14th May 2007, 07/146
Social Enterprise Hub launch
Organisations
working for community, environmental and social benefit can
register to become part of the West Lancashire Social Enterprise
Hub.
West Lancashire District Council has funded this new project which
will see West Lancashire Council for Voluntary Service engaging
with voluntary and community sector businesses that provide
services for the good of others.
Initially, the first stages will involve establishing how many
social enterprises are operating in the district.
Once this information has been gathered an action plan will be put
together on how to help them, give them support, provide a chance
for them to network and to look at potential avenues for
funding.
Social Enterprises are incredibly diverse, from co-operatives,
development trusts, community enterprises and housing associations
to leisure trusts and football supporter trusts.
Martin Trengove from CVS, said: "There are certainly far more
social enterprises operating in the district than we are aware of,
and indeed there are probably a large number of voluntary and
community organisations who are social enterprises even though they
don't realise that they are! We need to find them and provide them
with the support they need so they can grow and develop into fully
sustainable organisations, thereby enabling them to become less
reliant on grant funding."
When these groups have been identified, the aim is to form a Social
Enterprise Hub similar to ones set up in other parts of the
region.
Jayne Traverse, Interim Manager Regeneration and Estates, said:
"Once set up, the hub will look towards providing a support network
for social enterprises in the area with links to other county-wide
organisations such as SELNET (Social Enterprise Lancashire
Network). It's an exciting new initiative for these types of
organisations and will be of real benefit to their activities. So
if you are a social enterprise you may well benefit from joining
the hub. Membership is free and it can open the door to all sorts
of opportunities to help you flourish."
Peter Cousins, a member of SELNET and the chair of Brighter Future
Workshops Ltd in Skelmersdale, added: "The formation of an active
hub in West Lancashire could provide a huge boost to all of us
working in the sector. It would give us the chance to share
experiences as well as trade with each other and could make the
difference between success or failure for some of our
activities."
If you would like more information on the West Lancashire Social
Enterprise Hub, please contact Martin Trengove at CVS on 01695
733737 or email martin@wlcvs.org.
For more information about the work of the Council's business
support and activities, visit our Business Support section.
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