive a ‘We are a Dementia Friendly store’ award to display in their window, which demonstrates to those living with dementia and/or their carers, that they are very welcome to shop in those stores and can feel at ease doing so.

Ruth Green, Community Development Manager says “ The training sessions are short but informative and retailers are responding really positively to the small but significant changes that can be made to a shop or café environment to improve the shopping experience of people with dementia. Bristol is a friendly and inclusive place and we hope that this campaign will mean that more of the 850,000 people living in the UK who have dementia will be able to have healthy social lives for longer.”

BS3 Community Development is offering a Dementia training session and talk this Thursday (20th September) 1pm-3pm at the Southville Centre. If you’re a Bristol resident or retailer and would like to know more, please pop in Thursday, or for more information contact Ruth Green.

#FollowTheMoney – move your savings to an ethical provider

Charity Bank logoLeading ethical bank, Charity Bank, has launched a campaign to encourage charities, businesses and individuals to move some of their savings or reserves to an ethical provider.

The Follow the Money campaign is supported by social sector heavyweights including NCVO, NAVCA, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, Social Enterprise UK, Locality, Responsible Finance, Big Society Capital, Barrow Cadbury Trust, ShareAction, CAN, Clinks, the Finance Innovation Lab, Good With Money, The Ethical Company Organisation and Ethical Consumer.

The campaign, launched a decade after the global financial crisis, will see 38 of the charities and social enterprises supported by Charity Bank loans open their doors to showcase how money saved with an ethical provider can have a positive impact on society.

It comes as research*, published by Charity Bank, revealed that 7 in 10 people agree that charities should invest their savings and investments ethically. And more than half (57%) said they prefer to buy from businesses that act ethically.

Charity Bank is now calling on charities, businesses and individuals to question how their savings are currently used. It’s asking them to consider whether that money could go beyond simply earning a fair return and be channelled into the social sector to help make a positive contribution on society.

Edward Siegel, Charity Bank’s Chief Executive, said: “It’s easy to dismiss the possibility of achieving a social return as well as a financial return on your investments but saving ethically offers the chance to do both.

“By channelling money into charities, social enterprises and social businesses, your money is used as a force for good. It empowers these organisations to grow, innovate and build upon the services and support they provide to their beneficiaries.”

Follow the Money, now in its 10th year, takes Charity Bank savers to see for themselves how their money is being used to support charities and social enterprises. This year’s 38-stop tour, which corresponds with Good Money Week (29th September – 5th October), started at the beginning of September and will run until October 5th.

To keep up to date with the Follow the Money tour and support the campaign, visit www.charitybank.org/followthemoney

Follow the Money has received widespread support from the social sector community, including Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC: “We are delighted to support the Follow the Money campaign. We encourage fellow social enterprises, as well as charities, other businesses and individuals to question how their savings are currently being used and to consider ethical alternatives, such as those offered by Charity Bank.”

Follow the Money campaign

 

 


*An online survey of 4,000 nationally representative UK adults (aged 18+) carried out between 27th February and 6th March 2018 by Opinium on behalf of Charity Bank. The results have been weighed to nationally representative criteria.

Epic Mini Marathon Trials

Mini Marathon Trials bring together talented young runners

At the Mini Marathon Trials, organised by Epic CIC, young people will compete to represent the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at the 2019 London Youth Games and London Mini Marathon.

Mini Marathon is a trials event for young people aged between 10 and 17 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This event has been running in Holland Park for over 10 years and will be taking place again on Tuesday 9th October. Over 300 young athletes will be competing at the trials for a chance to represent the borough along with some of the country’s best athletes at the following events:

  • LYG Cross Country; part of Europe’s largest Annual Youth Sports Event London Youth Games – November 17th 2018
  • London Mini Marathon; part of the World Marathon Majors – 28th April 2019

Epic CIC’s Youth Sport Development Officer Alishia Williams-Gayle reflected on the importance of this event:

“The Mini Marathon Trials is so important to the young athletes of RBKC as it can propel them to events that could really make a difference in their athletic development and progression. Running in one of the borough’s most prestigious parks (Holland Park) against the best in the borough is exciting yet nerve wracking for the young people. This is why the Epic Sport Team continue to put so much into giving them the best trials experience possible. We are really looking forward to hosting all 300+ athletes, their teachers, parents, coaches and of course the RBKC Mayor.”

Anyone between 10-17 can enter the trials for a chance to compete at London Youth Games or London Mini Marathon as long as they live or go to school in RBKC. Entry packs are now available via email or by contacting Alishia Williams-Gayle on 020 7351 2346. The closing date for applications is 1st October.

For more information visit the Epic CIC website.

Unbelievable recruitment offers from Roots HR

recruitment offers from Roots HR

Roots HR CIC has launched its best ever recruitment offers, available for September only.

The above offers are available on all orders placed by 5pm on Friday 28th September 2018.

Roots HR offers a full range of recruitment, selection and onboarding services including:

  • developing job descriptions
  • designing interviews and assessment tests
  • administering psychometric testing
  • being a member of the selection panel
  • supporting decision making
  • writing contracts of employment
  • taking up references and conducting pre-employment checks
  • liaising with unsuccessful candidates
  • undertaking induction planning

 

Strong Young Minds

New Mental Health Support Programme Challenges Social Isolation

Epic CIC has introduced Strong Young Minds; a programme which provides a one to one outreach service that is led by the child or young person to help access the support they want.

The service aims to help children and young people increase their resilience, reduce social isolation and build on their coping skills to develop strong young minds. By giving young people a sense of control over their use of the service, they are shown that even in difficult times they can find their own strengths to get through tough times in life.

This service offers:

  • Emotional support and advocacy
  • Helps to learn about ways to build mental strength and coping techniques
  • Brings children and young people into social groups helping them feel less isolated
  • Aims to increase awareness and reduce stigma.

To sign up to the course, please contact one of Epic’s Specialist Social Workers for Mental Health; Imogen Keay 07714 563 253 or Renae Boswell 07739 314 573, or via email.

For more information visit the Epic CIC website.

Epic Strong Young Minds programme

Cardiff Metropolitan University in HEFCW report

Cardiff Metropolitan University showcased in HEFCW report

Cardiff Metropolitan University, which was the first university in Wales to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, features in a recent report published by HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council for Wales).

HEFCW Innovation Nation reportThe Innovation Nation: on common ground report showcases how higher education providers in Wales have been pursuing their civic mission in recent years, and how they act as good corporate citizens both locally and globally. It contains a number of case studies, which demonstrate how higher education providers create considerable impact on local, national and international communities.

Four examples from Cardiff Metropolitan University are included in the report, including a case study on how they are leading on social enterprise, which references their unique status as the only university in Wales to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark.

Please click here to view the report.

BECỌ logo

BECỌ – good, clean, fun

A brand new hand-care range that puts real change in people’s hands

How to Share With Just Friends

How to share with just friends.

Posted by Facebook on Friday, December 5, 2014

Social enterprise CLARITY has announced the launch of BECỌ, a sister brand to The Soap Cọ.

There has never been more demand for products which are better for society, better for the environment, and are just better for the people who buy them. BECỌ ticks all three boxes, meaning more consumers than ever before will be able to purchase without compromise. BECỌ hits supermarket shelves across the UK from July onwards. Just think: If every household in the UK used BECỌ in their bathrooms, BECỌ would create nearly 45,000 new jobs for people with disabilities.

CLARITY, the charity behind BECỌ creates over 10,000 days of employment every year for its staff – 80% of whom are visually impaired, disabled or disadvantaged. Its ambition, with the launch of this feel good and playful brand, is to generate 2,000 days of employment in 2018, enabling ever more people to have a positive impact on the world around them through their consumer choices.

The new BECỌ products consist of a 250ml vegan, eco-foaming hand wash, which saves 88 litres of water per bottle compared to liquid hand wash; and a 97% organic, vegan, 100g triple-milled bar soap in three planet-friendly and eco-certified fragrances: Honey Blossom, Spring Meadow and Wild Berries. The eco benefits go far beyond this. Each bottle of foaming hand wash lasts 2.5 times longer than a liquid hand wash, meaning less plastic waste. The organic bar soap is also made with ingredients that have not been produced with herbicides, chemical fertilizers, or pesticides.

Every product bears the names of three different team members involved in BECỌ’s creation – from product development through to customer services. Like Abhi, whose name appears on the Wild Berries foaming hand wash. Blind at the age of 14 following an accident, he manually feeds BECỌ bottles onto the production line, ensuring there are no dents or scratches on its surface. Or Nic in the customer services team, who has learning difficulties and Noonan Syndrome. He says: “I’m thrilled to be recognised and to show that I don’t have to hide myself and my disability.”

Camilla Marcus-Dew, co-founder of The Soap Cọ, said: “BECỌ stands for Better Considered, and is a movement that puts meaningful change for disabled and disadvantaged people in the hands of everyday shoppers. It’s a bold new idea that will appeal to those who want more transparency, sustainability and great design from the products they buy. Through the launch of The Soap Cọ we learnt a lot about introducing an ethical heart to the world of premium body and bath products – and have left no stone unturned in setting a whole new standard in eco and sustainability credentials for supermarket shoppers.

“Every single sale provides real work and training for visually impaired, disabled or disadvantaged staff at our semi-automated factory in East London. We launched BECỌ to empower people across the UK to not just challenge the status quo but to change it for the better.”

BECỌ has secured listings in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s and will be in store from the start of July – with selected Co-op stores following in late summer.  More exciting news to come!

To find out more about BECỌ please:

Visit www.betterconsidered.orgFacebook and Instagram

Please also visit www.thesoapco.org for super awesome eco products coming soon from The Soap Cọ.

Dose of Digital workshops

Dose of Digital workshops for social enterprises

Cosmic is running a number of free half-day workshops across the South West to  help social and community enterprises make the most of their digital marketing

A Dose of Digital is a bitesize workshop series, each one 3 hours long, exploring a particular issue around digital skills and digital strategy.  And they are free to organisations engaged in the Enhance SE programme.

The morning workshop “Digital Marketing made Easy!”  is designed help participants develop a marketing strategy to make sure their online efforts are getting the right messages out to the right audiences. It covers the ground that Cosmic would cover if they worked with each organisation on a 1:1 basis, but it also gives participants the chance to discuss their own organisation and get the input of other organisations who may be grappling with the same issues, and have fresh insights to share with one another.

The afternoon workshop “Does your website need an MOT?” will help participants review their website with a fresh pair of eyes, and explore the do’s and don’ts of successful web design and content, and unpack the whole area of SEO, i.e. how to set up your site to attract the right customers to engage with. Cosmic will also run a diagnostic report on participants’ current website prior to the workshop, which they can then use through the workshop to plan any updates. This workshop is also suitable for those setting up their first website.

Both workshops are designed to be informal, with plenty of opportunities for questions.

The workshops are available in three locations:

Cullompton Hayridge Centre: Wednesday 4th July

Bridgwater – Victoria Park Community Centre: Friday 27th July.

Plymouth– Genesis, Millfields: Thursday 30th August

Details and booking for each workshop can be found on Cosmic’s Enhance SE Eventbrite page.

Professor Joy Carter University of Winchester

University of Winchester contributes £266m economic value

The University of Winchester contributes over £266 million a year to the regional business community, according to a new report launched this week.

The Economic Value of the University of Winchester shows that more than £203 million a year added income is created by its alumni – the impact of the skills acquired by students remaining in the region – £20 million a year by student expenditure and £42 million a year by university expenditure. The University also contributes nearly 10,000 jobs a year into the regional economy.

The report was unveiled at an event held at the University on Wednesday 13th June featuring speeches from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joy Carter CBE, DL; George McFarlane, CBI (Confederation of Business and Industry) Sector Development Director, on regional development and the role of universities; and Tali Atvars, Winchester Student Union President, on the positive impact made by students.

Professor Carter said: “As a key pillar in the city and county, the University of Winchester creates value in many ways, economically, culturally and socially. We put our students on the path to success, helping them increase their employability and go on to make a difference in the world. We support a range of employment sectors in our region, and supply employers with the skilled workers they need to make their businesses more productive.

The expenditure of the University, along with the spending of its staff and students, further supports the regional economy through the output and employment generated by regional suppliers. The fact that learning makes a difference on the regional economy is well known, but this report quantifies the monetary values of our impacts.”

Clean Air Day 21st June 2018

Join Global Action Plan for Clean Air Day webinar

How to influence your senior management in addressing air quality

Join Global Action Plan on Clean Air Day 2018 (21st June) for a lunchtime webinar (12.30-1.30pm) that will focus on practical ways to successfully encourage your leadership teams to address air quality as an issue and to lend their support to staff engagement activities.

You will be armed with all the information you need to convince your organisation about the importance of action on air quality. And you will hear tips from those who have run successful staff engagement programs on air quality.

The air quality guru, Professor Stephen Holgate, will tell attendees about the latest research showing the impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution on our health, and he will be available to take live questions.

Click here to register.

Global Action Plan Clean Air Day webinar

Phil Hope presenting Louise van Rhyn of Partners for Possibility with Making a Mark competition award

Partners for Possibility named
Making a Mark competition winners

Making a Mark competitionPartners for Possibility (PfP), the flagship programme of Symphonia for South Africa, was named as the winner of the 2018 Social Enterprise Mark CIC ‘Making a Mark’ competition at a celebration at our conference in York on 6th June.

We invited former MP Phil Hope to present the award as part of our annual awards ceremony, which was accepted by Louise van Rhyn , founder of Partners for Possibility/Symphonia for South Africa, who also delivered the opening keynote speech at the conference.

On accepting the award, Louise said:

“It is fantastic for the work of PfP to be recognised in this way. Our innovative programme provides much-needed support and capacity building for school principals who have received little or no preparation for the challenging task of managing a complex organisation with very limited funds amidst crippling social challenges, such as poverty, child-headed households, drug abuse and gangsterism.

It was a pleasure to deliver the opening keynote today, and to share our experiences of how reciprocal learning partnerships between business and community can be a powerful force for positive change.”

Making a Mark competition awardLouise was presented with a special award, created for us by Social Enterprise Mark holder Start Creative *, a social enterprise which provides a range of high quality hand crafted products and services to public, private and social sectors, whilst providing positive commercial experiences to volunteers who are referred via mental health services.

This is the third year of the Making a Mark competition; a celebration of the vast and diverse social benefits created by Social Enterprise Mark holders, which highlights interesting examples of how accredited social enterprises are creating considerable social impact within their local communities and in wider society.

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said, “We are delighted to announce our first African Social Enterprise Mark holder Partners for Possibility as the 2018 ‘Making a Mark’ competition winners. They won because of their clear commitment to tackling a major social need in new innovative ways, by mobilising business, government and civil society to work collaboratively towards addressing the educational challenges facing South Africa. 

As delegates had heard Louise’s inspiring and rousing story at the start of the conference, everyone in attendance was in no doubt of the well deserved winner! Well done to Louise and the whole PfP team.”

PfP was shortlisted alongside five other organisations, including Cosmic and Ealing Community Transport, which were both named as runners up. The competition shortlist was subject to a public vote and a separate vote by the Social Enterprise Mark CIC team, both of which accounted for 50% of the final result.

We would like to extend our congratulations to all of the competition finalists:

  • Making a Mark competition shortlistCosmic
  • Ealing Community Transport
  • East Lancashire Medical Services
  • Live Active
  • Midlands Psychology CIC
  • Partners for Possibility

Start Creative logo*Start Creative is  the commercial arm of Start in Salford, which provides positive commercial experiences to volunteers,  who are referred via primary and secondary mental health services in Salford.

Their volunteers are highly trained individuals at risk of or suffering from mental ill health, all of whom benefit in some way from the creative process that goes into making high quality hand crafted products. Start Creative continually develops in response to the needs of the volunteers that engage in the work to provide a vibrant and supportive working environment and retail opportunities for their work.

Charity Bank: a bank for good

Charity Bank Impact Awards

Social Enterprise Mark holders are invited to attend Charity Bank’s Impact Awards in London (N7 6PA) on Tuesday 26th June 2018.

This is an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary work of social enterprises and the social sector. The reception will run from 6.00pm to 8.00pm, with awards at 7.00pm. There will be drinks and canapés.

For full details and to register your attendance (for free as a guest of Charity Bank) visit charitybank.org/RSVP

Ed Siegel Charity Bank

Charity Bank appoints new chief executive

Charity Bank logoCharity Bank has appointed Edward Siegel as its new Chief Executive. He replaces Patrick Crawford, who will retire and step down as Chief Executive after almost six years.

Ed, who will take up his post with the bank at the end of July, joins from Big Issue Invest (BII), the social investment arm of The Big Issue Group, where he has been Managing Director since 2008. During that time, BII has grown from a book of social enterprise loans of around £2 million to a diverse array of social funds under management of over £65 million.

Last month, Charity Bank announced it had lent over £15.2 million to the social sector in the first three months of 2018; more than any previous quarter in its history. This follows three consecutive years of record lending to charities and social enterprises, with drawn loans growing from £52 million at the start of 2015 to over £120 million today.

Ed will lead the delivery of Charity Bank’s strategy to continue to grow its loan book and to present an ethical savings choice to a wider audience, building on the strong foundations that have been laid.

George Blunden, Charity Bank’s Chairman, said: “Under Patrick’s leadership we have provided loans and support to hundreds of charities and social enterprises, touching the lives of more than one million people from across the UK. As we move towards sustained profit, we are taking steps to extend our support and impact further.

“We believe Ed is the right person to lead Charity Bank as we enter this new phase and take action to address how we can best meet the future expectations and needs of the social sector.

“Ed is an exceptional choice for Charity Bank because of his experience and deep understanding of the social sector. Charities and social enterprises are dealing with many pressing problems and our goal remains to increase the financial options available to them, so they can make a bigger difference to the people and communities they serve.”

Ed Siegel said: “I am delighted to be taking on this role during such an exciting phase of growth for the bank. Charity Bank has a well-earned reputation and one of the strongest brands in our sector. Its mission to use money for good was a key factor in my decision to pursue this opportunity. The bank’s community of borrowers, savers, investors and its team are all working towards one goal – to help strengthen charities and social enterprises so that they can create lasting social change.”

Ed has over 30 years of corporate banking, social investment and business consulting experience. He spent the early part of his career in commercial banking, mainly with Credit Suisse. Before joining BII in 2008, Ed was head of the Small Business Banking practice of ShoreBank International (now known as Enclude) where he oversaw the implementation of SME finance programmes and advised financial institutions throughout the developing world.

George Blunden, added: “Patrick has led Charity Bank with great aptitude and passion. He has taken Charity Bank to the point where it is close to achieving a sustained profit and leaves behind a bank that is achieving record loan and deposit growth and social impacts, for which he should take great credit. Patrick has cemented Charity Bank’s position as the bank of, and for, the social sector.

“I join with my fellow directors and Charity Bank staff to express sincere gratitude and to wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Ed Siegel Charity Bank

Rachel Wang receives honorary doctorate

Chocolate Films Director receives Honorary Doctorate

Chocolate Films Director Rachel Wang recently received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Law as part of a Graduation Ceremony held for more than 900 students at the Barbican Centre in London.

Rachel accepted her Honorary Doctorate from Dame Fiona Woolf, Chancellor of The University of Law, alongside world-leading solicitor James Libson. Also present were Chairman and Speaker, The Right Honourable Professor, the Lord David Blunkett and Pro-Vice Chancellor Bill Bruce.

Rachel is an alumna of The University of Law who, after completing her LPC and working in corporate finance for four years, decided to set up her own video production company, which she has grown into a highly-successful business.

Rachel Wang accepting Honorary DoctorateOn receiving the Doctorate she said: “I’m extremely proud to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The University of Law. It’s such an honour.”

Rachel said she was working on many ongoing projects including creating AV for new exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum and the British Library, working on a longterm documentary project with New Covent Garden Market.

“We are about to shoot a documentary in Germany, Thailand, India and Poland. On the education side of the business, we’re creating series of online training films for a client in Germany. We’re also producing animations about security robots in Scotland, and the effects of skunk cannabis in London.” said Rachel.

Rachel told the new graduates to be brave and confident; “Your degree will open many doors, or if, like me, you want to start your own business, it will be a vital tool for the rest of your career.”

Charity Bank logo

Charity Bank launches ‘Bank On Us’ campaign

Charity Bank, the loan and savings bank owned by charities and social purpose organisations, today announced it has lent over £15.2 million to the social sector in the first three months of 2018; more than any previous quarter in its history. Its loan book has now grown by over 120% since the start of 2015.

Charity Bank 'Bank On Us'As part of its pledge to do more to support the social sector, Charity Bank has launched its ‘Bank On Us’ campaign to reduce the costs associated with taking on a new loan and refinancing an existing loan. This follows an announcement in February that it has increased the interest rate paid on its Ethical Easy Access Account.

Patrick Crawford, Chief Executive of Charity Bank, said: “Despite the challenging and uncertain outlook, charities and social enterprises have continued to take on new projects to address social needs. The resulting loan demand from the social sector has continued and shows no sign of slowing.

“Our Bank On Us campaign is part of our pledge to continue to work side-by-side with social sector organisations seeking to use loan finance to make a bigger difference.

“By reducing the costs associated with taking on a new loan and refinancing an existing loan, we aim to give a little extra back to the charities and social enterprises we have the privilege to work with every day as they help the disadvantaged, enrich lives and improve communities.”

Charity Bank’s record growth in the first quarter of 2018 follows three consecutive years of record lending to the social sector. In 2017 Charity Bank lent £34.1 million to organisations within the sector (2016: £27.9m; 2015: £24.7m).

Charity Bank offers loans to small and large charities and social enterprises. Since 2002, it has lent over £215 million to over 650 social sector organisations. It has a social mission which is protected by its charitable objects and its social sector ownership.

One organisation that is benefiting from a Charity Bank loan is the YMCA Downslink Group, a registered charity working across Sussex and Surrey to provide a variety of services and projects to the local communities, with a focus on helping young people who exist on the margins of society to access opportunities.

Chas Walker, CEO of YMCA Downslink Group, explains how its decision to borrow from Charity Bank was influenced by a desire to work with a likeminded organisation with aligned values:

“Over the last year, we’ve reached over 16,000 young people through supported housing, learning and employability projects, counselling services, and more. We refreshed our business plan at the start of 2016 and knew we needed to increase borrowing to implement our overall investment plan for growth. 

“Mainstream banks aren’t always familiar with charity business models whereas the team at Charity Bank were knowledgeable, understanding and supportive of our plans. They not only offered competitive rates but also the knowledge that any interest we paid to them would go towards a wider social mission. It was an easy decision for our board to make.”

Loans offers

If you make a loan enquiry with Charity Bank by 31st August 2018 and sign a loan agreement with Charity Bank on or before 31st December 2018 for a loan of at least £250k, Charity Bank will:

  • charge no arrangement fee (if you are refinancing from another provider); or
  • make a contribution towards legal and professional fees (for new loans)

For full details of Charity Bank’s loan offer, visit www.charitybank.org/BankOnUs.

Chocolate Films All-Female Film for International Women's Day

All-Female Film for International Women’s Day

To mark International Women’s Day earlier this month, 1000 Londoners (a project of Chocolate Films) released a women-only produced film. Twelve girls and women with no previous experience in filmmaking, guided by two professional female filmmakers, created a three-minute documentary about BAFTA Award-winning producer-director and activist, Yvette Vanson on a Chocolate Films Workshop, produced by Rachel Wang and Sinéad Loftus.

“When I started I expected it to be working with cameras, but I didn’t expect making such an interesting documentary,” says new filmmaker Marla Kellard-Jones. “I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed working with other women, it being kind of a female environment, which you don’t often get in filmmaking.”

The film was made on a filmmaking workshop at the St John’s Hill Community Centre in Wandsworth. Supported by Chocolate Films filmmakers, Ruth Gardiner and Emily Rimmer, the girls and women aged 12 to 50 set out to make a short film about a local woman. Contributor Yvette Vanson was totally up for it and she became much more than the subject of the film, getting involved in the project from sharing her experience during the filming to speaking at the closing event.

Over 5 days, the girls and women researched, shot and edited their very own short documentary. ‘Yvette Vanson, Londoner #280’ is part of 1000 Londoners, the most in-depth and expansive documentary series ever produced about the city.

The Big Issue Shop

Social Enterprises needed for The Big Issue Shop

The Big Issue ShopThe Big Issue has launched a new online shop, to provide a retail platform for organisations that create social impact through the products they sell.

The organisation, famed for its magazine with the hand up not a hand out ideal, is selling products with a ‘social echo’. It focuses on brands that are produced by social enterprises and those that use trade to help people improve their lives.

Products sold in the shop include eye-catching kitchenware from Studio 306 designed and developed by people recovering from mental health issues; there are striking up-cycled accessories by Fikay Fashion that use cement bags and help fuel sustainable work in developing countries like Cambodia; and luxury bodycare products from The Soap Co. – an ethical luxury soap brand that supports blind and disabled people in the UK.

If you are interested in selling your products via The Big Issue Shop, get in touch with Charmaine Crisp to discuss the opportunity.

Roots HR logo

Free salary review from Roots HR CIC

Roots HR salary review offer

Make sure that you are paying your staff an appropriate salary by taking advantage of Roots HR’s offer of free salary benchmarking.

Receive free salary benchmarking for 1 role when you have 4 roles benchmarked, saving £175; Roots HR CIC’s best ever salary benchmarking offer!

Salary benchmarking is a way to determine the market value of a given role.  Having this information informs annual pay reviews, aids recruitment, assists with employee retention and minimises the risk of equal pay claims.

The salary benchmarking package includes:

  • Salary benchmarking research and report for 5 roles *
  • Benchmarking is based on Croners Salary Search and other relevant sector data and includes parameters for organisation’s income, staff numbers and location etc
  • Pay range and recommended pay band for the role provided with explanatory commentary.

*Roles must be benchmarked by 31 May 2018. Standard T’s & C’s apply

Click here for further information.

Interested? Speak to Roots HR on 01562 840060 or email admin@rootshr.org.uk.

Offer available until 5pm on 28th February 2018.

Hope Food Club

Help Hope Enterprises to reduce food poverty in Northampton

Hope Enterprises CIC logoHope Enterprises CIC has launched a Crowdfunding appeal to raise money for its innovative new Food Club project.

This project is a food club, not a foodbank; it’s based on membership, a bit like a food co-operative. People on low incomes will be able to join the food club and through membership can  get access to subsidised food, delivered through pop-up shops in community projects, on deprived estates where they live.  The project will make a real and lasting difference to food poverty in Northampton, which is increasing, and marks an exciting new departure for Hope alongside their continuing homelessness work.

Food is central to Hope’s mission: it’s the one thing people can’t do without. They believe everyone should have access to affordable, healthy food.  Hope currently supplies food through a day centre to people on low incomes, often destitute or homeless, and they also train people in catering and tool repair as a step out of unemployment.

The Food Club project will grow healthy veg and salad, and supply this alongside tinned and packaged food, plus toiletries, at 1/3 shop prices to a new and wider group of people on low incomes.

All the money raised through the appeal will be directed to the project. All ‘profit’ from sales from the club will be recycled into training clients and running the project or our wider charity. No individual will receive any financial benefit from the crowdfunding appeal.

To find out more, watch the short video below:

Social Lab workshop

Introducing Social Lab

Business Launchpad logoIn 2018 Business Launchpad will be running a new series of events, which will showcase social enterprises across a number of industries.

Social Lab is a great way to learn from experienced entrepreneurs, meet peers, potential partners, mentors, supporters, and have fun! The first event will be held on 24th January at the Museum of Happiness, with a focus on social enterprises in the Mind, Body and Fitness space.

For more information, and to book your place, visit the Business Launchpad website.

The Soap Co. win PwC Award

CLARITY-The Soap Co. wins PwC Building Public Trust Award

 

The Soap Co. logoCLARITY-The Soap Co. was named winner of the Environmental Impact Category in the PwC Social Entrepreneurs Club Awards, which were announced at the annual PwC Building Public Trust Awards lunch on 30th November.

These awards recognise PwC Social Entrepreneurs Club members who are implementing innovative and impactful solutions to society’s challenges. The winner is selected by a panel of judges and awarded a trophy and a £5,000 prize.

As part of its submission, CLARITY-The Soap Co. detailed how it recently become proud holders of The Planet Mark™, an internationally-recognised and trusted sustainability certification programme in partnership with the Eden Project. It has also committed to reducing its carbon footprint annually by 5% and to improving accountability in how and from where materials are sourced. Ingredients, bottles and labels wherever possible come from UK suppliers and they are either recycled, compostable or recyclable. CLARITY-The Soap Co. manufactures its products by using 100% green energy – a clear statement of its commitment to the environment.

In addition, the organisation has just formulated a new eco range for both of its brands. The CLARITYECO+ range – with an eco-foaming, biodegradable hand wash made with 100% eco certified ingredients – and The Soap Co.’s new Eco & Bee Friendly collection.

Anja Batista Sonksen, one of CLARITY-The Soap Co.’s Trustees, and Camilla Marcus Dew, Head of Commercial at CLARITY–The Soap Co., received the award from ITN’s Mary Nightingale.

Camilla commented: “It is so gratifying be recognised by the PwC judges as a leading eco-friendly social enterprise that is establishing best practice in how to manufacture great products without ever compromising on our environmental ethos.

“This demonstrates we are on the right track in both delivering and communicating our vision for the future. We pride ourselves on having a no compromise approach; our vision is to make environmentally friendly and socially responsible products mainstream. We have worked hard to better articulate how our social enterprise ethos is integrated into our business practices and to sharpen our proposal both from a marketing and sales perspective.

“We are currently making real headway with our new CLARITYECO+ range and we have already gained the attention of a number of supermarkets. In addition, we have launched our brand new The Soap Co. luxury Eco & Bee Friendly collection that is doing well in what is a hugely competitive market.”

CLARITY–The Soap Co. was also ‘highly commended’ for the second year running in the prestigious, One to Watch award category at the 2017 Social Enterprise UK Awards in November. The award is given ‘for a social enterprise that can clearly articulate their future vision and how they are going to achieve it.’ CLARITY – The Soap Co. was also shortlisted in the Consumer Facing Social Enterprise category, ‘for a social enterprise that produced or delivers a retail product or service to the general public.’

BS3 Community Development Chessel Centre

New public art unveiled to mark completion of Bristol community centre

BS3 Community Development logoA new piece of public art has been unveiled in Bristol to mark completion of a new community centre and nursery, the Chessel Centre, run by social enterprise BS3 Community Development.

Work started on the Chessel Centre, the latest venture by the local charity, formerly known as the Southville Community Development Association (SCDA), late last year and comprises a 54-place nursery, a meeting room for use by local community groups/activities such as after-school clubs for children and social clubs for older people, as well as large outdoor play spaces for the nursery.

Earlier this year a call went out to local artists to produce a piece of work inspired by the local community, working with local primary school children to come up with the creative design. Local artist, character designer and graduate of Bristol School of Animation, Nila Murali was selected to fulfil the brief. Nila has worked with three local primary schools with pupils creating artworks to inspire the final design.

Dr Simon Hankins, Chief Executive Officer at BS3 Community Development commented: “The Chessel Centre has been an ambitious but much needed project for the area, especially to help meet the demand for quality childcare provision in the area. It’s important to us that this is a place where members of the local community can learn, grow, have fun and get together with friends and family.

“Most importantly, we want this to be a place where people can feel proud about being part of the BS3 community and having this art project, created by the community, above the entranceway is a big part of that.”

Nila Murali, commissioned artist, commented: “Bristol has such a terrific reputation for creativity and it was a pleasure to be a part of this project.

“The Chessel Centre is a place for families and particularly young children, so I thought that having young children come up with the concepts and creative ideas really tied in nicely. That element of community spirit was the main reason why I wanted to be part of this project.”

Following the grand unveiling, an exhibition containing all of the artwork created by the local schoolchildren will open in the new community hall at the Chessel Centre in due course. The facilities at the Chessel Centre will open over the coming months, with the new 54 place nursery now open, and the community room opening in the New Year.

For more information please visit bs3community.org.uk.

For more information on artist Nila Murali visit www.nimuarts.com.

Chocolate Films logo

Chocolate Films release Kew animation Love Bug

Chocolate Films Love Bug animationThis summer Chocolate Films Workshops were in residence at the Royal Botanics Gardens Kew, to produce an animation about pollination and pollinators called Love Bug. The film broke the record for the most individual contributions to an animation film, with 2,753 participants all taking part in most aspects of making the Love Bug film, whether that was to cut, model, stick animation props to be filmed.

The film hit the big screen from 1st December at the Richmond ODEON Studios on Red Lion Street (TW9 6RE), and will be shown before the following feature films: Frozen, The Nut Job 2, Despicable 3 and The Man who Invented Christmas.

Take your friends and family, it is a beautiful film made by the general public (all 2,753 of them) and produced by Chocolate Films.

You can view the trailer below:

 

#ElflessActs

Create #ElflessActs this Christmas

Every year 1 in 4 parents go into debt at Christmas trying to buy the perfect presents. Crazily, only 1% of the materials that go into making the stuff we buy are actually still in use 6 months on – that’s a lot of waste stress, resources and money.

This year, Global Action Plan is running an innovative Christmas campaign called Elfless Acts. It’s all about giving your time to friends and loved ones instead of stuff they don’t want or need.

Join the fun at www.elflessacts.org.uk to design amazing gifts in minutes that create memories not receipts. Use it for your team’s Secret Santa, family gifts and more, there are loads of great ideas.

Let’s create more fun and less stuff this Christmas – and focus on what really matters. Check out the hashtag #elflessacts and get giving!

Elfless Acts

Rachel Wang celebrating with Actor, Michael Sheen at the Social Enterprise Awards 2017

Chocolate Films’ Rachel Wang wins UK Social Enterprise Award

Rachel Wang, the Founder and Director of South London social enterprise Chocolate Films, has won the Women in Social Enterprise Award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2017, which were held on 23rd November at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London.

The national awards, organised by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) recognise excellence and outstanding achievements by social enterprises, businesses set up to for a social purpose that reinvest or donate the majority of their profits to meet their mission. There are now nearly 80,000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing £24 billion to the economy each year.

Rachel’s company Chocolate Films was founded with a unique business model for the video production industry. It employs a large full-time team of talented filmmakers who split their time between making films for high profile clients and running creative workshops for children and young people.

Chocolate Films logoChocolate Films has grown organically since it was founded in 2001 and now has offices in London and Glasgow. In 2017, Chocolate Films worked with over 5000 people on workshop projects and shot films in London, LA and Singapore for clients as diverse as Big Issue, Jeep, National Autistic Society, National Gallery, The Royal Society, St Mungo’s and Divine Chocolate.

Chocolate Films is committed to community cohesion and is the production company behind documentary project 1000 Londoners.

“I am thrilled to have won the ‘Women in Social Enterprise’ Award and so proud of my team at Chocolate Films,” says Rachel . “I am passionate about reaching out to diverse community groups and deprived backgrounds. Over the past year we have focused on running empowering projects for young women. We devised an all-female filmmaking project with Peabody Estates and celebrated strong and unique women in London in a special season of 1000 Londoners. The UK Social Enterprise Award is such an amazing recognition of our work.”

The annual celebration of British social enterprises was hosted by comedian Aisling Bea who was joined onstage by SEUK patrons, actor Michael Sheen and director/comedian Chris Addison.

Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK said: “The UK Social Enterprise Awards are a real testament to the dynamism and diversity of the UK social enterprise sector. This year’s winners have included a social enterprise employing IT consultants who bring together the unique talents of people living with autism, coffee carts transforming the lives of those without a home, a film company opening up the creative industries to young people and even a social enterprise dental service working in some of the UK’s most challenging neighbourhoods. 

“Social enterprises are continuing to prove that they’re a force to be reckoned with, they’re creating solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face and showing how business can and should be done.”

Social enterprise supply chain

Rachel Wang and the other winners were presented with bespoke trophies made by the social enterprise, Designs in Mind, which employs people with mental health issues. Social enterprises also supplied all the goods and services on the night, including the catering, rigging, drinks, flower displays and goody bags.

Sponsors of the Awards are the British Council, Big Society Capital, Cordant Group GLL, Good Finance, Here, Landmarc, Natwest, Nominet Trust, PwC, Power to Change, the Co-op, Santander, Wates, Social Investment Scotland and Unity Trust Bank.

1000 Londoners

1000 Londoners Youth Takeover

London’s largest documentary web series 1000 Londoners is handing the reins to young people in the capital for the next 5 months, during which it will release short films made by young filmmakers, aged 11 to 19 as part of this year’s 1000 Londoners ‘Youth Takeover’. All the films have been created by first time young filmmakers that have been trained on Chocolate Films workshops.

Watch the first film, Victoria – Londoner #243:

In the summer, Chocolate Films Workshops returned to Wimbledon Bookfest to train and mentor young people in how to make strong documentaries and discover interesting stories. Participants used cameras and editing software to make these films themselves, supported by filmmaking professionals. The enthusiasm of creative young people as well as passionate facilitators resulted in 10 gripping films, showing Londoners’ lives across 10 different decades.

Heathrow Community Fund also enabled Chocolate Films to run a rich filmmaking programme at West Thames College in Hounslow. Over the course of an academic year, 40 students supported by 6 filmmakers made films about themselves. Working together as peers and being the makers as well as the subjects of the films was a challenge, but the outcome are great stories reflecting young urban life to the limit.

In Islington, 4 films were made at Summerversity , the borough’s free activities and opportunities for young people during the summer holidays. Chocolate Films inspired young people to create fascinating documentaries about healthy living and the people they know in the borough. At Uxbridge College students supported by their Media Teacher created 4 1000 Londoners films as part of their GCSE Media course.

 


About 1000 Londoners

Chocolate Films’ current flagship project 1000 Londoners is the most in-depth and expansive documentary series ever produced about the city. Each week at 1000londoners.com, viewers are able to watch a three-minute film about a new Londoner. The range of stories is as diverse as the city itself. The series includes stories such as Leni whose flat burned down in London’s 2011 riots, David who captains the Woolwich Ferry, political mural artist Brian Barnes OBE, transgender magician Victoria and Samson an ex-gang member now born again Christian. 1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films both produce the films and provide opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films.

Art4Space mosaic class

Mosaic and tile-making classes

Art4Space is continuing their popular mosaic and tile making classes in Stockwell, London on Tuesday evenings in January. You decide what you want to create… for example – mosaic mirrors, panels, frames or table tops, it is up to you!

The classes are run by artists with over 18-years experience who have a real passion for their art forms. The artists will inspire you to explore your creativity in a relaxed learning environment. These classes cover the basics as well as more advanced techniques – dive in at whatever level suits you!

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of mosaic and tile-making which will allow you to progress onto further projects, e.g a mosaic art piece, plant pot, mirror frame, table top etc. Create handmade ceramic tiles using your own design.

“I enjoyed my course so much! Eli and Julie are great tutors with lots of experience!” – Previous participant

This class runs every Tuesday as a drop-in class, and Art4Space also run a 5 week course for £120 or a 10 week course for £230. All materials included in the cost. Refreshments provided (Including a glass of vino if desired!). We also do vouchers, which makes the perfect gift for Christmas.

All classes will run from 6.30pm – 9pm on Tuesdays.

Venue:

Art4Space Community Art Centre, Unit 1, 31 Jeffreys Road, London, SW4 6QU

5 mins from Stockwell tube, free parking.

Cost:

  • 10 week course – £230
  • 5 week course – £120
  • Drop in (per class) – £25

To book a place email Julie Norburn, or call 07816 386270.

Big Issue Invest supports local co-working space with a social purpose

Big Issue Invest logoThe Big Issue’s social investment arm, Big Issue Invest, has teamed up with Connection Crew to launch Canvas in Brixton – a co-working space with a social purpose.

The space offers creative and social ventures a spacious and aspiring base to grow from for a fair price. Any profit generated goes toward helping people out of homelessness and into training and employment.

Connection Crew, the organisation behind Canvas, is a social enterprise providing manpower to the events industry; 25% of its workforce is from a homeless background. Canvas, which benefited from a £45K investment, is based on the whole first floor of its HQ and training centre on Lyham Road, by HMP Brixton.

Director of Connection Crew, Charlie Dorman, commented: “When we moved here in February we thought we’d let our additional space to one commercial tenant. No fuss. Any profit would be used to maintain our training facilities.”

“But then we realised we could make a more inspiring contribution to the local economy by accommodating a range of ambitious, creative and socially responsible businesses instead.”

“It’s more fitting with the culture of diversity and collaboration that thrives here in Brixton. With the support of Big Issue Invest we’re in a position to help build on that.”

Alan Tudhope, Regional Investment Manager at Big Issue Invest said: “A lot of great organisations struggle to access small and medium-sized loans, so we want to provide support for those exciting social enterprises and charities.”

“We are so pleased that we have been able to provide support to Connection Crew in order for them to continue to keep doing the incredible work they do.”

Big Issue Invest launched Impact Loans England, a £5 million lending scheme aimed at enabling social enterprises to access loan funding of between £20,000 and £150,000 in 2016. The programme is funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, with finance being provided by its partners Big Lottery Fund and Big Society Capital.

Canvas will open early next year and is currently open for viewings, visit www.canvasbrixton.space for further information.

IC24’s Clinical Lead Debbie Pullinger (left) and Nurse Prescriber Sarah Birch (right)

Care provider helps with flu vaccinations for Eastbourne’s homeless population

Clinical staff from care provider Integrated Care 24 (IC24) administered vaccinations to homeless people in Eastbourne this week as part of a flu prevention initiative.

IC24 Clinical Lead Debbie Pullinger administering flu vaccination

IC24 Clinical Lead Debbie Pullinger administering the flu vaccination

On the evening of 17th October, clinical staff visited the Salvation Army centre in Langney Road to provide flu jabs to some of the homeless population within Eastbourne. The session was held after Public Health England (PHE) invited IC24 to support a flu vaccination initiative amongst the homeless population in the area. The vaccinations were given at the Salvation Army centre, whilst a hot meal evening was being held.

Clinical staff from IC24’s walk in centre, based at Eastbourne Station, offered to support the initiative and a total of 19 people had the vaccination. IC24 will be working closely with the local Salvation Army to identify other ways in which further support can be provided.

Integrated Care 24 is a not for profit social enterprise, accredited with the Social Enterprise Gold Mark, delivering unscheduled primary care services. In Sussex, IC24 run services including the GP led health centres in Eastbourne and Hastings, and the out of hours GP service across East Sussex.

Debbie Pullinger, Clinical Lead at Eastbourne walk in centre for Integrated Care 24 said: “We are aware that homeless people will not always have the best access to healthcare. They are at high risk of developing flu due to the amount of time spent exposed to the elements, and providing this service will hopefully help reduce the risk of them falling ill during the winter months. There’s a concerted effort nationally to prevent a flu epidemic this winter and reduce the number of admissions to hospital; when we were approached by Public Health England and asked if we would help deliver this programme in Eastbourne we were only too happy to support.”

Dr Max Kammerling, Screening and Immunisations Lead for the PHE in Sussex and Surrey, said: “It is vital at this time of year that we all do as much as we can to help the people most at risk take better care of their health in winter, and avoid becoming so ill that they have to go to a GP or be admitted to hospital. This includes people with chronic diseases, or other health conditions which cause a weakened immune system, and we urge them to get their flu vaccination as they are at much greater risk of the serious complications of flu. People living on the streets or in temporary accommodation are particularly vulnerable when the weather turns cold, and the consequences can be potentially life threatening. Offering flu vaccinations before the flu virus circulates and providing health assessments can make a real difference to protecting them in this difficult time – and we fully support initiatives such as these and encourage all those who are able to do the same.”

intergenerational friendship between older care home residents and nursery children

Intergenerational friendship between the elderly and nursery children

Every Friday a group of excited pre-school children from Bristol don their hi-vis waistcoats ready to take their walking bus down to see their friends at the Amerind Grove residential home for older people.

Last month, children from the Southville Centre nursery featured on the Channel 4 programme The Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds. Emma Morris, Lead Practitioner at the nursery, who also appeared on the programme, said that whilst the emphasis of the production team was on the beneficial outcomes for the older adults, she saw clear benefits for the children too. “After the filming finished I was keen to continue this ground-breaking community development and introduce more of our children to local older adults”.

The Southville Centre, managed by the Southville Community Development Association (SCDA), contacted Bupa Amerind Grove Care Home on Raleigh Road to discuss the idea. As a result of the really positive reaction from the staff at Amerind Grove, 12 children from the nursery now visit the care home every week. Aimee Francis, Early Years Practitioner who leads on the project along with Emma, says that the children’s social skills have definitely improved and they are becoming more confident in their interactions and more comfortable with a wider variety of sensory experiences.

The visiting project is a great example of SCDA’s ethos, as they are passionate about increasing the opportunities for interaction between all members of their community. Based on the latest research about building social confidence and self esteem in both young and older people, games and activities are co-ordinated by the Southville Centre and Amerind Grove staff.

Tim Clark, Head of Family Services at SCDA said: “At the Southville Centre we have always worked hard to ensure we provide support to local groups and the community in wide and diverse ways through running our older people’s clubs as well as our nursery provision.  This project demonstrates the incredible benefits of integrating different generations and the children and older adults alike really look forward to the weekly visits.”

SCDA currently operates the award-winning Southville Centre on Beauley Road in Southville and is developing a second site on Chessel Street in Bedminster, which is due to open this November.

Steve Hawkins, CEO of Pluss

Pluss Work and Health Programme Announcement

The Pluss Organisation CIC is delighted to have been awarded the Work and Health Programme contract for Southern England by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This result will allow Pluss to support an even greater number of people with health conditions and disabilities into sustainable work.

Pluss has a proud heritage of supporting people with health and disability needs and has developed a new model called ‘Opportunities Unlimited’ that will deliver a truly personalised service for job seekers. The key principle to their solution is that with the right support, most people can find work and build a career. They want to ensure that no-one is left behind.

Pluss expects that at least 85% of participants on the programme will have a health condition or disability. They have therefore developed a locally integrated supply chain of specialist providers who will deliver innovative services to jobseekers across the entire Southern region.

The Southern Contract Package Area (CPA) covers the following Jobcentre Plus districts:

  • Devon, Cornwall and Somerset
  • Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Dorset
  • Avon, Severn and Thames (excluding Milton Keynes and Aylesbury)
  • Berkshire, Surrey, Brighton and West Sussex

The needs of customers will be diverse and our delivery is designed to reach isolated coastal towns, dispersed rural communities and urban hubs.

Pluss will also continue to raise the profile of the DWP’s Disability Confident campaign to help employers fill vacancies through a diverse workforce.

Steve Hawkins, Chief Executive at Pluss, said “Pluss is proud that our health and disability expertise and performance has been recognised by the Department for Work and Pensions. We are delighted to have secured this contract which enables us to work with individuals, stakeholders and employers across the Southern region. We believe people of all abilities should be inspired to achieve a career and this has underpinned our vision for over 45 years.”

Pluss will begin delivery of the Work and Health Programme in January 2018. The contract will help over 35,000 people across the Southern CPA into sustainable employment over the next seven years.

Charity Bank logo

New ethical easy access account for charities and businesses

Good Money WeekTo mark Good Money Week (8th to 14th October) Charity Bank, the savings and loans bank with a mission to use money for good, is challenging charities and businesses to consider what their current bank is doing with their money and whether this is aligned with their organisation’s values.

Research commissioned by Charity Bank earlier this year into the attitudes of the public towards various aspects of banking found that 74% of the British public don’t know how their bank is using or investing their savings, whilst 71% would like their bank to make it clearer where their money is invested. In Charity Bank’s experience, there is a growing number of charities and socially-responsible businesses that are concerned about the social and environmental impact of where their savings are invested.

Launched this week, Charity Bank’s Ethical Easy Access Account offers a competitive rate of interest (of 0.50% gross/AER) to organisations looking for same-day access to their deposits. Money saved with Charity Bank is used to provide loans to support the work of charities and social enterprises across the UK. Eligible deposits up to £85,000 are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme.

Justin Hort, Head of Deposit Strategy at Charity Bank, comments: “Moving savings can feel like a big task. However, it’s good practice to regularly review your savings accounts. Whilst the rate of interest often drives savings decisions we also encourage those managing charity or business finances to consider what their current bank is doing with their money.

“Our new Ethical Easy Access Account enables organisations to apply swiftly online, as well as receive personal support from members of our savings team if they wish. Because we are using our savers’ money to fund loans to charities and social enterprises, organisations can ensure their reserves are working for good whilst obtaining a competitive rate of interest.”

Annette Uttley from Voluntary Action Rotherham, a long-standing savings customer, said: “Our aim is to support groups and charities within the Rotherham borough and it’s important to us that every aspect of our work remains in line with our charitable mission. Charity Bank’s reputation and ethos encouraged us to open a deposit account with them in 2010, and its continued positive impact and fantastic customer support have kept us with them ever since.”

Workers at Sandford HydroAt Charity Bank, savers are provided with details of where their money is lent. Sandford Hydro is just one of the places that Charity Bank is helping have an impact. Upon completion, Sandford Hydro will be the largest hydro-electric plant on the Thames, generating approximately 1.6 GWh of clean electricity each year — enough to power around 500 households. Sandford Hydro is the brainchild of local community members, who saw an opportunity to do something good for the environment and to show what can be achieved when a community comes together in this way.

Adriano Figueiredo, Operations Director at Low Carbon Hub, comments: “We approached several banks for funding to help secure the future of Sandford Hydro, but what became clear very quickly was that Charity Bank really cared about our project and wanted to be a part of making it happen. Most commercial banks were singularly focused on the financial side of it, whereas Charity Bank was also interested in the social and environmental impact that our project would create. There was a clear alignment of objectives and we’ve had nothing but support and invaluable help.”

Since 2002, Charity Bank has provided over £195 million of loan finance to support organisations working to enrich and improve society. These loans have facilitated social impact across the UK covering a wide range of sectors. Charity Bank is one of the world’s most ethical companies, according to research carried out by The Good Shopping Guide. It is owned by charitable foundations, trusts and social purpose organisations; its staff do not receive discretionary bonuses. Charity Bank is also the only bank in the UK with the Social Enterprise Mark, recognising its social purpose and social sector ownership.

For more information on Charity Bank’s new Ethical Easy Access Account visit www.charitybank.org or call 01732 441944.

Charity Bank staff celebrate being named among Best for the World in global business honours

Charity Bank named among Best for the World in global business honours

Charity Bank logoCharity Bank, an ethical bank with a mission to use money for good, has been named among companies that are Best for the World in 2017, selected from more than 2,200 Certified B Corporations.

B Corporations are companies that meet the highest standards of verified overall social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability, and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Charity Bank is recognised as being in the top 10 per cent for two categories: Best for Customers for creating the most positive impact on its customers, and Best for the Long Term for creating an innovative governance structure to protect its mission for the long term. B Corporations scoring in the top 10 per cent set a gold standard for businesses wanting to make a positive difference to the world around them.

Charity Bank made the list thanks to its exceptional practices, social sector ownership and social purpose. When you save with Charity Bank, your money is lent to charities and social enterprises working to create lasting social change in communities across the UK. Charity Bank is entirely owned by charitable foundations, trusts and social purpose organisations and its staff do not receive discretionary bonuses.

Charity Bank is a Social Enterprise Mark holder and became the first bank in Europe and sixth organisation in the UK to become a Certified B Corporation in January 2015. Today, there is a growing community of 150 Certified UK B Corporations committed to redefining success in business.

Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, said: “Companies like Charity Bank are proving that business can be a force for good for all stakeholders. We’re proud to share their achievement in a meaningful way. Best for the World is the only list of businesses making the greatest positive impact that uses comprehensive, comparable, third-party-validated data about a company’s social and environmental performance.”    

Patrick Crawford, Chief Executive of Charity Bank, said: “We are proud to be recognised as an organisation that seeks to maximise its social impact. These honours evidence how we put our social purpose and customer interests at the heart of our governance and decision- making. We stand with other organisations using business as a tool to build a better world.”

These honours are based on an independent, comprehensive assessment carried out by B Lab, the non-profit governing body of the standards. The full assessment measures a company’s impact on its workers, community, customers and environment. B Lab simultaneously released separate lists recognising Certified B Corporations as Best for the World (overall impact), Best for Customers, Best for the Environment, Best for Community, Best for the Long Term, Best for Workers and Best for the World: Changemakers.

Mosaic and tile-making classes

Art4SpaceArt4Space has launched a new programme of mosaic and tile-making classes, to run in Stockwell, London on Tuesday evenings from 12th September.

The classes are run by artists with over 15 years mosaic and ceramic experience who have a real passion for their art forms. The artists will inspire you to explore your creativity in a relaxed learning environment. These classes covers the basics as well as more advanced techniques – dive in at whatever level suits you! You will be introduced to the fundamentals of mosaics and ceramic which will allow you to progress onto further projects, e.g a mosaic art piece, plant pot, mirror frame, table top etc

  • We have a studio packed full of amazing materials for you to use and create your own art piece
  • All materials included in the cost.
  • Refreshments provided (that includes a glass of vino if desired!)
  • 10 week and 5 week courses available.
  • 20% discount at the Art4Space mosaic shop when you book a 10 week course.

All classes will run from 6.30pm – 9pm, starting on Tuesday 12th September.

Venue:

Art4Space Community Art Centre, Unit 1, 31 Jeffreys Road, London, SW4 6QU

5 mins from Stockwell tube, free parking.

Cost:

  • 10 week course – £230
  • 5 week course – £120
  • Drop in (per class) – £25

To book a place email Julie Norburn, or call 07816 386270.

#EnhanceSE programme

Enhance Social Enterprise programme of free workshops

As part of the Enhance Social Enterprise (#EnhanceSE) programme, Cosmic is delighted to be delivering two series of free workshops, focussing on Leadership in Social Enterprises, and Getting to Grips with Digital.

#EnhanceSE  is an European Regional Development Fund project, delivering support to social enterprises and social entrepreneurs across Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay, through to December 2019.  Cosmic is an Enhance SE partner, providing up to 12 hours of free support across three areas of business development; digital, leadership and growth, through a mix of workshops and mentoring.

See below for the Autumn Schedule of workshops:

You can view a fuller explanation of each of the workshop series, content, likely audiences and booking process in the below documents:

Bookings can be made online via Eventbrite.

Charity Bank’s loan book exceeds £100 million

Social Enterprise Mark holder Charity Bank, the ethical bank that uses savings to make loans to charities and social enterprises, today announced that its book of drawn loans has exceeded £100 million for the first time. The bank also shared details of its five most recent loans that helped it to reach this milestone.

Since 2002, Charity Bank has provided over £185 million of loan finance to support more than 850 organisations working to enrich and improve society. These loans have facilitated social impact across the UK covering a wide range of sectors, including arts, community, education, environment, faith, health, housing, regeneration, social care and sports.

Patrick Crawford, Chief Executive of Charity Bank, said: “At the start of 2015 we had a loan book of £52.2 million; two and half years later our loan book has almost doubled. Our growth provides further evidence of how more charities and social enterprises are using loan finance to help them deliver their missions.”

“We continue to be inspired by the charities and social enterprises we have the privilege to work with every day as they help the disadvantaged, enrich lives and improve communities. These organisations are the real heroes and it is our role and privilege to be here to support what they do.” 

The five loans that most recently helped Charity Bank grow its loan book to £100 million:

Elderpark Housing Association

Operating in the Govan area of Glasgow that has experienced significant challenges since the decline of its shipbuilding industry, Elderpark Housing Association is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve the quality of social housing available for local people. Currently providing 1,265 rental units, a loan from Charity Bank will enable Elderpark to refurbish 29 more units.

Glossopdale Furniture Project

Since 1997, Glossopdale Furniture Project has been providing good-quality household items at affordable prices to local people on low incomes. All furniture is donated with some being restored or built out of reclaimed material on site, so the project also contributes to recycling and reducing waste locally. A Charity Bank loan will assist with the purchase of a new shop in Glossop.

Hudswell Community Charity

With property and rental prices increasing in the Yorkshire Dales village of Hudswell, many local people with low income can no longer afford to live there. Hudswell Community Charity currently manages three houses in the village. With the help of a Charity Bank loan, the charity is building three more affordable homes, which will be rented to those most in need in the community.

YMCA Black Country Group

From accommodation and childcare provision to employment and health services, the YMCA Black Country Group provides a whole range of opportunities and support networks to help young people from across the Black Country build strong foundations for a better life. A loan from Charity Bank allowed the charity to consolidate its loans on terms that were better suited to its plans for the future.

Stretham & Wilburton Community Land Trust

The two East Cambridge parishes of Stretham and Wilburton came together in 2012 both to address the affordable housing crisis in the area that was resulting in local people and workers having to move away, and to give local people a voice in the development of their community. A Charity Bank loan has enabled the purchase of eight housing units, which will offer housing for 16 persons at below market rent.

Charity Bank’s Loan Portfolio Report for 2017/18 provides many more examples of social sector organisations using loan finance to help them deliver their missions.

University of Northampton logo

University of Northampton given Gold rating for teaching excellence

New Social Enterprise Gold Mark holder The University of Northampton has recently achieved a second Gold – it was given the Gold Award in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest rating possible, which places it among the elite of the UK’s higher education institutions.

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) has been introduced as the only official table which recognises high-quality teaching that better meets the needs of employers, business, industry and the professions, in addition to guiding students on the best places to study.

The official judgement by the Government’s review states: “Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that the University of Northampton delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.”

The Government looked at official data and details of what the University provides to its students, and found the following to be “outstanding”:

  • Levels of employment or further study for our graduates;
  • Assessment and feedback;
  • A personalised student experience;
  • Academic support;
  • Our approach to involving students in research, scholarship and professional practice – particularly research in the community and sector-leading work focused on social enterprise.

University of Northampton Vice Chancellor Professor Nick Petford, pictured, said:

“This rating by the Government is confirmation that the University of Northampton is one of the finest teaching institutions in the UK, offering our students an experience that many promise but few can deliver. Our staff and the students who have studied with us – both in the UK and overseas – can take pride today in this outstanding achievement. We may be one of the youngest universities in the UK – but are officially one of the best.”

“It is particularly pleasing to be recognised as a sector leader in social enterprise, something we have been building on strategically since 2010.  Our promise now is to build on this recognition of teaching excellence and continue to deliver our mission to transform lives and inspire change.”

The Government asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to implement the 2017 TEF exercise. Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said: “Students invest significant amounts of time and money in their higher education. They rightly expect a high-quality learning experience and outcomes that reflect their potential. The UK already has a high bar for quality and standards, which all universities and colleges must meet. But the TEF judges excellence above and beyond this, clearly showing the highest levels across the sector.”

“The TEF measures the things that students themselves say they care about: high-quality, engaged teaching and a supportive, stimulating learning environment which equips them with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential, and then to progress to a good job or further study.”

The TEF results and the evidence used in the assessment can be found at www.hefce.ac.uk.  The TEF awards will also be published on Unistats and the UCAS website, alongside other information, to help inform prospective students’ choices.

You can find out more about The University of Northampton’s Gold Award on its dedicated webpage.

CLARITY logo

Social enterprise launches new eco-foaming hand wash

New Honey Blossom Eco Foaming Hand Wash from Social Enterprise Mark holder CLARITY, is launched into large organisations and the government to support the employment of blind, disabled and otherwise disadvantaged people.

Developed in co-operation with the Cabinet Office and Interserve, the product, and the fact that CLARITY now holds The Planet MarkTM, emphasises their endeavour to improve environmental credentials.

The hand wash, made with 100% eco certified ingredients, is vegan, biodegradable and allergen, gluten and GMO free.  In addition, it is free from SLS, sulphates and parabens making it efficient and environmentally friendly for CLARITY’s customers. Care has gone into the selection of each and every ingredient.

The foaming hand wash uses just 20% of the dosage compared to the liquid alternative so will last five times as long.  Studies1 have found that foaming technology reduces the amount of water used by almost 10% whilst increasing the likelihood that individuals will wash their hands; promoting good hand hygiene.

The hand wash has been developed as a Buy Social Corporate Challenge product, an initiative from Social Enterprise UK, which Interserve is a partner of and the Cabinet Office supports. It aims to get businesses to spend £1 billion with social enterprises, such as CLARITY, by 2020. This hand wash makes it easy to switch your soap for social good.

Large corporations and Buy Social Corporate Challenge partners are planning to support the initiative by purchasing the hand wash, whilst several government departments are also set to switch to the new CLARITY range.

The hand wash is the first in CLARITY’s new environmentally friendly range – CLARITYeco. All the products in this range are being created with the environment at the forefront of the design process and will use natural, cruelty and paraben/SLS free ingredients.

Camilla Marcus-Dew, Head of Commercial at CLARITY said: “We are delighted to launch our new eco foaming hand wash with the support of our Buy Social Corporate Challenge partners. The result is an environmentally friendly product which will be loved by all employees, customers and visitors. It has secured employment for our staff, creating social value in many communities across the UK. We look forward to rolling it out to other Government departments and corporations.”

Richard Beattie, Director of Procurement at Interserve said: “At Interserve, we take our sustainability responsibilities very seriously – both from an environmental and social capital perspective. So, we are really pleased to be working with the CLARITY team to bring the first Buy Social Corporate Challenge product to market. This new product strengthens CLARITY’s offering by combining social impact and eco-friendly credentials – it’s a great product which I’m sure our clients will love.”

Peter Holbrook CBE, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK said: “This is a fantastic example of what’s possible when the public, private and social enterprise sectors collaborate to bring a commercial solution to market that will change the lives of disabled people. The Cabinet Office were a founding strategic partner of the Buy Social Corporate Challenge, so it’s great to see them “walking the walk” through buying from social enterprises themselves. We’d like to now see other government departments, as well as more businesses, follow in their footsteps.”

Graduates

Recognising social enterprise excellence in Higher Education

Three UK Higher Education Institutions have become the latest organisations to be awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Gold Mark, in recognition of their social enterprise excellence.

Plymouth College of Art, The University of Northampton and the University of Winchester join a growing network of gold standard social enterprises, which have proven their commitment to creating lasting positive impact on people and planet, through their trading operations.

Following a rigorous assessment process, the Social Enterprise Gold Mark awards were presented at our annual conference in Winchester on Monday 5th June. The awards were presented by James Evans, who is a member of the independent Certification Panel, which upholds the rigour of the assessment process and oversees the process of applications and assessments. The panel has the final decision on all applications for the Social Enterprise Gold Mark.

The Social Enterprise Gold Mark offers enhanced accreditation to social enterprises wishing to demonstrate their excellence, assessing three essential areas of business operations:

  • Governance – stakeholder representation in strategy and operation
  • Business ethics – complaints handling, diversity, equality, pay, workplace issues and social auditing
  • Social impact and financial transparency – how income and profits are used to create added social and environmental impact

The accreditation focuses on measuring what makes a social enterprise excellent, and how they can continue to improve their impact. Successful applicants receive an individually tailored action plan for continuous improvement, in line with guidelines of best practice.

Hannah Harris, Director of Development, and Professor Andrew Brewerton, Principal and Chief Executive of Plymouth College of Art, with the Social Enterprise Gold Mark award

Hannah Harris, Director of Development, and Professor Andrew Brewerton, Principal and Chief Executive of Plymouth College of Art, with the Social Enterprise Gold Mark award (Photo credit: Dom Moore)

Professor Andrew Brewerton, Plymouth College of Art’s Principal and Chief Executive said: “Creative learning is transformational: in terms of individual lives, the life of our community and its prosperity within the UK’s world-leading creative economy. The work of our staff and students at Plymouth College of Art and at The Red House, home to Plymouth School of Creative Arts, is deeply embedded in our community, and we feel honoured and delighted that this commitment over many years has been recognised with the Social Enterprise Gold Mark. This is in truth an acknowledgement of our community as a whole, and everybody across our networks of social engagement in Plymouth as a Social Enterprise City.”

Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of The University of Northampton receiving the Social Enterprise Gold Mark from James Evans

Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of The University of Northampton receiving the Social Enterprise Gold Mark from James Evans

Wray Irwin, Head of University Centre for Employability and Engagement at The University of Northampton, said: “Northampton leads the charge when it comes to learning that makes an impact on society. Our whole way of working reflects this; making a difference is in our DNA. Receiving professional recognition for this is great news, but the Social Enterprise Gold Mark in particular is testament to the dedication at Northampton, from students and staff alike to ‘do good things’ in the world beyond university. It goes without saying that the award really belongs to all of them. We all look forward to continuing on this path in the months and years ahead.”

Professor Joy Carter of University of Winchester receiving Social Enterprise Gold Mark from Lucy Findlay

Professor Joy Carter of University of Winchester receiving Social Enterprise Gold Mark from Lucy Findlay

Professor Joy Carter, Vice Chancellor at The University of Winchester, said: “As a values-driven university, all we do is closely aligned to the Social Enterprise Gold Mark priorities. From divesting our fossil fuel linked investments, our pioneering work with care leavers and others who are underrepresented in higher education, through to our world-leading research in peace and reconciliation, we are a university driven by a passion to make a difference. Big ideas, growing flourishing people and communities, being the difference for a better world. So we are delighted to have the Social Enterprise Gold Mark to help us both communicate our unique focus and priorities, as well as to be continuously challenged.”

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, added: “We are delighted to welcome these organisations to our expanding network of ‘gold standard’ social enterprises. We have seen an increasing interest from the Higher Education sector over the last 12 months, which is an encouraging development, as it symbolises a commitment to creating social change, for which such institutions have a huge potential scope to achieve.”

Please click here for more information about the Social Enterprise Gold Mark.

Ealing Community Transport named Making a Mark competition winners

Ealing Community Transport, part of national charity ECT, was named as the winner of the 2017 Social Enterprise Mark CIC ‘Making a Mark’ competition at a celebration at our recent conference in Winchester. They were presented with a special award, created for us by Designs in Mind*, a social enterprise studio of designer makers who have been referred through mental health services.

Becky Casement of ECT accepting the Making a Mark competition award from James Evans

Becky Casement of ECT accepting the Making a Mark competition award from James Evans

This is the second year of the Making a Mark competition; a celebration of the vast and diverse social benefits created by Social Enterprise Mark holders, which highlights interesting examples of how accredited social enterprises are creating considerable social impact within their local communities and in wider society.

We invited James Evans of the Certification Panel to present the award, which was accepted by Becky Casement from Ealing Community Transport. James commended all the finalists on their achievements and congratulated them on making the shortlist, before presenting certificates to all the finalists who were in attendance at the conference.

Anna Whitty MBE, Chief Executive of ECT Charity, said: “We are thrilled to have been named as the winners of this year’s Making a Mark competition for our continued work to measure our social impact. We are committed to providing high quality, safe, friendly, accessible and affordable transport in local communities, so it’s really important that we can measure how well we are achieving these aims and what difference it makes.”

“In the last year alone ECT Charity has enabled more than 98,000 passenger trips for individuals and more than 60,000 group trips for over 400 community groups. We have also been able to calculate our social impact using our recently developed methodology. It allows us to demonstrate that in the past year ECT’s charitable activities have had a social value of £1.3 million; in the London Borough of Ealing alone, community transport could save up to £4.1 million annually by reducing isolation and loneliness. We are incredibly proud of these achievements and would like to thank Social Enterprise Mark CIC for their recognition of our work in this award.”

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said, “We are delighted to announce the long standing Social Enterprise Mark holder Ealing Community Transport as the 2017 ‘Making a Mark’ competition winners. They won because of their ability to demonstrate their social impact across a wide range of groups, including helping overcome social isolation. They clearly demonstrate social impact created for individuals using the transport, as well as contributing to the sustainability of local community groups. Well done to Anna and the whole ECT team.”

Selected from the diverse international network of accredited social enterprises, Ealing Community Transport was shortlisted alongside 6 other organisations, including The Big Issue Group and Epic CIC, which was named as the runner up. The competition shortlist was subject to a public vote and a separate vote by the independent Certification Panel, both of which accounted for 50% of the final result.

Maxine Willetts of Epic CIC accepting runner up certificate Making a Mark competition

Maxine Willetts of Epic CIC accepting runner up certificate for the Making a Mark competition

Nigel Kershaw of Big Issue Group with James Evans and Big Issue vendor Kevin Collick

Nigel Kershaw of Big Issue Group with James Evans and Big Issue vendor Kevin Collick


We would like to extend our congratulations to all of the competition finalists:

  • Connection Crew
  • Ealing Community Transport
  • Emmaus Cambridge
  • Epic CIC
  • South Shropshire Furniture Scheme
  • The Big Issue Group
  • Warrington Health Plus CIC

 


*Designs in Mind design and make products, working in textiles, wood, wire and glass. Through their work they aim to challenge mental health stigma and the predominant culture of low expectation which surrounds their designer makers, all of whom are adults referred through mental health services.

The Making a Mark award was created by a team of designer makers, including Amy, who explains her journey at Designs in Mind in this blog post. As a result of working on this award, Amy is now volunteering for Designs in Mind in public screen printing workshops.

Please click here to find out more about Designs in Mind.

Charity Bank: a bank for good

Big Society Capital invests a further £2.5 million in Charity Bank

Charity Bank announces strong start to the year as Big Society Capital invests a further £2.5 million

Big Society Capital has invested £2.5 million in the share capital of Social Enterprise Mark holder Charity Bank and has committed in principle to invest a further £2.5 millionon or before 1st December 2017. This will complete Big Society Capital’s pledge in March 2014 to invest up to £14.5 million in ordinary shares of Charity Bank.

Charity Bank, the ethical bank that uses savings to make loans to charities and social enterprises, has lent over £180 million since 2002. Charity Bank is run for the sector and owned by the sector, as all of its shareholders are charitable trusts, foundations and social purpose organisations. This further investment from Big Society Capital will allow it to make more loans to social sector organisations in the coming years.

This investment is made as Charity Bank experiences continued growth. Charity Bank has had a strong start to the year with £28 million of new loan approvals in the first five months of 2017. This continues the momentum since Big Society Capital’s initial investment in 2014, with the loan book growing by over 25% per year in the two years to 31st December 2016.

George Blunden, Chairman of Charity Bank, says: “These further injections of capital from Big Society Capital will enable us to meet the growing demand for loans from charities and social enterprises.”

“Share capital is vital to our mission. It underpins the bank and enables us to leverage our savers’ money. An investment in Charity Bank creates a multiple effect – for every £1 of share capital invested we can lend £8 to help create lasting social change in our communities.”

“When Big Society Capital pledged its original investment, we said that we hoped it would be the first of a small number of significant new investors over the next five to ten years. The Mercers Charitable Foundation invested a further £1 million in 2015 and the Barrow Cadbury Trust invested £250,000 in 2016.”

“We are inviting other charitable trusts, foundations and social purpose organisations to invest in our share capital and join with us in using the tools of finance to create a better society for all.”

Anna Shiel, Head of Origination of Big Society Capital says: Big Society Capital’s investment in Charity Bank plays an important role in making capital available to small and medium sized charities. Over 850 loans have now been made to organisations totalling more than £180m. These loans have helped support people all around the UK, with 97% of organisations saying it has contributed to achieving their mission and 68% saying the loan helped them to expand their services. Upon the completion of our investment, we look forward to seeing more people and communities supported by their work.”

Patrick Crawford, Chief Executive of Charity Bank, says: “The stable quality and growing size of our loan book demonstrate that loans can be an important and effective tool for social sector organisations seeking to make a bigger difference to the world around them.”

“In the face of a shifting political, social and economic outlook, one thing is certain: the social sector will continue to play a vital role in addressing the needs of communities across the UK. At Charity Bank, we have the resource and capacity to play our part. We are here to help charities and social enterprises adapt, take advantage of new opportunities and create a better world.”

A team from Linklaters led by Aisling Zarraga and Rebecca Rigby acted on a pro-bono basis for Charity Bank, supporting its General Counsel in advising the Board on Big Society Capital’s investment. Linklaters has contributed over 1,000 hours of specialist legal advice to Charity Bank over the past four years.

Have we forgotten to ask how we can BE and DO better?

By Caroline Bartle, Managing Director of 3 Spirit UK

I started to write this blog at the start of the year. Normally this is a time most people take stock and ask how can we BE and DO better?  However, within our social care sector, this reappraisal is not new, but rather ongoing, and insidious.  We are constantly being asked, how we can DO better. For many services this has resulted in cutting back, and prioritising profitability.

However, what is the impact of this?  Is there a hidden cost of dwindling social care funding, creating highly competitive, low cost, low value services? Has this disproportionate focus on the turning a profit  taken us away from more ethical aspects of our work, as we forget to ask how can we BE better? Surely the test of how we can ‘BE’ better as a social care service lies within the ‘social impact’ that we have, not in the profit that we accrue.

About twenty years ago after a relatively short career in social work I became a proprietor of a social care business at the age of 27, and when I look back over the last two decades I see the factor which drove me to business was the freedom to BE the person that I wanted to be. Because of this, I get immense pleasure from my work, and my collaborations. I spend time working with the individuals that I chose, and I have the opportunities to learn about, and develop what I determine as critical, interesting and applicable. I am motivated, engaged and free to be innovative. My values are at the heart of my business, sometimes at the expense of profit.  Over the years my values have evolved. As a young entrepreneur, I was always interested in creating and sharing, however now I am more concerned about how these collaborations impact on our communities, collectively and positively.

Despite being a ‘for profit’ organisation, we shared our resources, widely and openly (with no material gain), and attempted to reach out to individuals and organisations through our work. Whilst we have had many supporters, we have also been met with some alarming responses: individuals proactively unfollowed us, and actively excluded us. It was disappointing and deeply demotivating. There appears to be a lack of trust in our sector: driven possibly by competitive, anti-collective forces.   Consider though what the possibilities might be for our sector if we are able to foster trust, and build alliances beyond the competitive limitations of market forces. What if we all shared common goals, the communities that we serve? What if there was a less of a ‘me’ mentality and more of an ‘us’?

The growth of a market was stimulated, in part with the introduction of the Community Care Act, and has relied on competitive forces, creating best value. However, how effectively does this model work now, in this current climate?

In 2012 the government introduced the Public Services (Social Value) Act in an attempt to get commissioners to consider the social impact of their buying power. However, this only applies to high value contracts. So what of all the other services, or individuals, purchasing services in their community? Whilst these services are regulated by the CQC, many are driven by profit, and may not always be making their decisions in the interests of ALL of their stakeholders.  If we are to really make a ‘shared society’ work, should we not ‘expect’ that social enterprises are afforded preferential treatment at a local buyer level? In 2015 there was a review of the implementation of the Social Value Act, suggesting that the Act be extended to contracts below the public spend threshold. It is my view this could be extended further than suggested.

In the healthcare market we have already seen many services become social enterprises. Health has long had an expectation that it should service all stakeholders, as since the introduction of the NHS, it has been free at the point of delivery.

However, that is not the case for social care: the expectation remains that many providers maintain a ‘for profit’ status. Many business minded individuals identify opportunities in a growth market, particularly in the community, where there is a growing need to support individuals with more complex levels of care. The question is – how sustainable is this in the current market? Does the social enterprise model work better in this climate, and if so – should commissioners consider this as part of their market shaping strategy as part of a long term goal for smaller, as well as large organisations? Could this be applied across all types of services, particularly training services like us, whom should be embodying an example, as advocates of ‘best practice’.

So, what are your driving values as a proprietor? To make a profit or make a difference? Whilst on the face of it, it may be a little more complex than that, determining the overriding priorities will help to properly focus priorities on outcomes. As an education provider in social care, we aim to buck the trend, and embody this change.

Social enterprise  is a more comfortable fit for us: synergy with stakeholder expectations and our activities. Through raising awareness, we aim to provide better insights into the experience and needs of the individuals we support in the social care sector.  From a business perspective, it seems to make sense, as it is through trading that we may have a bigger impact in society.

Visionary device scoops £20k award

An innovative device, which will improve the quality of life of thousands of people with double vision, has received £20,000 after winning a top award.

Social Enterprise Mark holder The Beacon Centre and University of Wolverhampton joined forces to offer the 2017 Beacon Visionary+ Challenge Award. The winner of the award has been announced as the Lens Slip Occluder, which was developed by Burton-on-Trent company DHC Informatics Ltd.

The revolutionary Lens Slip Occluder has been developed primarily to treat and alleviate diplopia (double vision) but it can also be effective in the treatment of visual disturbance caused by such conditions as multiple sclerosis, stroke, head injury, cataracts and glaucoma. It is an optical device worn over a pair of glasses to improve vision when reading books, magazines or newspapers, watching television or using a computer.

The award consists of £10,000 social investment from Beacon and £10,000 worth of consultancy support from the University of Wolverhampton. The winner was chosen from a shortlist by a panel of leading tech entrepreneurs and sight loss experts, chaired by Dr Stephen Fear, the ‘phonebox millionaire’.

DHC Informatics’ Director Rebecca Harrison said: “Diplopia is one of the most common vision disorder in the UK today.  There are over 100,000 MS sufferers and over 150,000 people suffer a stroke each year, more than half of whom will experience problems with diplopia or blurred vision.

“Occlusion is one of the first line treatments recommended by the RNIB, NHS and MS Society.”

DHC Informatics was supported through development of the new product concept by the Innovative Product Support Service (iPSS), which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is available to small companies across the West Midlands Region.

Professor Andrew Pollard, iPSS Project Director at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We were delighted to see the design work carried out by the iPSS team lead on to such great recognition for DHC, and it demonstrates once again that there is always room for innovation.”

In making the award, Arwyn Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Beacon, said:  “We were particularly impressed with the presentation from DHC and the fact that their new product can quickly get to market and benefit people with double vision disorders. Beacon is delighted that the competition prize will be used to help the business move forward and develop new products. Our investment has inspired an innovative sensory solution that delivers on the aims of the charity.”

Rebecca Harrison of DHC Informatics added: “The design help we received from iPSS was fantastic and we are delighted that we will now be able to carry out further research and development at the University of Wolverhampton having won the Beacon prize.”

New Digital Marketing apprenticeship scheme with top Devon employers

Social Enterprise Mark holder Cosmic is an advocate when it comes to apprenticeships. They took on their very first apprentice, Ben, in 1998 and he is still a valued member of the team. Since that time, apprenticeships have changed and Cosmic has evolved their offering to suit the needs of those looking for this type of work.

In 2013, Cosmic secured funding to run their very own digital apprenticeship programme, which saw them employ six young people and gave the opportunity to provide them with a wealth of digital knowledge. The apprenticeship enabled these young people to work on a variety of areas within the business. This includes website design and development, technical support, digital marketing and training; as well as the opportunity to gain placements with a number of partners, including Mole Valley Farmers, Yarlington Housing and Eloquent Technologies.

Since then, Cosmic has been working with the Exeter and Heart of Devon employment and skills board to look at different ways in which we can offer apprenticeships. We are all aware that there is currently a skills shortage within the digital sector. Many organisations recognise the need for digital within their businesses, but do not have the expertise to support these roles or do not need these roles on a full-time basis. With this in mind, Cosmic has designed an apprenticeship model which allows other organisations to benefit from Cosmic’s digital skills and offers a more flexible approach. They have called it the ‘Carousel Apprenticeship’.

In 2016, Cosmic held talks with several members of the Exeter and Heart of Devon employment and skills board around this approach and it was agreed to move forwards with two other employers: The Deer Park Hotel and River Cottage.

So how does it work? Cosmic have employed a digital marketing apprentice; Gemma Spencer, who began the new programme in February 2017. Gemma attends college for 1 day a week and works at Cosmic for 1 day a week. During that time, she focuses on learning a range of digital marketing skills. She then works 1 day at the Deer Park Hotel and 2 days at River Cottage, allowing her to apply her learning to different organisations. The businesses benefit from a skilled digital apprentice and Gemma benefits from a wide range of learning through a number of organisations.

Already, Gemma is embracing the new way of working and has grasped the opportunity with both hands. She says, “I am looking forward to this new type of apprenticeship.  Being able to work with different companies such as Cosmic, The Deer Park and River Cottage is a fantastic opportunity, giving me the chance to build strong relationships and gain as much experience as possible. One of the things I am looking forward to the most is being able to experience different working platforms, and interacting with so many different people. This will teach me to keep an open mind and have multiple perspectives for each company and their brand. Every day in the week will be something new with different surroundings and I’m more than excited for the opportunity”.

Cosmic joint CEO Julie Hawker said, “Cosmic has for many years made a major commitment to its own apprenticeship programme, and has offered new opportunities and employment to local young people. This new initiative to share our passion and commitment, as well as employment of apprentices with other local employers, is a fantastic development and one which we look forward to replicating many times in the years ahead.”

Managing Director of the Deer Park, Mark Godfrey advised “Deer Park are committed to the apprenticeship scheme and are proud of what we have achieved with our partners; River Cottage, Bicton College and Exeter College. We have had 6 apprentices working with us in the last 4 years and it’s great to see them all develop and move up the employment ladder with good qualifications.

We have been lucky enough to have apprentices from Bicton in our garden department growing produce for our River Cottage apprentices to cook for our 2 Rosette restaurant served by our Front of House apprentice from Exeter College. Now that’s a great example of plot to plate and growing your own!

And now working with Cosmic and River Cottage we have the great opportunity to have a Digital Marketing Apprentice working with us one day a week under a newly developed Carousel scheme, a fantastic opportunity for Gemma.”

All partners are delighted to be running this new programme and cannot wait to report on the programme at the end of 18th month scheme. Cosmic is extremely proud of the apprenticeships they have offered over the last 19 years. They will continue to look for new innovative ways in which to reduce the skills gap and enable other organisations to embrace technology through apprenticeships.

The most rewarding ISA in the world?

The British public wants banks to lend to organisations and projects that benefit society, but most people do not know what happens to their savings while they are deposited with their bank.

This is one of the findings of a new piece of research conducted by Social Enterprise Mark holder Charity Bank, the ethical bank with a mission to use money for good, as it launches its campaign and film to persuade the public to transfer their Cash ISA to an ethical provider.

Charity Bank commissioned Opinium to research the attitudes of the general public towards various aspects of banking. This research found that:

  • 74% of the British public don’t know how the money they save in their bank is being used or invested;
  • 71% would like their bank to make it clearer where their money is invested;
  • 56% would like to be an offered an ethical option when choosing a savings account; and
  • 61% would consider opening a savings account that paid a fair rate of interest and lent money to charities and other good causes.

Patrick Crawford, Charity Bank’s Chief Executive, said, “People don’t know what banks do with their money but the findings tell us that there is an appetite to find out and that people would like their savings to be used for good causes.

“Wherever it’s invested, money takes a journey. This might be around the globe, around the big banks or on the stock markets. Sometimes it does good along the way; sometimes it doesn’t.

“When you open a Cash ISA with Charity Bank, we give you a fair rate of interest, whilst making sure your money takes a shorter journey. It spends less time travelling and is invested directly in charities and projects that benefit people across the UK.

“At Charity Bank we are transparent about the organisations to which we lend, sharing stories of change and social impact data from the charities and social enterprises that we support. This is why we think our ISA might just be the most rewarding Cash ISA in the world.”

Details of Charity Bank’s Ethical 33-Day Notice Cash ISA:

  • 0.90% Gross/AER;
  • Up to £15,240 a year (2016/17 tax year allowance) can be saved;
  • Open to transfers-in from current ISA managers;
  • Minimum opening balance of £250;
  • 33-day notice period; and
  • Available to UK residents aged 16 and over.

For full details visit the campaign page.

Rachel Wang Nominated for the UK’s Largest Diversity Awards

Rachel Wang FRSA, a black business leader and social entrepreneur from Wandsworth, has been nominated for the Entrepreneur of Excellence Award at The National Diversity Awards 2017.

The Breathtaking Liverpool Anglican Cathedral will play host to this year’s awards, to be held on 8th September. Britain’s most inspirational and selfless people will come together to honour the rich tapestry of our nation, recognising individuals and groups from grass-roots communities. The prestigious black tie event recognises nominees in their respective fields of diversity including age, disability, gender, race, faith, religion and sexual orientation.

Rachel Wang is an award-winning Black British filmmaker with fifteen years experience producing digital content for museums and galleries. Rachel is the founder of Social Enterprise Mark holder Chocolate Films, a video production company based in Battersea, where she oversees the production of factual content for a wide range of clients including The National Gallery, TATE, Museum of London, IoD, National Autism Society, Facebook and Arup.

Rachel set up Chocolate Films as a not-for-profit social enterprise that runs an extensive outreach programme alongside its film production services. Chocolate Films Workshops offers opportunities and training in media to over 2000 disadvantaged young people every year. Rachel is also the Creative Director of the largest documentary series ever made about a city – www.1000londoners.com, a community cohesion project that celebrates the diversity of the capital.

The National Diversity Awards receives over 20,000 nominations and votes annually. Founder & CEO Paul Sesay said, “Unlocking Britain’s diverse talent and rewarding unsung champions remains at the heart of these awards. As we enter our 6th year, I know there are still so many game changers who remain unnoticed and unheard. We aim to provide a platform for those who have the passion and determination to spread the positive message of inclusivity. I look forward to learning about this year’s nominees and witnessing their spectacular journeys.”

Nominations are now open and close 9th June 2017 – so don’t miss out on your chance to get involved! Shortlisted nominees will be announced shortly after this date. To nominate Rachel Wang please visit nominate.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk, or for a nomination form please email emma@nationaldiversityawards.co.uk.

Cockpit Arts – ‘Cockpit Effect’ Report

Makers’ engagement with Cockpit Arts’ Business Incubation equals greater success

Social Enterprise Mark holder Cockpit Arts has recently published its Cockpit Effect Report on the growth and development of craft businesses based at their two business incubation centres in London.

Having celebrated their 30th Anniversary year in 2016 and reflected on the evolution of the business, they are now fully focused on the future. The celebration of Craft and Makers, alongside addressing of the question, ‘Why does an organisation like Cockpit Arts exist and what is its purpose?’ will still continue, since this is the question they continually ask themselves in order to respond effectively to makers changing needs. However, at the same time they will also examine the effect of what they do.

Key findings

The annual Cockpit Effect Report is based on Partnership Reviews conducted with makers at Cockpit Arts during the 12 months to October 2016. These reviews captured data for the two preceding years, allowing a comparison to previous Cockpit Effect reports and to any external reports.

  • The Cockpit Effect Report 2017 highlights that the greatest possible impact – financial, social and cultural – is generated by makers who engage the most in Cockpit Arts’ Business Incubation services.
  • Financial performance: Looking at the group as a whole, the results are very positive. Average turnover rose by 14% from 2013/14 to 2014/15 and at £58,099 for 2014/15 is nearly double that reported in 2010. This is also significantly higher than the average craft business related income of £19,827 reported by the Craft Council in 2012. Average profit for 2014/15 was £14,004, 47% higher than 2010.
  • Cultural Achievements: The non-financial cultural based data collected for the whole group was also encouraging, with many makers reporting gaining major stockists (24%); being featured in a major publication (26%); securing grant or funding support (18%) and being selected for a major selling event (35%).
  • Social Impact: The Partnership Reviews ask makers about major changes within their businesses: The two most cited changes are improved profile (45%) and improved web/social presence (51%).
  • Employment: As a group, makers’ contribution to employment continues to be significant. Just under 10% of makers directly employ on a PAYE basis (the same level reported in our previous Cockpit Effect) whilst 61 (54%) either employ freelancers or outsource part or all of their production. Commitment to entry level employment is high, with 27% taking on interns and 8% offering places to apprentices. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the support provided by Cockpit Arts’ Creative Employment Programme.
  • Engagement: Where engagement with the Business Incubation team is greater, the results are better, as evidenced by the makers featured as Maker Stories. Read more below.
  • Awards & Bursaries: Makers joining as part of an Award or Bursary programme need a rigorous framework to ensure the best possible outcomes within the duration of their short term award. Those who do engage fully with the business incubation offer show the best results.

The Cockpit Effect 2017 findings will be taken into account as Cockpit Arts evolve their incubation offer for the future and consider options for further expansion. In the meantime, they are committed to communicating makers’ successes more widely: they believe that individual successes they may be, but collectively they have the power to affect the Craft sector as a whole by influencing and inspiring others.

The full report can be viewed on the Cockpit Arts website.

SCDA launch local social bond offer for new community centre and nursery

Social Enterprise Mark holder Southville Community Development Association (SCDA) and Triodos Bank have launched a bond offer to help raise £280,000 towards the cost of the Chessel Centre, a new £1.19m community hub and nursery in Bedminster, Bristol.

The centre, which will open in the autumn, will comprise a 54-place nursery, a meeting room for use by local community groups/activities such as after-school clubs for children and social clubs for older people, as well as large outdoor play spaces for the nursery.

Working in partnership with the corporate finance team at Triodos Bank, the SCDA bond is expected to pay 4% gross fixed annual interest for six years. The minimum investment is £500 and investors in the project may be eligible for Social Investment Tax Relief.* Payment of interest and repayment of capital are not guaranteed and are dependent on the continued success of the SCDA’s business model and the new nursery.

The SCDA’s core activity is the provision of high quality childcare and education for children under five, with around 180 local children using its nursery services at the Southville Centre. The OFSTED outstanding rated nursery has been such a success that it is currently at full capacity, with a waiting list of 250 children and families often waiting up to two years for a place. As an ethical organisation the charity also holds the Social Enterprise Mark and Gold Standard from the Green Business Tourism Scheme.

The opening of this second nursery will not only enable more families to have access to high quality local childcare and provide additional community facilities for the area but, by generating greater surplus, will enable the SCDA to increase its charitable activities and investment into the Bedminster community. Situated on the site of the former Boys Brigade building at the corner of Chessel and Garnet Streets, the new 476 sq m Chessel Centre will also support the local economy by providing new jobs and using local contractors for the building works.

The £1.19m total cost of transforming the site is being met through a combination of £196,000 from the charity’s reserves, capital grants and repayable finance. In addition to the funds raised through the £280,000 public bond offer, the SCDA has been awarded grants from Bristol City Council (£74,000) and the Power to Change Community Business Fund (£300,000). Furthermore, the bond is expected to qualify for a further £280,000 of matched funding from Big Society Capital managed by Ethex.

Simon Hankins, CEO of SCDA, said: “Our values as an organisation have always focused on what’s best for our local community. The exciting thing about this bond is that Triodos found a way to allow our community members to invest in something that will directly benefit them in return, in respect to both our shared community and our financial wellbeing. I like to think of it as a form of crowdfunding for BS3.”

Dan Hird, head of Triodos Bank Corporate Finance, comments: “It’s not often that investors get the chance to support a well-known charity on their own doorstep and actually see the positive change their investment can have. We’re confident that local investors will want to support the SCDA as they address the growing local childcare need and improve the lives of area residents.”

For more information please visit the SCDA website.

 


* The SCDA has received advance assurance from HMRC that the bond offer should be eligible for Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR). SITR encourages individuals to support charities and social enterprises and in turn helps those charities and social enterprises to access new sources of finance. Individuals making an investment in the bonds can, depending on their circumstances, benefit from income tax relief at 30% of the amount invested. The availability of SITR can increase the total return over the full term of the bond to an estimated 10.3% gross per year for a higher rate (40%) taxpayer. The ability to benefit from SITR depends on an investor’s personal circumstances, current tax legislation and the company’s compliance with the rules.

Investment decisions must only be made on the basis of the offer document and not on any information provided in this news release. Investing in the SCDA bonds is not the same as depositing your money in a bank account as your capital is at risk and you may not get back the full amount that you invested. An investment in the SCDA bonds is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Big Issue Invest Launches ‘Impact Loans England’ Programme

Social Enterprise Mark holder Big Issue Invest has today launched Impact Loans England, a new £5 million lending scheme aimed at enabling social enterprises to access loan funding of between £20,000 and £150,000.

The programme is funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, with finance being provided by its partners Big Lottery Fund and Big Society Capital.

Impact Loans England GRAPHIC

The Impact Loans England programme is now available to organisations across England with the £5 million to lend over the next three years. The funding is available to organisations keen to do more of the good work they do – whether it’s buying equipment, hiring new talent, or progressing with business development plans.

Daniel Wilson-Dodd, Head of Lending at Big Issue Invest says, “A lot of great organisations struggle to access small and medium-sized loans, so we wanted to provide support for those exciting social enterprises and charities.”

One of the first organisations to take advantage of the new finance scheme is Impact Hub Birmingham. It offers office and events space for like-minded social enterprise and arts organisations, hosting one-off workshops and ongoing collaborative projects. The hub’s city centre building opened in May last year, after a crowdfunding campaign raised an initial £65,000 for an impressive refurbishment of a Victorian warehouse.

“We were interested in building a better Birmingham, and thought that having a place to bring together lots of organisations with good ideas was a good way of achieving that,” says Andy Reeve, co-founder of Impact Hub Birmingham.

The team behind the Hub has encouraged a range of groups to work together on specific policy challenges and themes, like better childcare. “We’re providing the opportunity for people to work together on a consistent basis,” Reeve explains. “The financial support from Big Issue Invest will allow us to expand what we do.”

The Impact Loans England programme is a continuation of what Big Issue Invest has been doing over the past few years in other schemes aimed at helping social enterprises grow, often by accessing finance for the very first time. Big Issue Invest anticipates the popularity of this programme and is planning to deliver a deal a week for the first six months after launch.

Applications for Impact Loans England are now open. For more information please visit bigissueinvest.com or email impactloansengland@bigissueinvest.com. You can also download the brochure.

A Twitter Q&A with @BigIssueInvest will be held in February, using the tag #ADealAWeek.

Global champion of standards for social enterprise

Further expansion of our international network

As a global champion of social enterprise standards and the body responsible for the only internationally available social enterprise accreditation, we are delighted to have recently expanded our international network of accredited social enterprises, representing a five-fold increase within 2 years.

nappNetwork of Asia and Pacific Producers Limited (NAPP), part of the the global Fairtrade organisation, working to secure a better deal for farmers and workers in Asia and Pacific, has recently been awarded the fifth international Social Enterprise Mark. NAPP joins the global Fairtrade certification body FLOCERT, along with AUARA (Spain), C3 (UAE), and Northdoc (Ireland) in the growing network of organisations outside the UK accredited with the Social Enterprise Mark, proving a commitment to trading for the benefit of people and planet.

We have a proven international assessment process that can be applied anywhere in the world. We also offer an international consultancy service to advise global counterparts looking to set up similar accreditation schemes for social enterprise within their own countries.

By offering an alternative approach to trade, Fairtrade supports producers in securing better markets, contributing to greater sustainable development in the Asia Pacific region. NAPP certifies farmers and workers across this region, all of whom share ownership of the Fairtrade system and have an equal voice in decision making. As a Producer Network, NAPP ensures their voice is heard in the system.

“Fairtrade Network of Asia and Pacific Producers is delighted to be accredited with the Social Enterprise Mark” says Ayan A. Banerjee, CEO of NAPP.

“We look forward to the collaboration and are confident that it will further our mission of providing fairer terms of trade to our producers in the Asia and Pacific region. Fairtrade strengthens the position of farmers and workers in the value chain, and by being part of the international social enterprise network, we can help better serve our producer network.”

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said “We are delighted to welcome NAPP as our newest international Social Enterprise Mark holder. It is exciting to now be working with two organisations within the internationally recognised Fairtrade movement. NAPP are fulfilling an important role, working to secure a better deal for farmers and workers in Asia and the Pacific.”

“With the UK recognised as a pioneer in the social enterprise business model, we are proud to act as a global champion of credible standards for social enterprise, and are encouraged to see our network continuing to expand across international borders. We are the world pioneers of social enterprise accreditation; ours was the first Mark of this kind for social enterprises, and in welcoming NAPP as a Social Enterprise Mark Holder, we look forward to exploring how we may be able to further recognise and promote social enterprise best practice in this region and beyond.”

Please click here to find out more about our work as a global champion of social enterprise.

Channel 4 to advertise all jobs on specialist site promoting disabled talent

channel-4Channel 4 has announced that it will advertise all of its future vacancies on Evenbreak; a specialist job site run by and for disabled people.

Channel 4 hopes the initiative will attract even more applications from disabled people in a bid to further diversify its workforce and help disabled people break into the media industry.

The broadcaster’s commitment in promoting diversity is firmly established and well documented thanks to its unrivalled commitment during 2016, its Year of Disability. This included acclaimed coverage of the Rio Paralympics, and ground-breaking initiatives such as its £1m Superhumans Wanted campaign, which offered £1 million worth of commercial airtime to an advertiser prominently featuring disability in its adverts, and channel 4’s Rio Production Trainee scheme which saw more than  20 disabled trainees and mid-level staff work on its Rio Paralympic content.

Social Enterprise Mark holder Evenbreak is the only specialist job board in the UK run by disabled people for disabled people. Channel 4 will be the first major broadcasting organisation to routinely post all of its vacancies on Evenbreak, demonstrating once again its commitment to diversity and offering opportunities to disabled people.

Graeme Whippy, Disability Workplace Specialist at Channel 4, said: “Channel 4 took significant steps during the Year of Disability to increase the representation of disabled people on-screen, off-screen in production and in our own back yard. As we move into 2017 it’s critical that we maintain the momentum we built during the Year of Disability and build on its successes – hence the importance of our partnership with Evenbreak to facilitate a pipeline of disabled talent.”

Nichola Ivory-Chapman, Head of Talent Acquisition at Channel 4, said: “Diversity is in Channel 4’s DNA  and we know that recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds encourages our workforce to be vibrant, creative and think differently. It can be a challenge though to reach out to job seekers from under-represented groups which is why we wanted to partner with Evenbreak to help us attract applications from disabled people.”

Jane Hatton, Founder and Director of Evenbreak, said: “Channel 4 has demonstrated a genuine commitment to inclusion and accessibility, and Evenbreak is delighted to be involved in their programme to positively attract disabled candidates.”

Real Ideas Organisation wins national social enterprise award

cial Enterprise Mark holder RIO – the Real Ideas Organisation – a social enterprise based in the south west has won the Inspiring Youth Enterprise award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards.

These annual awards recognise excellence and outstanding achievements by social enterprises – businesses that reinvest their profits for good, benefitting people and planet. There are now more than 70,000 social enterprises in the UK, contributing £24 billion to the economy each year.

Real-Ideas-Organisation-Trading-LtdReal Ideas Organisation (RIO) is a pioneering social enterprise supporting people to build better futures. RIO believes social enterprise has the power to create a fairer world. By influencing policy, delivering programmes and supporting and developing people and places, the business is committed to growing social enterprises to unlock potential and create opportunities. RIO also developed the SEQ, the world’s first social enterprise qualification.

Lindsey Hall, Chief Executive of RIO – the Real Ideas Organisation said: “We are thrilled to have won the Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards – giving us national recognition for the work we do with young people and communities.”

“We have been championing social enterprise and the power it has to empower people and transform places for almost a decade. Next year we will celebrate 10 years as RIO and to win such a prestigious national award shows how far we have come as an organisation; it is a wonderful early birthday present.”

The awards ceremony was attended by leading UK social enterprises, representatives from large corporates and the Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson MP.

Social enterprise supply chain

RIO and the other winners were presented with bespoke trophies made by the social enterprise, Designs in Mind, which employs people with mental health problems. Social enterprises also supplied all the goods and services on the night, including the catering, rigging, drinks, flower displays and goody bags.

The awards are organised by Social Enterprise UK, the national trade body for social enterprise.

Peter Holbrook CBE, Social Enterprise UK’s Chief Executive, said:

“Year on year the UK Social Enterprise Awards get bigger and better. This year the competition was particularly fierce, so a big congratulations to RIO for taking home a trophy.”

In a year that’s been dominated by political uncertainty, divisions and inequalities, hearing the stories behind the winners and all the finalists has been a breath of fresh air. Social enterprises show that another way of doing business is possible, one that puts people and the planet first. Because they’re free of shareholders they’re able to reinvest their profits for good.”

SCDA get go ahead for new community centre and nursery

Work will start next week on a new community centre in Bedminster, Bristol, which will house a 54 place nursery, offices for the management charity and a new community centre.

southville-centreThe site on Chessel Street was purchased by Social Enterprise Mark holder Southville Community Development Association (SCDA), the team behind the successful Southville Centre, 18 months ago after several years of searching for a suitable location to open additional nursery provision in the area. The SCDA currently has a waiting list of around 250 children with many families having to wait up to two years for a place.

Following a long period of consultation, planning permission was granted by Bristol City Council earlier this month to demolish the present building and construct a new structure to provide the much-needed facilities. Bristol-based Helm Construction has been appointed by SCDA to carry out the works. Demolition works will commence on Monday 21st November and the new building, which will be named the Chessel Centre is due to be open in autumn 2017.

The building on the corner of Chessel Street and Garnet Street was the site of the former Boy’s Brigade and known locally as the John Millard Memorial Hall. The SCDA carried out viability studies on converting the existing building but it was not viable to do so given the inefficiency of the current building.

Tim Clark, head of family services at the SCDA commented: “There is huge demand in the Bedminster and Southville area for quality childcare provision so we’ve now been looking for a suitable site for several years. Chessel Street is a great location and the plans are to build a space that will provide an additional 54 nursery places for local children.”

“It’s incredibly important to us that we work closely with the community to deliver a centre that suits their needs and also grows the local economy by providing new jobs and using local contractors to carry out the works.”

The £1.12 million project is being funded through a combination of the charity’s reserves, capital grants and repayable finance. Early next year the community will have the opportunity to invest in the centre as the final part of funding required will be financed by a bond issued by the SCDA and promoted by Triodos Bank. Details of the bond offer will be announced in January 2017.

For more information please visit www.southvillecentre.org.uk

NatWest SE100

NatWest SE100 announce shortlist for Social Business Awards

SE100 AwardsNow in its 7th year, the leading market intelligence resource for social ventures, the NatWest SE100 Index, has announced the shortlist for its 2016/17 Social Business Awards.

Revealed at the annual Good Deals social investment conference on 13th November, a total of 26 organisations have been shortlisted, celebrating the most inspiring and effective social enterprise leaders, and the strength, impact and resilience of the sector in the UK. The shortlist includes Social Enterprise Mark holders Furniture Resource Centre (FRC), Manor House Development Trust, and Pembrokeshire FRAME Ltd.

Each of these organisations have been shortlisted for the Impact Champion award, and Simon Donovan of Manor House Development Trust has also been shortlisted for the Leadership Champion award.

Shaun Doran, FRC Group

Shaun Doran, FRC Group

Shaun Doran, CEO of FRC, said: “We are delighted to be once again shortlisted for an SE100 Social Business Award. It means a great deal to us to be recognised nationally as an organisation that helps makes a real difference and changes people’s lives.”

“Our vision is of a society where people can obtain good quality, affordable furniture without experiencing the devastating impacts of furniture poverty – no bed to sleep on or unmanageable debts. Our mission is to reduce and ultimately eradicate furniture poverty, campaigning to raise awareness and create practical solutions to get furniture to people who need it. This award nomination really helps to draw attention to the problem.”

Jennifer Sims, CEO of Pembrokeshire FRAME said: “It is not easy to explain all the good that we do, so the SE100 index is important to us as it allows us to showcase our activities and benchmark ourselves against other social enterprises across the UK.” 

Mark Parsons, Head of Community Finance and Social Enterprise, NatWest, said: “The SE100 Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the very best in UK social enterprise. This year’s strong shortlist showcases the vibrancy and diversity of these businesses, which are making our economy more successful and our communities stronger. NatWest has been a proud supporter of the sector for many years and we look forward to welcoming all of those shortlisted to the Awards ceremony in January.”

Tim West, CEO of Matter&Co and founder of the SE100, said: “Running any business is challenging – running a business that changes people’s lives and stays profitable at the same time is nothing short of miraculous. This year’s SE100 shortlist is making miracles happen for people and communities all around the country. We look forward to learning how they do it and sharing their stories, as we select our winners over the coming months.”

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in London on Thursday 19th January 2017, to celebrate the achievements of all the fantastic social change makers on the Index.

Awards winners will receive a professionally produced winners film about their organisation to use across future PR and marketing collateral, a beautiful SE100 trophy created by social enterprise artists, and a share of cash prizes totalling £6,000.

Best of luck to all of the shortlisted organisations. For more information please visit the SE100 website.

Column Bakehouse on a roll with landmark University deal

Plymouth-University-1Students, staff and visitors at Social Enterprise Mark holder Plymouth University will now be able to enjoy local artisan bread and baked goods on campus thanks to a landmark deal between Column Bakehouse and University Commercial Services Plymouth Ltd (UCSP).

The deal will see the award winning Column Bakehouse – Plymouth’s first and only social enterprise bakery – supply seven cafés and catering outlets on the Plymouth University campus as well as the professional hospitality kitchen, all run by UCSP Ltd.

Claire Burgess, Commercial Manager for Column Bakehouse said: “We’re thrilled to be entering into this new wholesale arrangement with UCSP Ltd. We have built a loyal following from our Devonport Guildhall base, but to really grow our business in line with our ambitions we need to maximize wholesale as well as retail opportunities.”

“This new partnership with Plymouth University through UCSP Ltd will support our plans for growth, enabling us to get our award winning product out there to be enjoyed by even more people.”

Matthew Hodson, Commercial Services Director at UCSP Ltd said: “We are real admirers of the fantastic food produced by the Column Bakehouse and are delighted that we can introduce them to the Students, Staff and Customers in our award winning campus cafés. We take our responsibility to deliver a high quality, sustainable and good value experience very seriously and this arrangement with Column Bakehouse will certainly support us in this mission. It is a fantastic example of like-minded South West businesses collaborating to succeed.”

Column Bakehouse is part of leading social enterprise Real Ideas Organisation (RIO), also a Mark holder, which uses social enterprise as a vehicle for positive social change.

The Bakehouse is situated in the Grade I listed Devonport Guildhall in Plymouth. Since its launch in 2013 it has picked up awards from Food Plymouth as well as ‘Best Start-Up’ Awards from the Plymouth Herald and Western Morning News.  Specialising in a wide range of artisan breads – particularly sourdough – Column Bakehouse has become the destination for connoisseurs of bread and baking for its top quality product, knowledgeable team, and family friendly on-site café.

Real People HR shortlisted for Personnel Today Awards

Real-People-High-res-1Social Enterprise Mark holder Real People HR has been shortlisted for Consultancy of the Year at the Personnel Today Awards 2016.

These annual awards celebrate talent in Human Resources, and the Consultancy of the Year category celebrates the important contribution made by external experts to the success of HR in organisations.

Helen Giles, Managing Director of Real People, said: “We are really pleased to be a finalist for such a prestigious award. We are proud of the difference our consultancy work has made to the charities and socially minded businesses we support, and are very pleased that the Personnel Today Awards recognise great work done in the not-for-profit as well as the commercial and public sectors.”

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony in London on 22nd November 2016.

To find out more, please visit the Personnel Today website.

Accredited social enterprises shortlisted for prestigious awards

We were delighted to see so many Social Enterprise Mark holders shortlisted for the upcoming 2016 UK Social Enterprise Awards, including long-standing Mark holder Connection Crew, which is shortlisted for the prestigious Social Enterprise of the Year accolade.

Congratulations and best of luck to all the following organisations:

  • Beacon Centre – One to Watch Award
  • Big Issue – Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Award
  • Big Issue Invest – Social Investment Deal of the Year
  • se_brand_approved_rgbBusiness Launchpad – Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award
  • Connection Crew – Social Enterprise of the Year
  • Co-wheels – Environmental Social Enterprise Award
  • hisBe – Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Award
  • Iridescent Ideas – Social Impact Award
  • Real Ideas Organisation – Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise Award and Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award
  • Helen Giles, MD of Real People HR – Social Enterprise Women’s Champion
  • The Soap Co. (subsidiary of Clarity) – One to Watch Award
  • Turning Point – Health and Social Care Social Enterprise Award

Winners will be announced at a ceremony and gala dinner in London on Monday 28th November 2016. Good luck to all the shortlisted organisations.

Pioneering competition launched by Beacon Centre

Social Enterprise Mark holder Beacon Centre for the Blind has launched a pioneering competition to improve the lives of those living with sight loss and or other sensory loss.

Beacon Visionary ChallengeInventors across the West Midlands are being urged to sign up for the Beacon Visionary+ Challenge which has a prize fund worth £20,000. It aims to find innovative products or services; from gadgets that may make everyday tasks a little easier to a ground breaking invention which would transform someone’s life.

Beacon Centre has joined forces with the University of Wolverhampton’s Caparo Innovation Centre to run the competition. The winner will receive a £20,000 prize, comprising a combination of cash investment and in-kind support from the state of the art innovation centre. The aim is to help bring the winning product or service to the open market faster and more effectively.

Arwyn Jones, Beacon Centre Chief Executive  said: “Across the West Midlands there are already around 170,000 people affected by sight loss, by 2050 this will rise to some 350,000.”

“Beacon Centre is a leading sight loss charity and we want to inspire new products or services that could transform everyday life for people with visual or other sensory impairments and has the potential to be launched on the open market.”

Professor Andrew Pollard, Director of Product Innovation at the University of Wolverhampton’s Caparo Innovation Centre added: “We’re excited to be working with the Beacon Centre to deliver the Visionary+ Challenge, and looking forward to working with inventors and entrepreneurs to help them develop their products.”

The competition’s patron is Dr Stephen Fear, a renowned entrepreneur and businessman, notable as having been Entrepreneur in Residence at The British Library where he continues in his role as ambassador. He said: “Innovation is a vital element of entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs create general wealth which extends beyond just the financial. Inventing and discovering new things has been part of UK culture since the doomsday book and the West Midlands has been a honeypot for inventors since the industrial revolution.”

“This new initiative by The University of Wolverhampton and the Beacon Centre for those with sight impairment aims to help new inventors and entrepreneurs bring innovative products and concepts to market which benefit both themselves and society generally.”

Those interested in applying, can find more information can be found on the Visionary+ Challenge websiteThe competition will be open for submission of entries from the beginning of September 2016.

On 18th October, prospective applicants can attend the Caparo Innovation Centre for a one to one advisory session to polish their submission, or take part in an online YouTube Live webchat with Nick Comley, Beacon’s Head of Social Finance and Business Development. The drop in sessions and webchat will run from 2.30pm – 4.30pm GMT from the University of Wolverhampton.

Roots HR launch free HR advice line for NCVO members

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) last week announced West Midlands-based Social Enterprise Mark holder Roots HR CIC as a Trusted Supplier for HR services, including the provision of free HR advice for NCVO members.

roots-hr-teamRoots HR has offered high quality people management and employment law advice, tailored to the not-for-profit sector, as part of its well-established and popular stakeholder-led COMPLY service, since inception in 2009. It will deliver the free HR advice line service in a similar way, with unique terms for NCVO members, funded through income generated from trading surpluses. Members wishing to purchase additional consultancy time will be able to do this at discounted rates.

The service, provided by Roots HR’s team of fully qualified and experienced chartered consultants, is offered from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank and public holidays). NCVO member organisations can access the service by phoning Roots HR on 01562 840060 or emailing comply@rootshr.org.uk, quoting their NCVO membership number.

Jan Golding, Chief Executive of Roots HR comments: “We are very pleased to offer this service to NCVO members. We believe every not-for-profit organisation should have access to professional advice in respect of its workforce. We have always offered our own “once in a lifetime” hour of free consultancy services to allow social sector employers to experience the benefits and will continue to do this. Our work with NCVO will enable us to deliver significantly increased impact for our sector.”

Chris Taylor, Enterprise Development Manager, NCVO said: The quality offered by all of our Trusted Suppliers to our members is of the highest importance to NCVO. Roots HR offer a flexible HR Advice line service which we are delighted to have negotiated for our members, strengthening our membership offering. Good HR practice is an essential part of supporting the voluntary sector workforce and ensuring organisations are run effectively.”

Ingeus and Pluss combine expertise in work, health and disability

IngeusPluss - Experts in...Ingeus and Social Enterprise Mark holder Pluss have announced a joint initiative to help people with disabilities and long-term health conditions into sustainable work.

The collaboration brings together Ingeus’ proven expertise in supporting jobseekers, including those with complex health conditions, with Pluss’ award-winning approach to helping people with disabilities back into work.

As experts in work, health, and disability support services, Ingeus and Pluss are bringing together their collective expertise and extensive experience working with employers to develop a new service offer for the Work and Health Programme and to help half the disability employment gap. Both organisations will also share their extensive experience of working with employers to open up job and career opportunities for all.

This new initiative will combine the specialisms and proven methodologies of both organisations to deliver a next-generation employment support programme. As performance-focused values-driven organisations, they have set up a joint project group and are developing a new locally integrated service blending support for employment, health conditions and disabilities.

Steve Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer at Pluss says: “I am delighted that Pluss and Ingeus have come together to launch this ground-breaking initiative. We share a deep-rooted commitment to helping transform the lives of those facing difficulties in securing work through health or disability.  Pluss’ collaboration with Ingeus will increase our impact, enabling us to further support the Government’s commitment to halve the disability employment gap.”

Jack Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer at Ingeus says: “It is a fantastic opportunity to be working with Pluss. Teams of both organisations are now working together to develop a next-generation employment programme that will lead the field and offer an effective evidence-based approach to tackling unemployment, health and disadvantage.”

Both Ingeus and Pluss will remain separate organisations, retaining full independent control of their contracts and service delivery.

Unlimited Potential shortlisted for Living Wage Champion Awards 2016

living-wage-awardsSocial Enterprise Mark holder Unlimited Potential has been shortlisted by the Living Wage Foundation for the Living Wage Champion Awards 2016, which recognise Living Wage employers that have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and celebrating the Living Wage.

The Living Wage Foundation offers a recognition mark for employers that commit to paying the Living Wage. There are now over 2,700 accredited employers, including Unlimited Potential and Social Enterprise Mark CIC

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.

“Unlimited Potential chose to be a Living Wage employer because we want our people to be paid competitively and to be treated fairly, sharing in our success”, said Chris Dabbs, Executive Director of Unlimited Potential.

Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said: “I would like to offer huge congratulations to Unlimited Potential on being shortlisted for the Living Wage Champion Awards. The commitment of Living Wage employers like Unlimited Potential to responsible pay makes a life-changing difference to families and communities across the UK. We look forward to celebrating this even more when announcing the winners of the regional awards during Living Wage Week which will begin on 31st October.”

The award winners will be announced during Living Wage Week, with one winner announced for each region of the UK: Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland; the East Midlands; the West Midlands; the East of England; Yorkshire and the Humber; North East England; North West England; South East England; South West England; and London.

The awards are judged by an independent panel of community leaders from Citizens UK; national community organising charity and home of the Living Wage campaign.

Julie Hawker awarded Society of Leadership Fellow

CEO of Cosmic and Social Enterprise Mark Ambassador Julie Hawker has recently been presented with a new role, that of Society of Leadership Fellow of St. George’s House, Windsor Castle. Julie joins a very impressive host of fellows and Cosmic are extremely proud to be represented in this way.

St. Georges House was founded in 1966 by H.R.H The Duke of Edinburgh and the then Dean of Windsor, Robin Woods, as a place where people of influence and responsibility in every area of society can come together to explore and communicate. Their vision is ‘To effect change for the better in our society by nurturing Wisdom through dialogue’.

As 2016 marks the fiftieth anniversary of St. George’s House, they wanted to celebrate by establishing a new leadership community that will become a permanent feature of the way the House works. The leaders are chosen from every sector of society and economy and support each other with their own leadership development.

Julie was initially approached to become a Fellow because of the focus Cosmic have, as an ethical IT company and the work around digital inclusion and social enterprise. Julie’s digital leadership focus has also been a contributing factor to the fellowship. She will now be part of a great team of fellows who meet at least once a year at Windsor castle for Leadership conversations.

To find out more about St. George’s House and the work they do please visit their website www.stgeorgeshouse.org.

University of Salford Enterprise team recognised for entrepreneurial support

SalfordSocial Enterprise Gold Mark holder University of Salford has been recognised for its efforts in engaging students in enterprise activity, at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The Enterprise team in Student Experience and Support won the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Award for Entrepreneurship, in recognition of the services that the enterprise team offer to students, both within the curriculum and within its extracurricular support opportunities.

Over the last five years, £1 million has been invested into student and graduate entrepreneurship at the University of Salford. This has included investment in start-up grants, incubation services and the team co-founded the largest dedicated Postgraduate Enterprise student conference in the UK – Enterprise Futures. This conference aims to inspire entrepreneurship and encourage postgraduates to turn their research ideas into venture creation, now working in partnership with The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Dominic Martinez, Head of Business and Enterprise, said:  “I am delighted that a combination of workshops, boot camps, individual one-to-one meetings and our incubation services had an impact on over 2300 students and graduates last year and we got great feedback from our students in a recent survey of over 1000 of people who use our services. We have a small team but it is a massive team effort, and to get external recognition alongside the recent Vice-Chancellor’s awards for our team is thrilling.

“As well thanking the internal Enterprise team, I would also like to give credit to our external advisory staff Adrian Ashton, Isla Wilson and Jon Monk for their hard work”.

University of Salford prides itself in offering lifelong enterprise and business start-up support to all students and graduates both within the curriculum and beyond. This can consist of anything from funding advice, to support with writing business plans. The enterprise team also offer hugely popular workshops, such as Enterprise Academy sessions. These run which run in early evenings, to allow students and graduates to attend outside of their class time. Since Jan 2015, more than 30 events have been held, with great success attracting nearly 1000 students.

AGCAS is the professional body for careers and employability professionals working with higher education students and graduates and prospective entrants to higher education.

Student Satisfaction at Social Enterprise Universities

Two universities that have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark have scored highly in the 2016 National Student Survey (NSS).

MARJON-LOGO-CMYKUniversity of St Mark and St John in Plymouth (Marjon) has shot up the league tables, showing the highest percentage point increase of any university this year, rising up the rankings to be rated joint 35th out of 160 universities in the country, with 89% overall student satisfaction.

Several Marjon courses were ranked joint top in the country with 100% satisfaction, including the innovative new Acting degree, which sees its first students graduating this year, to the long established and well respected Secondary Education with PE. Other courses with 100% satisfaction were Sport Development with Physical Education and Sports Media and Journalism, showing a breadth of talent across all three Marjon faculties.

The University as a whole scored well across a breadth of measures such as Teaching (90% satisfaction), Personal Development (89% satisfaction) and Learning Resources (88% satisfaction). This positioned it above eight of the 10 other universities in the South West including Plymouth, Bristol, UWE, Bath Spa and Falmouth. Out of the 24 Russell Group universities in the UK, only six came in higher than Marjon for student satisfaction. When compared to other “modern” universities, excluding specialist and private providers, Marjon now ranks joint 6th in the country.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Cara Aitchison said “Our personalised approach to education ensures that all of our students thrive within a welcoming and supportive university environment that stimulates them to achieve academic success while also developing the skills, confidence and experience to succeed in graduate-level employment and life more generally.”

“We often hear positive feedback from students about the high level of support they receive and the excellent facilities we have here on campus, but we are all delighted to see this reflected in this important independent survey.”


 

Coventry UniCoventry University was  ranked 11th in the UK with 91% overall student satisfaction, and is the UK’s best at boosting students’ confidence. Coventry also secured joint top spot nationally in the personal development category, in which students were asked to assess how their confidence, communication skills and ability to tackle problems had improved during their studies.

Coventry was also ranked first amongst modern universities for both personal development and for the organisation and management of its courses. Out of all the non-specialist universities in the Midlands, Coventry secured top spot for personal development and finished joint first for teaching, and organisation and management.

The positive feedback that students have reported around their own personal development is especially satisfying for the University as it strives to increase accessibility to higher education and enhance the learning experience for those who come to study at Coventry.

Vice-Chancellor John Latham said At Coventry University we’re really focused on enhanced learning. What that means in practice is that alongside gaining knowledge in a specific field and acquiring a worthwhile qualification we want our students to grow in confidence during their time here so they feel well equipped for the workplace and beyond when they leave us.”

“We’re very pleased to have once again scored highly in the personal development category in this year’s student survey. It’s particularly satisfying given our student demographic and especially rewarding to watch them become more self-assured while they study here.”


The results of the 2016 NSS were published this week, showing a high level of satisfaction among students studying at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Further Education colleges and alternative providers, with 86% saying they are satisfied overall with their course. The NSS covers nearly all final-year undergraduates studying for Higher Education qualifications. The survey is funded by the four UK higher education funding bodies.

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Pluss wins ERSA ‘Disability and Health’ Award

PlussSocial Enterprise Mark holder Pluss was recently named the winner of the Disability and Health Employment Award at the annual ERSA Employability Awards.

The Employability Awards, now in their fourth year, showcase and champion best practice from across the employment support sector, celebrating the hard work and achievements of those involved in supporting people into work. The Disability and Health Employment Award recognises a provider who has demonstrated exceptional commitment in supporting job-seekers with limiting disabilities and health conditions to achieve sustained employment.

Pluss was also highly commended in the IEP Professionalisation Award, which recognises the commitment of an individual, team or organisations to championing the professionalisation of the employment support sector.

To find out more about the awards, please visit the ERSA website.

Charity Bank: a bank for good

Free loan webinar for charities and social enterprises

Social Enterprise Mark holder Charity Bank is holding a free 45-minute webinar on 14th May 2016, designed for trustees and senior managers of charities and social enterprises considering loan finance,or for those who simply want to learn more.

The webinar will cover:

  • evaluating if loans are right for your organisation
  • the pros and cons of loan finance
  • how trustees can evaluate the risks of loan finance
  • how loans can help you grow your income and improve your sustainability
  • what lenders look for and how to deal with lenders
  • insights from Coast & Vale Community Action and other social sector borrowers
  • an opportunity for you to ask questions

The webinar will be hosted by Charity Bank and loan recipient Coast & Vale Community Action (CAVCA). Together they are well positioned to answer your questions on charity loans.

Charity Bank webinarSign up now

The webinar is on Thursday 14th July 2016 from 11am to 11.45am. Please click here to register.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Speakers

Jeremy Ince is a Charity Bank Regional Manager. In addition to his work with Charity Bank, he is a trustee of a major youth charity in Yorkshire. As such he is acutely aware of the funding challenges and opportunities that charities face.

Mel Bonney-Kane is CEO of Coast & Vale Community Action, an infrastructure organisation involved in the facilitation of a thriving and sustainable voluntary, community and social enterprise sector across the Ryedale District and Scarborough Borough of North Yorkshire.

 


 

About Charity Bank

Charity Bank is a bank for good, owned by charities and social purpose organisations. It lends to charities, social enterprises and other organisations with a social purpose.

 

 

Social Enterprise Mark holders working together to add social value

Social Enterprise Mark holders Cosmic and Pluss have worked closely together for several years, through project work, development of a new Pluss website and, most recently, the creation of a new video to showcase the outcomes for clients that Pluss have supported into finding employment.

The objective was to produce a video that created real emotions, which was achieved using a number of techniques, including using upbeat, optimistic music to create a positive atmosphere to the video, and showing the case study clients smiling and proactively interacting with others. Incorporating positive words from those that work with each of Pluss’ clients also added to the optimism of the video.

Cosmic filmed over several days at a variety of locations, to capture the stories of a number of Pluss’ clients and their employers, to produce a final video (shown below) that showcased their individual stories, difficulties and the positive outcomes of finding employment.

Feedback from Pluss was exceptionally positive – Geraldine Scott-Smith, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, said; “Quite simply, I love it. I think you have done an amazing job – you just seemed to get what I wanted and have been a pleasure to work with too.”

For more information on this project, please visit the Cosmic website.

Help & Care named Making a Mark competition winners

Dorset based charity Help & Care was named as the winner of the Social Enterprise Mark CIC ‘Making a Mark’ competition at a celebration at our recent conference in Salford. They were presented with a special award, created for us by Rowan, an arts centre and charity for learning disabled people.

The Making a Mark competition was a celebration of the vast and diverse social benefits created by Social Enterprise Mark holders, and highlighted interesting examples of how accredited social enterprises are creating considerable social impact within their local communities and in wider society.

Mark Sharman accepting awardOn accepting the award, Mark Sharman, CEO of Help & Care, said  “We were both surprised and delighted to receive this award because it is not a recognition of what we do or how we do it.  It is about the most important thing which is what impact are we having on the lives of people and communities.  It is a recognition of our great staff and volunteer team who live our values to make a difference.”

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said, “We are delighted to announce the long standing Social Enterprise Mark holder Help & Care as the ‘Making a Mark’ competition winners.  They won because they not only help people who want something different and better out of life, they can also demonstrate clearly how they are making a difference to people’s lives.  Well done to Mark and his team.”

Selected from over a network of over 200 accredited social enterprises, Help & Care was shortlisted alongside 6 other organisations, including Golf Environment Organization and Iridescent Ideas. Following a public vote and a separate vote by the independent Certification Panel (both accounting for 50% of the final result), the result was a close call, with not much to seperate all the well deserving finalists. We therefore decided to announce a runner up – this was awarded to Welsh community transport provider Llanwrtyd Wells Community Transport.

We invited Mark Cotton FRSA to present the award, and he commended all the finalists on their achievements and congratulated them on making the shortlist, before presenting certificates to all the finalists who were in attendance at the conference.

L-R: Laura Burns (LWTC), Mark Sharman (Help&Care), Mark Cotton FRSA, Mona Karraoui (GEO), Gareth Hart (Iridescent Ideas)

L-R: Laura Burns (LWTC), Mark Sharman (Help&Care), Mark Cotton FRSA, Mona Karraoui (GEO), Gareth Hart (Iridescent Ideas)

We would like to extend our congratulations to all of the competition finalists:

  • ShortlistCockpit Arts
  • Eden Project
  • Golf Environment Organization
  • Help & Care
  • Iridescent Ideas
  • Llanwrtyd Wells Community Transport
  • Work West

 

New Media Programme for Vulnerable Adults Living in Woolwich

In July, Social Enterprise Mark holder Chocolate Films launches a large scale media and film-making programme in the heart of Woolwich for disadvantaged residents of the borough.

They are are offering people who have complex issues such as substance misuse and mental health issues, as well as those experiencing difficulties finding housing, childcare and employment, a range of training and skills opportunities in media. Chocolate Films will support and train up to 20 people from across Greenwich Borough.

Participants will gain practical film-making skills with professional filmmakers on the latest digital equipment, including sessions on tablet and smartphone film-making, social media and digital marketing, interview and presentation techniques. They will be trained in PAT testing and will receive AQA accreditation as part of the programme.

Chocolate Films hope that participants on the workshops will see a meaningful and positive long term effect on their lives, transforming their confidence and opportunities for the future. They are working in conjunction with Lifeline and CGL, who are experts in supporting vulnerable participants and who will be offering recruitment, advice and guidance throughout the programme.

The programme has been borne out of the success of the 2 and a half year programme where Chocolate Films trained a number of Greenwich based participants in setting up their own film-making social enterprise. The success of this project can be witnessed in Mark and Christine, who after starting our training with no experience in film-making, have now set up their own social enterprise partnership SElect18.

Mark explains, “Being involved in Chocolate Films workshops has helped my recovery beyond any words I can summon; indeed, I struggled so much with social phobia that I doubt I’d have been able to express myself before my involvement with Chocolate Films. The film-making process has helped me overcome these issues with social phobia and awkwardness and to realise that one of my strengths is actually in social settings with an ability to communicate. A lot of this happened in film planning sessions and later during filming and editing. The sort of change I experienced cannot happen in the normal therapeutic setting I’m used to, I needed the challenging but safe, real life scenarios of being involved in film-making. Social phobias and anxiety is a very common issue for those recovering from substance use and dependence, and is often the cause of relapse.”

Chocolate Films is a film production company based in South London that works with disadvantaged people to help them improve their lives through developing media and communication skills. Commenting on the new project, Rachel Wang, CoDirector of Chocolate Films said: “ I am really passionate about offering media skills and training to support and encourage participants as part of their recovery. This was new ground for us 3 years ago, and so I am thrilled that we now have the expertise to continue to offer these workshops to participants in the borough of Greenwich.”

Westway Trust #CultureMakers

Social Enterprise Mark holder Westway Trust are giving young people aged 16 – 24 the power and the money (up to £400) to bring a creative project to life.

The Trust is now recruiting for a second group of #CultureMakers, providing:

  • Mentoring and training from creative professionals
  • Inspiration through a range of creative activities chosen by you
  • Showcases and promotion
  • Opportunities to make industry connections
  • Rewards for participation
  • Support and guidance all the way from the #CultureMakers project team
  • Bespoke support from a number of arts organisations
  • Up to £400 funding for your project

To apply, fill out a simple on line application at http://www.westway.org/become-culturemaker by 10am on 13 June.

Pluss named as ‘Building Better Opportunities’ lead partner

Social Enterprise Mark holder Pluss has been successful with five stage one applications for the ‘Building Better Opportunities’ programme across South West England and West Yorkshire.

‘Building Better Opportunities’ is a project jointly funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund. It focuses on promoting social inclusion, and driving local jobs and growth.

Pluss will now be working with local partners and stakeholders on stage two bids which, if successful, will allow them to maximise the impact of £21million in funding over three years to support people with disabilities, mental health issues, ex offenders, troubled families, and black, Asian and ethnic minority groups.
The five stage one areas are:

  • PlussCornwall and Isles of Scilly
  • South and East Cornwall
  • Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
  • Somerset
  • Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield

Pluss is currently a prime provider of services for the Department for Work and Pensions and aims to build its impact across South West England and West Yorkshire aligned to devolution.

Pluss Chief Executive, Steve Hawkins, said “Pluss is aiming to be the provider of choice to support thousands of disadvantaged people across the South West, West Yorkshire and neighbouring regions into sustainable employment.”

“Working with the Big Lottery Fund is a proud moment for Pluss and our partners. This result confirms that our partnership approach has the potential to deliver significant positive social change at a time when devolution means local areas are taking on more responsibilities for their own future.”

Successful outcomes at stage two will see delivery of these programmes begin in early 2017.

For more information please contact Geraldine Scott-Smith, Communications Manager, on 07766 367267 or via email.

Liverpool Social Economy Panel welcomes Minister for Civil Society

Social Enterprise Network (SEN) recently welcomed Rob Wilson MP, the Minister for Civil Society, to address its new Social Economy Panel in Liverpool, on Thursday 12th May.

Leading figures in the local social economy, including representatives from the Heseltine Institute, Social Enterprise Mark holder Fusion21 and others, met with Rob Wilson MP, to discuss the growing social and community enterprise sector in the City Region – and how this can be developed and sustained for the future.

SEN LiverpoolSEN has led the way on social economy issues in the region in recent years, and in the last 12 months has launched its Masterclass programme of business advice for social entrepreneurs, in addition to the Liverpool Soup project to fund new social projects. Its new Social Economy Panel will be meeting regularly to work on new initiatives for the region, whilst also promoting the brilliant work being done by social enterprises locally.

Rosie Jolly, Chief Executive of SEN, said: “It was great to welcome the Minister for Civil Society to the city to see first-hand some of the work that our members are doing, and to discuss with the panel of practitioners some ways of improving and expanding their service provision. Our members and associates are working hard to improve lives and it is fantastic to see government taking more of an interest in the work they do.”

While in Liverpool, Rob Wilson MP took the opportunity to promote the Cabinet Office’s current call for evidence on mission-led businesses. The Social Economy Panel is making a joint submission to the call for evidence, and is keen to ensure that the mission-led business review is an opportunity to help the social enterprise sector in Liverpool and beyond.

Dave Neilson, Chief Executive at Fusion21, said: “As a national social enterprise, Fusion21 is committed to supporting the creation of social value within Liverpool and across the UK – this can range from tackling worklessness, to supporting apprenticeships, or reducing reoffending.”

“We work closely with the Social Economy Panel to develop and share innovation in social value policy and practice – and meeting Rob Wilson MP was a fantastic opportunity to showcase what is being achieved by ourselves, and other organisations within the city.”

Responses to the Cabinet Office’s Call for Evidence can be made at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mission-led-business-review-call-for-evidence-opens-and-expert-panel-members-named

 


Social Enterprise Network supports the development and growth of social entrepreneurship across the north west of England and north Wales, raising both levels of engagement and trading ability of social enterprise businesses to enhance their economic viability, sustainability, social and environmental impact and contribution to the local economy. For more information, please visit http://www.sentogether.net/

 

Digital leadership programme to create a new generation of business leaders

Social Enterprise Mark holder Cosmic recently announced the launch of their new Digital Leadership training programme.

Cosmic has launched this new programme in response to research carried out both locally and nationally looking at Digital Leadership in business. The evidence suggests that in many cases there is little or no real understanding of what Digital Leadership actually is and how it will impact on their business. The research identified that many businesses are investing in digital skills, but businesses are yet to address this issue at senior executive and Board levels.

The programme will be led by Cosmic’s own Digital Leaders Julie Hawker and Kate Doodson, who bring over 20 years’ experience of working within the Digital sector.

Julie said: “Many of the businesses we’ve been working with in recent months have identified a need to address skills development at senior levels, which is why we’ve taken time to research and respond to this issue. Whilst lots of businesses have been addressing the need to ‘digitise’ their operations, not many have yet truly embraced the digital transformation of their business by putting digital in the mix for new services, products and customer experience. This requires a new mindset and approach by our business leaders and decision-makers”.

Those engaged in the programme will get access to the latest national and international strategic thinking on digital leadership and be exposed to new business models help to develop ways to increase productivity in their business. Learning will cover subjects ranging from the digital workforce, business innovation, digital disruption, strategy and change management.

As an introduction to the programme, Cosmic are running free taster sessions – the first two being held in May, you can find out more and how to book via their website.

As part of the programme, Cosmic have produced a White Paper on Digital Leadership. The report provides reflections on the challenges which leaders and managers face in dealing with the changes which digital technologies are bringing. To access a copy please contact Vicky at Cosmic.

Kate Doodson said: “The phrase Digital leadership will become common parlance soon, as it will be a way to demonstrate progressive and engaged leadership in a digital world. Gartner suggests that a quarter of all businesses will lose their market share by 2017, if they don’t embrace digital, so suddenly it has become a business imperative. It’s time for business leaders in the South West to grasp this nettle and understand how to bring digital into strategic thinking to create a stronger future economy for our region”.


Conference_speakersJulie Hawker will be speaking on the subject of Digital Leadership at our Standing up to Scrutiny conference in Salford on 9th June 2016.

Please click here to book your tickets.

The Big Issue Celebrate 200 Million Sales

On 7th April 2016 The Big Issue celebrated 200 million sales in Britain.

In almost 25 years since its founding, the iconic magazine has changed the publishing landscape and the lives of thousands and thousands of people, working on the simple ‘A hand up, not a hand out’ mantra.

The Big Issue is not a charity, it is not a governmental agency, yet in that time it has allowed the poorest in Britain to earn more than £100 million. Without The Big Issue that huge figure would have had to come from begging, crime or the Exchequer. It is calculated that this money has resulted in an additional return for society of almost £500 million. This is through a simple business solution to a societal problem.

“We’re so proud to be able to mark this occasion,” said editor Paul McNamee. “When John Bird established The Big Issue in 1991 he wanted to offer the poorest in society a means to earn their own living, to work their way back up from the bottom, to see a future. John always thinks big but I don’t think even he would have seen 200 million sales. We’re delighted to be here, to be a print title that is putting on sales as others decline and to remain a vital force for the men and women who want to earn but have seen normal life close down.”

Big Issue MD, Russell Blackman added ”200 million copies sold is an incredible land mark and testament to all the vendors that have stood out there, in any weather, running their own micro-enterprises with a sense of dignity. The social impact that has been created by these sales is profound.’’

Big Issue 200million eventTo mark this fantastic date, The Big Issue has teamed up with prolific street artist Ben Eine who is most notable for his alphabet lettering on shop shutters and walls, to design a very special edition front cover of the magazine. Eine, one of Britain’s best urban artists, has created an exclusive cover using his unique lettering style. In collaboration with Eine and Jealous Gallery in Shoreditch, The Big Issue celebrated the landmark 200 millionth copy of the magazine sold with a special one-off exhibition of three new Ben Eine editions produced and hosted by Jealous Gallery.

At the public opening on Friday 8th April, Eine’s new prints were officially launched to fans and collectors alongside a selection of his previous print editions, produced in the Jealous Print Studio. A percentage of sales are going to The Big Issue to help with their on-going mission to help vendors help themselves.

“I am honoured to be able to be in a position where I can give something back and The Big Issue is an organisation that I feel passionate about. Any of us can become homeless pretty easily” said Ben Eine

For more information about the event, please visit The Big Issue website.

Change Makers to drive down pollution during Cleaner Air Action Fortnight

100 Change Makers will be out at air pollution hotspots across six central London boroughs on the 9th and 16th March to ask drivers to turn off their engines when parked in a bid to drive down air pollution.

The initiative, which harnesses the power of local residents and workers to drive change, is being led by Cross River Partnerships’ Clean Air Better Business programme which is supported through the Mayor’s Air Quality fund. The initiative is in collaboration with Social Enterprise Mark holder Global Action Plan, the UK’s leading environmental behaviour change charity and Kings College London University.

Global Action PlanThe campaign aims to reduce Londoners’ exposure to air pollution by educating drivers about air quality. Wearing hi-vis Air Quality Champion vests, the Change Makers will explain the role of drivers in reducing vehicle emissions and ask parked drivers to turn their engines off. They will be also given informational leaflets to help them understand their role in making the air we breathe healthier for all Londoners. Vehicle emissions emit pollutants which are linked to asthma, heart disease, chronic bronchitis and cancer. The long term impact of pollution particularly affects pregnant women and children.

 “Cross River Partnership’s Clean Air Better Business programme aims to draw awareness both to the issue of air quality in general and specifically the impact that idling can have on local air quality. This concerted effort across our participating Business Improvement District and boroughs is designed to build capacity in training up to 100 change makers and have a beneficial effect on air quality in these areas” explained Uto Patrick, CRP Air Quality Champion.

Caroline Watson, Senior Partner at Global Action Plan, said“Cleaner Air Action Fortnight aims to educate drivers on the role they can play in improving London’s air quality.  Given the impact on our health, this is an urgent issue that demands collective action.  By arranging Cleaner Air Action Fortnight across six boroughs we aim to draw attention to a problem that is costing Londoners their health and the economy £3.7bn p.a.*”

Cllr Heather Acton, Westminster City Council cabinet member for parking and sustainability, said: “Engine idling is a major problem in London and is a priority for the council to help address air pollution. It is common sense that turning off your engine is good for air quality and the environment, but it also makes financial sense for drivers. That is why I am pleased that so many Change Makers are joining me in Westminster to get out onto the streets and ask drivers to switch their engines off.”

The scheme is part funded by the Mayor of London’s £20 million Air Quality Fund (MAQF), which has granted £330,000 to the Clean Air Better Business project. The Mayor’s funding has enabled them to deliver a whole host of air quality projects such as this across central London over the last three years.

Matthew Pencharz, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: “Protecting the well-being of Londoners is vital and projects such as this, coupled with the Mayor’s plans for the world’s first Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2020, are part of the bold measures we need to win London’s pollution battle.”

For more information please visit the Global Action Plan website.

 


* House of Commons Briefing Paper May 2015: Public expenditure by country and region 2013-14, London £9,866 per head.  Figure based on population of 8,633,000 Londoners.

Cascade spring training programme

Social Enterprise Mark holder Cascade has recently published their Spring training programme.

Workshops include:

  • Personal Effectiveness: Emotional Intelligence & Communicating
    with Impact
  • Attracting, Recruiting & Managing Volunteers
  • Writing a Winning Bid
  • Tendering for Services: preparing & presenting your call for bids

Please click here to download the full programme.

Full day workshops cost £149 and run from 9.30am to 4.30pm unless specified otherwise, refreshments (& sandwich lunch at all full day events) are provided.

Discounts

3 bookings for full day courses made at the same time by the same organisation will be discounted by 10% (can’t be used in conjunction with other offers)

* Special discount on Strategic Planning for Trustees & Senior Managers course in Wimborne: £75 for clients of Ward Goodman, members of Poole CVS, members of Bournemouth CVS (1 bursary place at £25 will be available for each event for organisations with an income of less than £25k per annum)

Cascade offers a bursary scheme for charities and other small groups with an income of less than £25k p.a.

For full information, please visit the Cascade website.

 

Co-wheels environmental impact

Green travellers rejoice!

Co-wheels-Car-ClubSocial Enterprise Mark holder Co-wheels car club has launched a new scheme to enable low emission travel in and around the Lake District.

Hybrid cars with roof racks can now be booked online and picked up directly from train stations in Cumbria, so it’s easy to take a bike up on the train and explore the area.

Visit the Co-wheels website to find out more about the scheme and claim your £10 free driving credit:

http://www.co-wheels.org.uk/lake_district

Co-wheels 2

Global Action Plan recognised for Water Explorers project

Social Enterprise Mark holder Global Action Plan won the Community and Education Award at the recent Waterwise Water Efficiency Awards for its Water Explorer Project.

Water ExplorerWater Explorer is a free programme for schools to learn about water and the environment, supported by the HSBC Water Programme. The programme empowers future generations through fun, interactive water saving Missions and provides the platform for students to grow into global citizens and ambassadors for positive change. Over the last year, Water Explorers aged 8-14 from 11 countries have taken bold and powerful action to save precious water.

The Waterwise biannual UK Water Efficiency Awards are the most high profile awards scheme in the UK to recognise the water efficiency achievements of the public, private and third sector organisations who promote water efficiency. For more information please visit the Waterwise website.

To find out more about the project, please visit the Water Explorer website.

Selby Trust honoured at City of London Sustainable City Awards

SustainableCityAwardsSocial Enterprise Mark holder The Selby Trust in Tottenham was announced as runner-up in the Building Sustainable Communities category at the City of London Sustainable City Awards. These awards are given to organisations which have demonstrated excellence in sustainable development.

Moussa Amine Sylla, Green Hub Coordinator at the Selby Centre, said: “I always believed that the planet and the humans should be the first beneficiaries of any enterprising venture. Each business should start with those elements before even thinking about money. This is exactly the sentiments that the Green hub at the Selby Centre have given me. Being short-listed at the Sustainable City Awards is an immense recognition for this Project.”

Rt Hon David Lammy, Member of Parliament for Tottenham, who recently gave an interview about his thoughts on The Selby Trust and The Selby Centre, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to hear The Selby Trust has been shortlisted for the Sustainable City Awards. The Selby Trust do fantastic work at The Selby Centre, and I am pleased the work they have done around the green and sustainability agenda has been recognised.”

Free carer workshops in Dorset

Social Enterprise Mark holder Help & Care has recently launched a new timetable for its free carer workshops for carers.

There are over 50,000 people caring for loved ones in Dorset alone. That’s one in 15 people looking after someone close to them with very little extra support. Many of these people can feel very isolated in their caring role and can find looking for information and support incredibly difficult.

These people are in need of help and that’s why Help & Care are organising these free workshops, aimed at advising people on certain issues such as first aid & safety, memory loss/dementia and legal and financial matters. Help & Care is working in partnership with Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset County Council to provide this important, free service.

See below for a timetable of classes for 2016. For more information, please visit the Help & Care website.Help & Care

Salford leading the way nationally for health and wellbeing services

Two Salford services dedicated to giving people the tools to make improvements to their health and wellbeing have been selected to take part in a national programme funded by NHS England. Being Well Salford and Social Enterprise Mark holder Unlimited Potential (in partnership with Inspiring Communities Together) have been chosen as two of the five local sites selected to participate in the Realising the Value programme, led by Nesta  and the Health Foundation and in partnership with the consortium Voluntary Voices.

Through the programme, the organisations will enhance their services across Salford while championing their innovative models for health and wellbeing.

The Realising the Value programme will focus on making person and community-centered approaches a reality. The programme is about strengthening the case for change, identifying evidence-based approaches that engage people in their own health and care, and developing tools to support implementation across the NHS and local communities. It will develop the participating services and, on completion, the work of the participating sites will be shared nationally as examples of how best to achieve the vision of NHS England’s Five Year Forward View.

Unlimited Potential improves well- being by focusing on the strengths of local people, rather than their needs. For instance, one project is focused on improving the well-being of disadvantaged children by finding new ways of working with their fathers. This work led to Salford Dadz – a network of local fathers who have created male-friendly spaces where positive role models talk openly ‘shoulder to shoulder’, as well as fun dad-child bonding activities.

Unlimited Potential is working in partnership with Inspiring Communities Together, a local community organisation that works to engage older people and their carers – again, focusing on an individual’s strengths.

Chris Dabbs, Director of Innovation at Unlimited Potential said: “The opportunity to work with leading national organisations participating in the Realising the Value programme is one that we could not turn down. Having two of the five sites selected locally in Salford reflects the quality of innovation and practice that exists here in engaging with local people in the city.”

Vote for Ideal for All in “People’s Choice Award”

Social Enterprise Mark holder Ideal for All has been shortlisted for the prestigious “People’s Choice Award” in the Sandwell & West Birmingham CCG 2016 Equality Awards.

Ideal for All (IFA) empowers and enables disabled and disadvantaged people and their families, carers, support workers and communities to be active citizens and to fully participate in society. IFA includes users in decision making around the development of services and brings people facing similar health issues together to help them cope with their disabilities and reduce dependency on the NHS. It creates a safe and relaxed environment where individuals can connect with people who understand what daily life with an illness is like.

Please click here to vote for Ideal for All for the People’s Choice Award.

Ideal for All

The Phone Co-op wins national social enterprise award

…and is part of a record breaking social enterprise investment


Social Enterprise Mark holder The Phone Co-op has won the Best Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2015.

The Phone Co-op is a consumer co-operative that exists to serve its members, and inspire others with an alternative, better model for business and the economy. It is the UK’s only telecommunications co-operative, procuring fixed and mobile telecommunications services on behalf of its customers, many of whom are also social enterprises.

The Phone Co-op set up its Co-operative and Social Economy Development Fund to support the growth and development of other co-ops and social enterprises around the country. The fund is the main focus for its contribution to the community.

For example, The Phone Co-op has loaned HCT, the social enterprise bus operator, £500K as part of their recently raised £10m funding. This funding, from a variety of social lenders, means a new record for a social enterprise investment in the UK. HCT uses the profits from its commercial work to provide community transport services, training, and community projects. Since its incorporation in 1982, HCT Group has grown to be a large scale social enterprise providing over 20 million passenger trips a year, with around 1000 employees, ten depots spread across London, Yorkshire, the Southwest and the Channel Islands, a fleet of over 500 vehicles and a 2014/15 turnover of £45.4M.

The Phone Co-op is a strong supporter of public transport with over 91% of its business miles undertaken by public transport.

Vivian_by_Phone_Co-op_door“We are happy to be using surplus capital to support another social enterprise that is providing public transport, something we actively try to use, and with an organisation that shares our values. We see social enterprises co-supporting each other in this way as an example of the type of alternative economy we’d like to encourage and grow.” said Vivian Woodell, Chief Executive of The Phone Co-op.

Double award honour for Cosmic CEO

Julie Hawker, CEO of Social Enterprise Mark holder Cosmic and a Social Enterprise Mark Ambassador, was awarded the honour of Women’s Social Enterprise Champion of the Year at the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2015, held on London’s South Bank on 26th November.

Julie Cosmic award pic

 

These national awards recognise excellence and outstanding achievements by social enterprises – businesses that reinvest their profits, benefitting people and planet. The UK now has more than 70,000 social enterprises, contributing more than £24 billion to the economy each year.

The very next day, Julie also won the Director of the Year Award in the Great Hall at Exeter University at the Venus Devon Awards. This award was judged based on the criteria of an outstanding director or board member of a company with more than 10 employees.

Venus awards 2015

On winning the awards Julie said “I am absolutely thrilled to win these awards, and to be honoured at local and national level in this way is just brilliant. For me it’s very clear recognition of the success of Cosmic over the years, and of the support I’ve had from my fantastic team. Cosmic is the best social enterprise to lead!  And I’ve been supported and inspired by some great women working in social enterprise, and so if winning this award means that I can do the same for other women in the years ahead – well that’s just great!”

The below video features Julie talking about what these awards mean to her and to Cosmic.

Cosmic is an IT and consultancy business, based in Honiton, East Devon, providing services across the South West. Cosmic uses its own resources to develop and deliver brilliant project work benefitting thousands of digitally excluded people. Cosmic pride themselves on being a great value supplier of services, and also on being an ethical business and accredited social enterprise.

Cosmic offers much more than just top quality, affordable and effective services such as websites, social media and SEO. Being a social enterprise means that the profits of their core activity goes towards doing good.

Chairman of Cosmic’s board Dave Ratcliffe commented; “At Cosmic we are all delighted that Julie’s contribution and skills have been recognised; Julie is an inspiring leader who works across many disciplines to great effect. Her well-grounded leadership skills and vision have enabled Cosmic to flourish and I am sure this award will be an inspiration to other women to reach their potential and their goals.”

‘We all deserve clean air’: UK communities take action against air pollution

From January 2016, UK communities will be able to work together to measure air pollution on their streets. This crowdfunded initiative is being set up by Social Enterprise Mark holder Mapping for Change, based at University College London.

Mapping for ChangeCommunity groups of all ages and abilities will collect air quality information using simple but reliable equipment. The amount and variety of equipment supplied will be determined by the funds raised, and will range from small plastic diffusion tubes to high-grade black carbon monitors. Results will be mapped online to create a UK-wide evidence base, comparable with statutory EU guidelines.

Air pollution is a significant killer. Annual figures reveal 7 million deaths worldwide, 60,000 deaths in the UK, and over 9,400 deaths in London alone. Ill-health as a result of air pollution poses serious ramifications for already over-stretched NHS budgets and national productivity. As Alan Andrews, a lawyer from ClientEarth commented, “for every person who dies early from air pollution, many more are made seriously ill, have to visit hospital or take time off work”.

To get involved, community groups can donate to the crowdfunding page. Options begin at £250 for 10 diffusion tubes, a months’ worth of monitoring and analysis, and results mapped online. People of all ages are encouraged to get involved, including school groups.

Louise Francis, Co-director of Mapping for Change, explained that “having access to meaningful evidence on air pollution is vitally important. As well as enabling people to reduce their personal exposure, it boosts communities’ confidence to call for change and get involved in decision making processes.”

Marylebone resident and previous scheme participant Sheila D’Souza commented that her community “feel very empowered and highly motivated to pursue this in the form of an active campaign to make sure that our needs for decent clean air are met”.

Mapping for Change is a wholly owned subsidiary of UCL, working with groups and organisations who want to understand, improve and produce information about the places that matter to them.

For more information, please visit the Mapping for Change website. To make a donation, please visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/community-air-pollution-monitoring/.

Big Issue Invest Supports Next Wave of Top Social Entrepreneurs

Social Enterprise Mark holder Big Issue Invest has revealed the social businesses who have successfully secured investment through its Corporate Social Venturing (CSV) Programme.  CSV is an innovative business support and investment initiative that facilitates growth and development among organisations that are using business solutions to remedy some of society’s biggest challenges throughout the country.

This year, a total of 12 initial investments have been agreed and will be allocated to the following organisations:

  • Activ Zone
  • Bite the Ballot
  • Change Please
  • EPIC Risk Management
  • The Employability Trust
  • Genie in the Gutter
  • Goldfinger Factory
  • Hire Hand
  • Home Services Support
  • Hospice Quality Partnership
  • Off the Scale
  • Specialisterne

A further 5 organisations; Breathe Arts Health Research, Mental Fight Club, Papi’s Pickles, Ruby Moon and Tiny Diner will continue to receive business support.

The CSV Programme is an innovative partnership between Big Issue Invest and Barclays as part of their commitment to impact 5 million young futures by 2015 with investment and support from; Experian, First Ark, Fusion 21, Places for People and the University of Northampton.  The programme is supported by the Social Incubator Fund (Cabinet Office). These social businesses create real and lasting opportunities for people in areas such as: employment, health and well-being, youth engagement and gambling addiction. The programme which is now in its second year opened in May, receiving almost 200 applications.

Nigel KershawNigel Kershaw OBE, Chair of The Big Issue Group remarked, “The CSV programme reflects the ‘hand up not a hand out’ ethos synonymous with The Big Issue organisation through the way it operates.  Each year we find ourselves almost awe-struck at the amount of businesses around the country who are driven by a determination to create a social impact that will positively affect groups who are most vulnerable and marginalised in society. 

The diversity and quality of this year’s cohort is extraordinary, from Off the Scale in Birmingham who work with people dealing with depression and sell vintage clothing to London based Bite the Ballot who have achieved incredible results connecting young people with politics both online and offline.  It has been a real privilege to work with all of them and we look forward to supporting them to grow their business to deliver real and needed social value.”

Big Issue Invest is the social investment arm of The Big Issue, helping prevent poverty and inequality by backing sustainable social enterprises, charities and ventures. It is a specialist provider of finance to social enterprises led by social entrepreneurs having invested £30m since 2005.  36 social businesses (including this year’s investees) will have received finance through the CSV Programme and its predecessor Tech for Good.

For more information about this year’s winners and the CSV programme, please visit www.bigissueinvest-csv.com.

Chocolate Films’ Rachel Wang named Entrepreneur of the Year

BBBARachel Wang, co-founder and Director of Social Enterprise Mark holder Chocolate Films was recently awarded the honour of the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Black British Business Awards 2015. The awards celebrate exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of black people in businesses operating in the UK.

Rachel was inspired to create her production company Chocolate Films due to the lack of representation of black people on the British screen. She founded the company with three key bold goals from the outset:

  1. to create high quality content for commercial clients
  2. to develop and produce dramas and documentaries that tell the stories that are not currently heard in the media
  3. to enable people who are less represented in the media to learn the skills to tell their stories.

The company is based in Brixton with a team of 12 and run skills-based creative media projects for over 2,000 children, young people and vulnerable adults each year. Rachel is currently producing a project in Greenwich where she is developing a new social enterprise which will employ adults in recovery from addiction issues.

In her acceptance speech Rachel said, “I feel very privileged to be here today. Now I feel incredibly excited to make Chocolate Films even more of a success than it already is, and to strive to inspire people even more with our organisation.”

The Black British Business Awards was held at the London Hilton Park Lane on 20th October 2015 with 500 guests in attendance from business, media and politics. Melanie Eusebe, Chair and Co-founder of the Black British Business Awards said: “I congratulate both Rachel Wang and Clare Eluka on their awards in the Entrepreneur category of the Black British Business Awards. They are role models within the community and demonstrate excellence in the work they do.”

Prestious double award success for Gateway Family Services CIC

Social Enterprise Mark holder Gateway Family Services CIC is celebrating after winning two prestigious awards this week.

On Tuesday they won a Three Year Health and Wellbeing award from the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). This meant they were put forward for the prestigious Health Ministers Award… and yesterday, they won that too!

The RSPH Three Year Health and Wellbeing Award

Jane Piggott Smith (L) and Michelle Smitten (R) receive the RSPH Three Year Health and Wellbeing award from Lord Patel. (Photo: RSPH)

Jane Piggott Smith (L) and Michelle Smitten (R) receive the RSPH Three Year Health and Wellbeing award from Lord Patel. (Photo: RSPH)

The RSPH Health and Wellbeing awards are open to all organisations that promote health and wellbeing as part of their role. The awards “recognise achievement in the development and implementation of health promotion and community wellbeing strategies and initiatives”.

Awards are given for one, two and three years, with the Three Year Award being the highest level. In announcing the Three Year Health and Wellbeing Award, RSPH commended Gateway for:

  • “…how the organisation encourages whole family responses to their messages; this approach has proven to be effective in reaching communities.
  • “…the excellent internal referral pathways allow an effective and efficient nurturing process for service users. People only leave the service when they are ready.”
  • “…the organisation’s capacity to develop services based on the experiences and needs of service users. For instance, the strategy for the compilation of clients’ feedback is accessible and innovative, facilitating the capture of users’ comments and feelings about the service they are receiving.
  • “…the organisation’s employment policies and process for favouring service users whom often are part of the most disadvantaged communities. The opportunities that those individuals receive equips them with transferable training skills which will support them for life.

 


The Public Health Minister’s Award

Katherine Hewitt (L) and Ann Forletta (R) receive the Health Minister’s Award

Katherine Hewitt (L) and Ann Forletta (R) receive the Health Minister’s Award

All organisations that achieved the highest level of the RSPH Award were considered for the Public Health Minister’s Award, which recognises organisations for “outstanding contributions to the public’s health”.

The Health Minister’s Award was presented yesterday, and Gateway won jointly with The Big Life Group, a group of social businesses and charities based in Manchester. Both organisations won because they demonstrate “exceptional asset-based approaches to engage with communities and deliver real public health gains”.

As part of their application, Gateway was asked to give an example of the way that they engage with communities. They used the example of Making Health Work, a project they ran in partnership with the Foyer Federation to get young people thinking about the ways in which work impacts on health and health impacts on work. Making Health Work used Gateway’s extensive paraprofessional experience and innovative support tools – like their Impact Assessment App – to break down barriers and improve opportunities for the people they worked with.

Jane Ellison MP, Minister for Public Health, said: “I am delighted to be able to award the second Public Health Minister’s Award jointly to The Big Life Group for Be Well Salford and Gateway Family Services for their Making Health Work Project in Birmingham. They are outstanding examples of how organisations, large and small, can improve the life chances of the people in their communities, through developing local skills, knowledge and networks to target interventions to where they are needed the most.”

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “We are delighted to once again partner with the Department of Health on the Public Health Minister’s Award to celebrate the inspirational work of these two organisations. They are exemplars of innovative, progressive programmes to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. I would like to wish both winners all the best as they continue delivering impressive public health outcomes, and hope they will inspire others to do likewise in future.” 

 


The below video features Gateway’s EAST Departmental Manager Michelle Smitten talking about what these awards mean to them.
 

Visit the Gateway Family Services CIC website for more information.

£1Million unlocked for good causes by TheGivingMachine

Social Enterprise Mark holder TheGivingMachine was once just an idea between 4 friends; it started as a social enterprise and then became a registered charity last year. Now it has reached a momentous milestone – £1,000,000 has been unlocked for good causes by people shopping on-line via TheGivingMachine, without it costing them a single penny more.

Richard Morris, CEO and Founder of TheGivingMachine said “Every donation counts, no matter how big or small, and we just wanted to say a great, big thank you to everyone that has helped reach this impressive total”.

Since its launch, 86,000 registered Givers have raised a total £1,000,000 for over 8,200 causes, and the figure won’t stop here. Shopping via TheGivingMachine creates an ongoing income stream for charities, with internet shopping forever on the increase, so is the amount of funds available.

This month TheGivingMachine has also introduced the ability for customers to apply GiftAid to the donations they generate via TheGivingMachine, meaning their registered Givers can enjoy giving even more to the causes they love at no extra cost.

For more information, please visit TheGivingMachine website.

NatWest SE100

Social Enterprise Mark Holders shortlisted for SE100 Awards

Social Enterprise Mark holders BITA Pathways and FRC Group, and Gold Mark holder John Taylor Hospice have been shortlisted for the NatWest SE100 Awards 2015.

The winners will win a share of over £32, 000 in prize money that will be awarded at the NatWest SE100 Annual Awards on 19th October 2015, at the Good Deals social investment conference in London.

BITAShortlisted for the Resilience award, BITA Pathways provides a range of education, volunteering and employment services for adults with mental health problems.

 

FRCShortlisted for the Impact Champion award, FRC Group aims to reduce and ultimately eradicate furniture poverty, by campaigning to raise awareness and create practical solutions to get furniture to people who need it, as well as creating sustainable employment.

 

JTHShortlisted for the Storyteller award, John Taylor Hospice is a Social Enterprise Gold Mark holder, providing expert end of life care to families in Birmingham.

 

Julie Baker, Head of Enterprise at NatWest, said: “Social Enterprises make a massive difference to local economies and communities across the UK and beyond. They are run by inspirational people who want to make a difference. That is why at NatWest we want to support them to get access to the finance, support and networks they need to flourish. That way not only do they benefit, but the economy benefits and our society benefits.  We congratulate all shortlisted enterprises and look forward to celebrating their success at the awards ceremony on 19th October.”

TheGivingMachine Named ‘Most Trusted Social Enterprise’

Social Enterprise Mark holder TheGivingMachine received the award for Most Trusted Social Enterprise at the very first UK Trust Awards.

The Giving Machine Trust AwardThe award was presented to Richard Morris, CEO and Founder of TheGivingMachine, by Roger James Hamilton and Michelle Clarke, Global Partnership Manager at The Entrepreneurs Institute.

Expressing his gratitude to those who voted, Richard said:

“I’m delighted to say that, thanks to people like you, TheGivingMachine won the 2015 Most Trusted Social Enterprise Award from the Entrepreneurs Institute.Our team is so grateful to serve the wonderful people and causes that are part of our growing community.

Thank you so much for voting for us – together we can unlock many more £millions to achieve even more for the causes that matter to you.”

TheGivingMachine is a unique social enterprise whose sole purpose is to generate free cash donations for UK registered schools, charities, CASC’s and CIC’s via a shopping portal. There are over 1,500 top online shops participating and each gives a percentage of every purchase as a donation to the shoppers chosen schools and charities.

There were 439 entries across the 13 categories of the Trust Awards and thousands of people cast their vote, with the Entrepreneurs Institute donating life saving water for every vote received. Full details can be found on the Trust Awards website.

The Soap Co. logo

Social enterprise soap brand offers bathroom luxury with a conscience

The Soap Co. – a new luxury soap brand, directly creating employment for blind or otherwise disabled or disadvantaged people, has been launched today by Social Enterprise Mark Holder Clarity EFBP.

Promising to be good and do good, with a strong focus on design and ethics, the new brand will also be available directly to consumers online. It aims to reach out to socially-minded consumers and companies, matching straight-forward social messages with quality products.

clarity-logo-scIt represents a bold move into a new market segment for charity and parent company Clarity EFBP, founded in 1854 to provide employment opportunities for blind and disabled people, with more than 70 years’ experience making soap products.

Jeremy Robinson, CEO, said: “For us this is an opportunity to prove that there does not have to be a trade off between quality and social benefit. We’re helping to expand the socially conscious buying market and, ultimately, to create more employment for blind or otherwise disabled or disadvantaged people who want to work, but are often not given the chance”.

Sophie Butland of the Social Enterprise Mark CIC said “As the only independent certification authority for social enterprises, we are excited about the launch of The Soap Co., which promises to ‘do good and be good’ by directly creating employment for blind and disabled people.

The Social Enterprise Mark CIC has assessed and certified parent company Clarity EFBP against its robust criteria for several years, and welcomes this new avenue for creating even greater social benefit.”

To find out more, please visit The Soap Co. website.

Pick and Pack - Allan Brooks Low Res (00000002)Soap Co


Charity Bank Offers Exclusive Discount for Mark Holders

Charity Bank has become the only UK bank to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark

To celebrate this achievement, Charity Bank has announced a 25% discount on loans to Social Enterprise Mark holders

Charity Bank, an ethical bank that uses savings to make loans to charities and social enterprises, recently became the only UK bank to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark (SEM), which demonstrates it puts people and the planet before shareholder profit.

To mark the new accreditation, Charity Bank announced a partnership with Social Enterprise Mark CIC to offer Mark Holders a 25% reduction on their standard loan arrangement fee. Please click here for full information and t&c.

Subjected to an assessment process, which is overseen by an independent Certification Panel, Charity Bank’s company documents and accounts were scrutinised.  As a result, Charity Bank has earned the Social Enterprise Mark, which checks whether profits are re-invested into activities that benefit society.

Patrick Crawford, chief executive of Charity Bank, said: “Being the only UK bank to receive the Social Enterprise Mark is a great honour for Charity Bank.

“Charity Bank was always going to be different. We’re not driven by trying to maximise our profits – rather we seek to find ways of saying ‘yes’ to those making a positive impact on society when others say ‘no’.

“To date, we have approved £200 million-worth of loans to more than 1,000 charities and social enterprises that are improving lives and communities across the UK.

“The Social Enterprise Mark is an independent certificate of why we’re in business and how we use our profits, and a testament to our future direction.”

In 2014, Charity Bank generated 155 loan applications worth £70 million, more than double the value of applications in 2013 (£32 million) and made commitments to lend £33 million, almost three times the value of commitments made the previous year (£12 million).

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, said: “To achieve status as the only UK bank to be awarded The Social Enterprise Mark is a major feat.  The Mark is the guardian of genuine social enterprise principles and is a guarantee for businesses which use their profits for purpose, not for shareholders’ pockets, as Charity Bank has clearly demonstrated. We have no doubt it will inspire others to follow this great example of social enterprise.”

University Commended by Council for Commitment to Social Enterprise

The Plymouth-based University of St Mark & St John has been commended by Plymouth City Council Leader Tudor Evans, in recognition of its commitment to social enterprise.

It has become one of only four universities in the UK to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark. This makes Plymouth, which was the UK’s first social enterprise city, the only city in the UK with two Universities accredited for social enterprise work.

The Social Enterprise Mark CIC is the UK and international certification authority that safeguards social enterprise credentials. Only organisations that can prove they put people and planet before shareholder profit are awarded a license to display the Social Enterprise Mark.

The University of St Mark & St John is on a new trajectory having secured HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) funding of nearly £3million to enable the development of new courses, infrastructure, and the estate. It ranks as first in the UK for social mobility and has the highest-ranking graduate employment of the four Universities in Devon and Cornwall, with 95% of graduates achieving employment within six months.

Plymouth City Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “Higher education is at the heart of social enterprise and it’s fantastic to see the University recognised for the public benefit it continues to bring to our communities; through several projects including the increasing work with NHS rehabilitation programmes, the innovative work with Macmillan Cancer Support, and the University’s values which provide a set of guiding principles to enable students of today to become leaders of tomorrow who will address the global challenges of the 21st Century.”

Social Enterprise

Award Winning Social Enterprise Announces New CEO

Social Enterprise Pluss’ Chairman Chris Harvey has announced the appointment of Steve Hawkins, previously Director of Business Development, as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Harvey said “I am very pleased to announce that, following a recruitment process Steve Hawkins is appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Board joins me in congratulating Steve in his new role.”
Steve Hawkins added “I am delighted to have been appointed as Pluss’ CEO. I am extremely proud to work for the organisation, and look forward to working with our staff to take the Company forward. We are facing exciting times, and we are in an excellent position to look to the future of Welfare to Work services for disadvantaged people.

“I will be taking time to personally visit staff and other stakeholders across the company over the coming weeks”.

Pluss is a Social Enterprise that supports disadvantaged people into work. They work with thousands of employers across the South West, West of England, and West Yorkshire, helping them to recruit and retain staff with disabilities and other disadvantages.
Businesses looking for free disability recruitment support can find out more at www.pluss.org.uk, www.facebook.com/plussinspires or on twitter @PlussInspires.

Social Enterpr-eyes? Beacon Centre for the Blind achieves ‘ethical’ business award

Beacon Centre for the Blind based in Sedgley in the Black Country has recently achieved endorsement for its work in improving society and protecting the environment. Beacon Chief Executive, Arwyn Jones and Chair of Trustees, Pauline Heffernan were presented with the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark by Melanie Mills, Big Society Capital Social Sector Engagement Director.

Beacon Chair, Pauline Heffernan commented: “Our passion at Beacon is being in business to use profits to fulfil our charitable aim of making a visible difference for people with visual impairment and sight loss. That’s why receiving the Social Enterprise Mark is a great honour for Beacon. It is an independent guarantee of why we’re in business, how we use our profits and a testament for our future direction for developing sustainable social enterprises”.

Beacon Centre is a social enterprise providing quality accommodation, health and social care services, advice, information and advocacy services for people with visual impairment and sight loss across the Black Country in the West Midlands. In Autumn 2015 Beacon will launch Beacon Opticians Plus, the UK’s first social enterprise ophthalmic optician service with the benefit of onsite low vision advice and support services. Beacon also operates retail charity and coffee shops across the Black Country and employment support and prevention services across the Black Country.

The Government defines social enterprises as “businesses with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.”

Melanie Mills, Social Sector Director of Big Society Capital presented the Beacon team with the Mark at Beacon Centre, Sedgley on Tuesday 7th July 2015.

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of the Social Enterprise Mark CIC said: “As the only certification for genuine social enterprises, the Mark guarantees businesses which use their profits for purpose not for shareholders’ pockets. The Mark helps those businesses show their business ethics and values. We are delighted to award the Social Enterprise Mark to Beacon Centre for the Blind and have no doubt they will inspire others to follow this great example of social enterprise.”

To find out more about Beacon Vision please click here, Beacon Vision are also a registered Social Enterprise.

Millfields Trust invests over £1million in Stonehouse

The Millfields Trust has donated £1000 to a local primary school, taking it well beyond the £1 million milestone mark it has ploughed into and invested
in the local community of Stonehouse. This is a remarkable achievement which is being celebrated by a Trust with volunteer Directors and a small staff team.

Jan Digweed, Head Teacher of St Peter’s Church of England Primary School says: “With the help of The Millfields Trust, more children will be able to benefit from the cultural learning experience in Spain.   We have built a great working relationship with The Millfields Trust. They’re continually helping us to raise aspirations and install a sense of pride and adventure in our youth. Through the Widening Horizons project they’ve already given our pupils a unique insight into the world of construction, medicine, dentistry and aviation. The children have enjoyed every single minute and we thank them for this latest boost!”

Many people will be familiar with the work of the Millfields Trust. For the past 15 years the Trust has been a provider a high quality business accommodation from its base in Stonehouse. Many successful Plymouth businesses have begun life in HQ or on the Millfields site. What people may not realise is that income from trading is not only sustaining the Trust to continue in business, but that its surplus is used to support the community of Stonehouse.

One of the main beneficiaries is the young people of the neighbourhood.
Seven years ago the Trust established the Widening Horizons project. This ground-breaking project is funded by the Trust and works with year 5 children in 6 local primary schools, giving them the opportunity to visit inspirational workplaces that have the ‘wow’ factor and provide a different insight into the world of work. Since it was established over 700 young people have been through the programme.

In addition the Trust has invested in buildings now owned by the community, contributed to an endowment fund for the Drake Foundation, and given grants and donations to a number of community groups and organisations in Stonehouse.

Chair of the Trust Father Sam Philpott says: “This is a magnificent achievement for a small community focused organisation. We have come a long way in the last 15 years and touched the lives of many people.  The money we have spent has been invested, in our buildings, in our community and in our future.  There is much to be done and our Genesis building is demonstrating our determination to continue to change the built environment of Stonehouse, raising the aspirations and self-esteem of our community”

To find out more about Millfields Trust click here. Millfields Trust  is also a registered Social Enterprise Mark Holder.

Bournemouth Social Enterprise and office products supplier scoops “Dealer of the year” award

Supply Shack, a social enterprise in Bournemouth, has been awarded the “Dealer of the year – under £1 million” award. The prestigious prize was announced at Superstat Conference 2015 in Liverpool on Friday 12th June.

Superstat is the most progressive office product dealer group in the UK. Every year, it hosts a national conference followed by a Superstat Awards Dinner to recognise and reward those in the office supplies industry. The “Dealer of the year” award category is designed to recognise a dynamic dealer that meets the needs of its customers by providing a comprehensive package of products, resources and services, with pioneering initiatives to elevate as a forerunner in the market.

Commenting on winning the award, Supply Shack’s managing director Des Day said, “We’re over the moon with winning this prestigious award which I would like to dedicate to all the team at Supply Shack and all our customers who made this possible. Keep buying social and there will be so much more we can give back to good causes.”

Founded in 2011 in Bournemouth as a social enterprise with an ethos of trading for social and environmental purposes, Supply Shack is growing at a rapid pace. The company has earned a lot of favour from a wide range of businesses for high-quality and competitively priced office products with profits going to good causes and providing employment opportunities for those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Supply Shack is a holder of the Social Enterprise Mark

Professor Brendon Noble

University Recognised For Commitment To Social Enterprise

The DEVON-based University of St Mark & St John has become one of only four universities in the UK to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, indicating that it is a social enterprise supporting the community, the environment and with good social purpose.

The Social Enterprise Mark CIC is the UK and international certification authority that safeguards social enterprise credentials. Only organisations that can prove they put people and planet before shareholder profit are awarded a license to display the Social Enterprise Mark.

The University of St Mark & St John is on a new trajectory having secured HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) funding of nearly £3million to enable the development of new courses, infrastructure, and the estate. It ranks as first in the UK for social mobility and has the highest-ranking graduate employment of the four Universities in Devon and Cornwall, with 95% of graduates achieving employment within six months.

Professor Brendon Noble, Executive Dean of Research, Postgraduate and Innovation at the University of St Mark & St John said: “We’re extremely proud to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark and the University of St Mark & St John is absolutely committed to supporting social enterprise and consequently helping local communities and the broader South West region to thrive and prosper.

“Our students will continue to contribute to our social enterprise philosophy through the use of skills they have acquired while studying; a strong volunteering ethos and positive attitude towards growing a better society”.

Lucy Findlay, Managing Director, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, added: “We are delighted to award the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark to the University of St Mark & St John. Social enterprises work to many different priorities, so it’s great to see a vital, local university understanding the importance of demonstrating the social value of their organisation.”

Subjected to an assessment process that is overseen by an independent Certification Panel, the University of St Mark & St John’s detailed activities, company documents and accounts were scrutinised. As a result the University of St Mark & St John has earned the Social Enterprise Mark guarantee that income is used to the benefit of making a positive impact on the local society and economy.

The University of St Mark & St John joins other ethical organisations that have been recognised by the Social Enterprise Mark, such as the Age UK Enterprises, Eden Project, Big Issue, and the Phone Coop.

Government data estimates that there are 70,000 social enterprises across the UK, contributing over £24 billion to the economy and employing around a million people.

Social enterprises plough the majority of their profits back into activities that benefit people and planet, rather than just lining shareholders pockets. However, some businesses are taking advantage as there is no legal definition for them. The Social Enterprise Mark is the guardian of genuine social enterprise principles. It safeguards these principles through the independent Certification process.