InTouch Issue 3 by Social Enterprise East of England

InTouch SOCIAL ENTERPRISE EAST OF ENGLAND

March/April 2004 • Issue 3

Inside: From the Editor

Editor David Lloyd talks about money, education and cooperation.

Development Trusts

Building an asset base – usually a physical resource like a building or land and equipment – is an important part of the Development Trust approach.

Suffolk Regeneration Trust

When the banks don’t want you

Without access to appropriate finance many social enterprises do not get off the ground, and others are unable to expand and grow. Suffolk Regeneration Trust aims to fill this gap.

East is Best

Keynote speaker Baroness Glenys Thornton and the other speakers were upbeat about achievements and prospects in Norfolk.

Thames Gateway

EEDA and English Nature demonstrate that conservation and industry can coexist

Feature: Working Herts

Working Herts was born out of a will to relieve the district's two main concerns of high unemployment and badly insulated houses. It was realised one project could bring these two issues together.

Focus on...

In this issue we focus on Hertfordshire. Journalist Andrew Saul and journalist/photographer Sarah Charters look at five of the best social enterprises.

Networks unlimited...

News from across the six counties, and your opportunity to tell us what you are doing.

Nearbuyou goes national

The online trading and procurement exchange goes national. A key feature is a facility that enables users to post information on forthcoming tenders. Are you a social enterprise? Can you print this magazine within your own facility? If you are interested, go to nearbuyou and pick up the tender details.

Internet: SEEE’s Web partner services are at: http://www.nearbuyou.org http://www.socialenterprise-east.org.uk

Credit unions are about much more than just avoiding the loan sharks.

re Credit unions alive and well in the East of England? The Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) is bullish about the national picture according to this item announcing their AGM and taken from their website in early March: Credit unions are meeting in Blackpool this weekend for their Annual Conference and AGM. As well as paying tribute to the pioneers who brought credit unions to Britain a quarter of a century ago [the early 1960s in fact – Ed], they are looking forward to a big expansion of the movement. In the 25 years since the Credit Unions Act was passed in 1979, the movement has grown from 8,500 members with a little over £100,000 in savings to half a million members with savings of over £350 million. This fiftyfold growth is attributable to around 10,000 volunteers who commit time and energy to ensuring that their communities have access to easy

savings facilities and great value credit. What purpose are they supposed to serve and are they managing to serve that purpose? Are there other models of community finance available? According to a new report on finance for social enterprises and socially excluded individuals – Lend Me Your Fears: lending, borrowing, saving and earning – Social Enterprise Finance in the East of England – commissioned by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), and conducted by The Guild in Norwich, there are 488 CUs in England and 23 in the East of England: but this is only counting members of ABCUL. 23 seems a comparatively small number measured against the UK total.

The niche – a social purpose Credit unions exist for a social purpose and are usually dependent to one degree or another on unpaid volunteers. The CUs often exist to fill a need for financial stability among those individuals who would otherwise be ➜ page 2

Personal finance ➜ cover financially or socially excluded – a variable 40-100% according to eastern region credit unions’ own individual estimates. The EEDA/Guild report describes the niche role that CUs fulfil: Credit Unions enable people to save and to develop the habit of saving, from which point they can borrow money, based on the level of savings in their account. Interest paid on loans is low and individuals are not credit checked as the lending principle is based on the likelihood that people will repay their friends and neighbours. Credit Unions enable people to borrow small amounts of money, cheaply, when many people would have few options other than exploitative marginal lending agencies. They also enable people to save small amounts of money that mainstream financial institutions would not find cost effective.

Mutuality and the Common Bond Credit unions are mutual organisations – that is, owned by their members. The membership, and therefore ownership, of the CU is firmly based on the principle of a “common bond”. ABCUL defines the common bond as: The qualification for membership to the credit union. It is the one thing which all members have in common – e.g. living in the same area, or working for the same employer. It is the common bond which makes credit unions unique and different to banks and building

societies. It is thought that the existence of a common bond reduces the likelihood of bad debt. Following recent legislative changes, most credit unions adopt an all-purpose ‘live or work’ common bond, but common bonds may also be membership of an association, trade or profession, or working for the same employer. The interwoven principles of mutuality and the common bond are therefore societal main planks of viability and stability for a credit union. While the common bond is seen as a strength by ABCUL and credit unions, it is also a potential weakness if the credit union’s pool of potential members is small or the common bond too narrowly defined.

Accessibility Savings in a Credit Union may be as little as a pound a time; borrowing is typically under £300. Compare this with the minimum £10 deposit required by some building society accounts and the £50 or even £100 required to open an account. High Street Banks are unlikely to lend less than £1000.

A narrow source of revenue? Typical reasons for members to save or borrow include purchases of a car or holiday, or the more basic requirements of children’s clothes and shoes. The help and opportunity to save small amounts is often a first step in getting a degree of financial stability and some projects with a wider scope, e.g. the Compass community recycling project in Peterborough, works in partnership with a credit union – in this instance RSACUL (Rainbow Savers Credit Union Ltd) to meet this need. ➜ page 4

Alternatives to Credit Unions: New Horizons Saving and Loans Scheme

ew Horizons was set up by Cambridge Housing Society (CHS) in partnership with Cambridge Building Society in 1997. Cambridge Housing Society is a Registered Social Landlord and the Building Society is a locally owned mutual. CHS deposited £25,000 with the Building Society. This money underwrites loans made by the Building Society to CHS residents, contributes to a joint pot of money alongside the residents’ own savings to enhance the interest they can earn on their savings and earns interest. So residents saving in the scheme earn an additional 2% interest on their savings because it is calculated on the total amount of money in the pot – currently around £50,000. People can borrow from the Building Society at base rate plus 0.95% and the Building Society will in principle lend up to three times the amount deposited by CHS. The scheme enables people to borrow immediately they sign up to the Scheme, as many participants are likely to need ‘crisis loans’. The New Horizons Scheme aims to provide a one-stop shop approach to a range of financial issues – for instance

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financial literacy issues, provide welfare benefits and tax credit advice, and access to other affordable financial products, e.g. home contents insurance. Participants are described as financially excluded, 65% of CHS new residents are in receipt of housing benefits, 49% have an annual income of less than £8,500 and a third are on disability or long-term sickness Sue Reynolds, John Ide and Jo Burton of CHS with 200th New Horizons benefits. account holder Sarah Young and her daughter Jasmine Wells. Like credit unions, the lending process is based on principles of trust. The loan assessor believed that this process reduces the is part of the team at CHS and will risk of bad debts. In 2002/3, CHS had to identify areas of risk. They will not put £200 into the arrears fund. Cambridge Housing Society is approve a loan to someone with more than three weeks rent arrears. The main currently developing a franchise model way in which risk is minimised is to for this project. Adapted from the Lend me your establish a principle of openness and honesty. CHS will do credit checks on fears, social enterprise finance report by people but will not turn down a loan The Guild, with additional input by CHS. because someone fails the check – only Reproduced by permission of EEDA and if they have not been open about it. It is The Guild

Editorial

InTouch

David Lloyd is joint managing director of Business for People in Huntingdon. He is editor and contributor to various publications

Social Enterprise East of England March/April 2004 Issue 3 The SEEE network is co-ordinated by Business Link Hertfordshire InTouch is financed by SEEE (funded by the European Social Fund ) and published in its support by Business for People in partnership with Creative Touch, both of which are social enterprises 4 Archers Court Stukeley Road Huntingdon PE29 6XG SEEE Staff: Social Sector Manager: Jo Ransom Project Manager: Elaine McCorriston Web Managers: Lin Evens Michael Waring

Editorial Staff: Editor: David Lloyd Content Editor: Peter Durrant Assistant Editors: Sarah Charters Andrew Saul Creative/Production Editor: Austin Bambrook

Please send PR and other information items to: Peter Durrant, e-mail: humberstone@pop3.poptel.org.uk Telephone 01223 262759

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers or of Business Link Hertfordshire, Business for People Ltd or Creative Touch. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an information retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the publishers. This publication has been prepared using information provided by contributors and, while we make every effort, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. SSEER is unable to accept any liability for the consequences of any inaccuracies, errors or omissions in this publication. No representations, warranties or endorsements of any kind are intended.

From the Editor M

uch of what we write about in this issue – in one way or another – has to do with money. Not necessarily because money is our (or your) only or principal concern. One writer on “authentic organisations” dismissed undue obsession with money with words along the lines of “income is like breathing – you need it to survive but it’s not why you’re here”. There’s truth in that, but it’s also true that a lack of money at the right time in the right way can disempowering, paralysing and – for an organisation – terminal, just as an absence of oxygen can be extremely bad for the health. Some of those who have started credit unions and similar organisations have done so having witnessed the social ills that occur at the bottom of the economic food chain. Disadvantaged people are, ironically, the ones who pay the highest interest rates and are the most likely to be ripped off simply because they are easy targets for loan sharks and the like. And the banks don’t want to know at all, as witnessed by the conspicuous absence of the “big four” in Lowestoft. The system compounds the helplessness of the economically weak. Our lead article focuses on some of the pros and cons of credit unions and related models that endeavour to help people to achieve some level of financial stability. Across the region numerous hard-working people, many of them volunteers, believe community financial institutions can make a difference – and some are proving it. But not alone, as research from the John Moore University highlights – people need educating too. So only with an integrated approach, across an imaginative spread of organisations working together, do the best solutions begin to emerge. Some community financial institutions, including some CUs, are indeed doing this, and one hopes that others learn from their example and, we trust, from their success. Some of the lessons emerging from the SEEE (Social Enterprise East of England) project and elsewhere are demonstrating that it takes a joined-up, partnership approach to make things really work in this complex world in which we live. The “hub and spoke” credit union model is a promising example of this (see When the banks don’t want you), as are some imaginative partnerships such as that between brewers and farmers in Norfolk. Whether community and voluntary organisations sign up to the concept of social enterprise or not, (and there are good reasons some do not), the wider environment for all types of social purpose organisations is fast changing, and requires forward thinking and planning. SEEE is part of the movement to help organisations – if it is appropriate for them – to investigate and begin to engage with the wider financial opportunities beyond total funding dependency. We will continue to highlight some of the alternatives, such as the Development Trust approach highlighted in this issue. Some encouraging, positive things are happening in the East of England, which include things financial, but are also about people, jobs, environment and numerous other issues, of which the EEDA/English Nature Thames Gateway project (see page 9) is just one example. In our focus on Hertfordshire this issue, we have highlight the work Business Link Hertfordshire – and some promising Hertfordshire social enterprises – are doing in very varied ways. So money is part of the mix. But the right approaches and concepts are what make money work for us – or not.

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Personal finance ➜ page 2 A number of CUs, however, find themselves mainly regarded as “Christmas clubs” for holding savings until required, and herein lies a problem. Yields from loans are the only regular source of revenue, so if they don’t lend uffolk Regeneration Trust is a new deliver personal finance, but in areas money they can’t make money. It is Community Development Finance where this is not possible, for instance hoped that more flexibility in any future Institution that will begin lending to sparsely populated rural areas, SRT will Credit Unions Act might present a enterprises, including social enterprises, develop and deliver tailored personal solution to this bind. this April. SRT has been established to financial products directly. CABs and On the positive side, however, The address problems of social exclusion and HA debt advice workers will play a key Guild research shows that members value specifically financial exclusion. This role in making referrals. See article: Suffolk Trust offers the opportunity to save just as much as remit does include lending to the opportunity to borrow. individuals. In the first instance SRT will community development finance to Nicky Stevenson of The Guild work with partners, such as the CUs, to social enterprises commented: “Some CUs seem to operate in a vacuum and have little contact with other agencies in the that so many people still do not understand, the struggling community. The successful models, such as the Earlham Credit groups could do well to learn from this kind of model”. Union in Norwich, have active links with debt counselling Service levels services and other community networks. They also promote a Given the reliance on volunteers, some CUs experience young savers scheme to help people get used to active use of the problems delivering a service that is consistent and convenient credit union facilities. Although all the credit unions consulted for members. This will be more likely if a CU is small or quite in the research complained that it is hard to promote a product new, and can exacerbate the problems of recruiting more members to become financially viable. There is sometimes a Case Studies from problem with the individual(s) managing deposits and withdrawals/loans being available at a convenient place and Ipswich Credit Union time. This is not such a problem if the common bond is via an employer of sufficient size to manage the finances through the Case1 payroll and its wages or finance department, but can be a real ICU member Sue now borrows from ICU instead of her difficulty for community based CUs. doorstep lender. Her last doorstep loan of £200 had a total charge for credit of £120 resulting in total amount payable The issue of size of £320, 32 weeks at £10 per week. This leads to the issue of size itself. Potential income is a Same size loan from credit union: £200 repaid over 26 function of the number of members and the size of the loan weeks at £8 per week. Total charge for credit cost her £6.67 account. interest giving total amount payable of £206.67. No Smaller CUs can tend to be over-reliant on a few hardworking arrangement fees or insurance costs (free insurance from volunteers. What happens if a key person gets sick or quits? Can credit unions) a tiny volunteer workforce be available at enough times and places to cater for members? The Guild research, while its sampling of CUs was, by its own admission, too small to draw Case 2 sweeping conclusions from, did note this as a difficulty for at ICU member David tried to open a savings account in least one of the smaller CUs it interviewed. Ipswich with a building society. He was turned away from three; they all wanted a minimum opening deposit of £100 A joined-up approach to running a Credit Union or a standing order of £20 per month. Given the issues of size and the need for credit unions to reach He set up a standing order of £10 per month with ICU critical financial mass, it is not surprising that an increasing instead. He said “some months I can manage more, but number of credit unions have taken a joined up approach, when I have a phone bill or electricity bill I can’t manage associating and pooling resources while retaining their more than £10.” independence. This also overcomes some of the problems Note that the new Post Office savings account requires an where the common bond is more narrowly defined. opening deposit of £100, this by a provider who actually Mergers: Harlow Save and Leeds City CUs seeks to serve lower income people more than the average Two approaches to creating larger high street provider! Credit unions can be found in the region: through mergers of small CUs, e.g. Harlow Save, previously four CUs. Case 3 Further afield, Leeds City Credit Union Dan has moved around a lot and is living as a lodger at the is a very large scheme, formed by the moment. He has no bills in his name, and has no passport or merger of five previous smaller driving licence. He has been turned away by banks who say schemes. he doesn’t have enough ID, but he has cheques to cash and a job offer. He opened a savings account with ICU, who RSACULs’ hub and spoke model accepted the ID he had already shown the banks. ICU keeps An alternative, piloted by a to the same money laundering ID regulations as all deposit partnership of RSACUL, Waveney takers, but is able to be more flexible, actually looks at District Council and Suffolk ACRE, is the documents and makes a fair decision in accordance with the hub and spoke model (sometimes called rules. Banks could do this too, but choose not to – it takes “franchise” or “satellite working”) too much staff time. ICU has volunteers who don’t mind whereby a local cluster of collection spending the time needed to establish sufficient ID. points can “buy” centralised services

Alternatives to Credit Unions:

Suffolk Regeneration Trust S

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Personal finance Access Point Access Point

Access Point Partner Credit Union

Access Point

Local Government

Appears like an independent

Credit union for employees

Access Point Access Point

Administration Point Housing Association Credit union for tenants

Centralised services are made available from an administration point, reducing the cost of setting up

Access Point

Access Point Resident’s Association Credit union for residents

Access Point

Private Company Access Point

Credit union for employees

Other Organisation Credit union for members

from an administration point. RSACUL, itself one of the larger local CUs, is now beginning to demonstrate some positive gains. One of its primary geographical focuses is the Lowestoft area because there are no banks there. It is also developing the complementary ideas of a food co-operative on the same premises. RSACUL has strong links with the Compass recycling project in Peterborough, and is beginning to explore developments with the Huntingdon Housing Partnership in Huntingdon. RSACUL’s common bond is through local membership of the Co-operative Group.

Ipswich Credit Union Another good example is the Ipswich Credit Union, which works closely with other credit unions such as RSACUL. In a short period of time they have achieved over 500 members and their loan percentages – as previously stated, virtually the only way credit unions can currently make money – is exceptionally high.

Access Point

The hub and spoke model allows for rapid development of credit unions using centralised services to reduce the set-up and running costs, and to avoid common pitfalls.

develop a network facility on the Nearbuyou website to enable people to share ideas and develop joint working initiatives. The Guild report also recommends that a feasibility study is undertaken into a joint ‘backroom service’ for small credit unions to enable them to reduce their transaction costs. And is it a vain hope to think that future Credit Union Acts would allow CUs just a little more flexibility in investing savings accounts surpluses? Or that the FSA would agree to the combining of common bonds? And let’s remember that credit unions are not the only game in town – see boxes for further information.

Conclusion

Consolidations loans useless without guidance

As grants begin to expire, sustainability is an issue for credit unions. Mergers have yielded greater security and economies of scale. Models such as “hub and spoke” that give some of these benefits – where different common bonds preclude merger – may be one of the most promising means of gaining some of the benefits of rationalisation. Peter See, (formerly of Suffolk ACRE and now SEEE partnership development officer) commented: “speaker after speaker at the netCUDAs conference described the hub and spoke model as a goal – and we have done it!” One opportunity for credit unions in the region to develop joint working practices that has been proposed would be to

Recent community banking research at Liverpool’s John Moore University by Paul Jones found that consolidation loans from credit unions, even when backed by a loan guarantee scheme, may not resolve the problems of a debtor with multiple debts and concluded that offering loans to low income clients without accompanying financial guidance could actually worsen their debt problems. Jones argues instead for a multi-agency approach, e.g. to provide guidance and support along with such loans. The research is available from ABCUL on 0161 832 3694. Their web-site is: www.abcul.org

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Development Trusts

So what is a Development Trust?

By Nigel Boldero Regional Development Manager, Development Trusts Association

’m often asked to define what is distinctive about Development Trusts. It isn’t their legal or organisational structure, though most adopt charitable company rules. It’s more to do with what they do and how they do it. A focus on community impact coupled with the pursuit of community enterprise is their hallmark. They believe that community enterprise can help communities to drive regeneration, deliver valuable services and reduce reliance on grants through generating trading income. Some have developed trading companies as part of a wider group structure. Development trusts aim to create ‘public profits’ that are ploughed back into meeting their social objectives. They work closely with local public, private and voluntary organisations. Their activities include managing community resource centres or managed workspaces, production and sale of local goods, recycling and reuse of furniture and equipment, and delivering community services such as transport, training and advice. Many have secured an asset such as a local resource centre to deliver services and to provide financial security for other activities. The recent Home Office consultative paper on ‘Civil Renewal’ highlights the role that development trusts can play as a ‘local anchor organisation’ providing an integrated approach to supporting communities.

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Building an asset base – usually a physical resource like a building or land and equipment – is an important part of the Development Trust approach. 18% of Development Trusts own assets worth more than £1million.

Community Assets Building an asset base – usually a physical resource like a building or land and equipment – is an important part of the Development Trust approach. This provides a valuable piece of capital which can be used to secure funding and encourage Trusts to take risks. In its 2003 survey of members the Development Trusts Association (DTA) found that the percentage of Trusts owning assets worth more than £1million had increased to 18% (it was 13% in the previous year). And Trusts are increasing their trading activity so that last year saw a 50% increase in the number of Trusts earning more than £100,000 per year from trading. Regeneration and Renewal Magazine commented; ‘With fears growing that levels of regeneration grant funding are likely to fall in the second half of the decade, it is encouraging to see more community-owned groups taking steps to ensure independent sources of future finance.’ (12th December 2003)

Bridging the funding gap With national and regional partners (especially EEDA) , the DTA is piloting the ‘Adventure Capital Fund’ (ACF), which provides small grants to help community enterprises develop their business ideas into feasible plans (reviewed in the last InTouch). The second element of the ACF is another fund (including £4m from the Home Office) which provides ‘investment ready’ organisations with a cocktail of

funding to take their ideas forward. Three out of the eleven organisations awarded funding in the latest round come from the East, including two former development grant winners. For the first time ‘gift capital’ and conventional loans are being combined and due account taken of the social and environmental returns of the organisation as well as the financial bottom line. The DTA wants to continue and expand this programme in the Eastern Region.

The Development Trusts Association (DTA) The DTA represents and supports development trusts across Britain. Like many membership organisations, the DTA offers its members access to a rich network of contacts and experience as well as a range of other benefits. Existing or emerging Development Trusts are admitted as full members and a range of other organisations and individuals who wish to support the movement and have access to many of the benefits of membership can become associates. The DTA is actively involved in shaping government policy (it is a prominent member of the Social Enterprise Coalition). It also carries out research and development which is translated into practical support and action. National work on asset transfer and development is already recognised as leading the field. The DTA also helped to develop a Masters degree in Community Enterprise at the Judge Institute of Cambridge

Development Trusts University. In addition, the Regional Government Office recently funded DTA research (‘Enterprising Partnerships’) into the support needs of regeneration and renewal organisations in Eastern England. This has led to proposals for developing a range of services to promote their long term sustainability, being discussed with other partners such as the Community Renewal Network East. This research also helped to shape a national initiative called the ‘Enterprise Accelerator’. This will provide workshops, practical training and tailored advice and support to development trusts and other community organisations interested in pursuing a community enterprise approach. It aims to help organisations understand what community enterprise means, decide if it’s right for them and help them to develop it. It features mentor and other support from successful development trusts and other community enterprise practitioners. A bid to the Community Fund to help finance this has been successful and the programme is being piloted in the East of England in the coming year. If we can secure additional funding we can grow this pilot to ensure good coverage across the region. The DTA now has 250 Full Members and 150 Associate Members and membership in the Eastern region is growing fast. Nearly 20 members are now involved and our second Eastern Region Network event is being held in early February. The focus will be on ways in which Development Trusts can play a part in helping rural and market town communities – about a third of all DTA members now serve a rural area. We will also hear about a new grant scheme for DTA members wanting to develop their community enterprise ideas, being administered by the Lankelly Foundation. The development trust approach – a combination of community leadership and community enterprise – seems to be an attractive model for many regeneration and other community organisations. However, the effort needed to establish one has sometimes put off those who are heavily reliant on volunteer help. The DTA is striving to develop its capacity, in partnership with others, to increase the practical support it can give to help ease the development process.

Nigel Boldero T. 01603 754250 eastern@dta.org.uk www.dta.org.uk

Suffolk Trust Offers Community Development Finance to Social Enterprises

new organisation that can lend money to businesses unable to access mainstream finance was recently launched. The recently established Suffolk Regeneration Trust will operate across Suffolk offering a variety of financial services, a dedicated package of loans, and advice and investment opportunities. The trust will provide start up and growth finance for social enterprises and mainstream businesses, filling gaps in financial provision.

When high street banks won’t help Belinda Bell, of the trust, explains, “There are many reasons why some viable businesses are unable to access loan finance from high street sources. Lack of collateral or lack of trading history, are two examples. Without access to appropriate finance many businesses do not get off the ground and others are unable to expand and grow. Suffolk Regeneration Trust aims to fill this gap and enable local people to fulfil their potential.” The trust will have a particular emphasis on supporting social enterprise – community businesses and voluntary organisations that are beginning to trade – as well as rural businesses.

Recently established, Suffolk Regeneration Trust offers a variety of financial services, loans, and advice for social enterprises.

Particular interest in land and property initiatives In the longer term the trust will support pioneering land and property initiatives providing living and working schemes on a micro scale. Research, carried out by Community Finance Solutions at the University of Salford, found a desperate need for finance to repair the accommodation of elderly homeowners. The trust will work with partners to remedy this need and tackle debt and financial exclusion in the region. Suffolk Regeneration Trust has been established with nearly half a million pounds secured from several sources, including the East of England Development Agency, the EQUAL European Social Fund and Suffolk County Council.

Copies of the report can be purchased from Jennifer Powell at CFS 0161 295 4454 j.e.powell@salford.ac.uk

Belinda Bell t. 01473 583538 belinda.bell@suffolkregenerationtrust.org www.suffolkregenerationtrust.org

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Initiatives

East is Best

East is Best – a conference, but also a celebratory statement – took place at the well-appointed John Innes Centre in Norwich on Wednesday 17th March

East Anglian Brewers showing off their latest beers

he conference celebrated the achievements of the BEST project, run by Business Link for Norfolk and The Guild, that was funded in the first round by the Phoenix Fund, as well as the launch of EAST3, another Phoenix-funded “followon” joined by new partners Business Link for Essex and Business Link for Suffolk.

Phoenix and Equal Funding to Support Social Enterprise Noel Murphy, Chief Executive of Business Link for Norfolk, welcomed visitors and introduced the conference. He mentioned that there are 250 social enterprises in Norfolk with around 1800 employees and 4600 volunteers, turning over £300 million per annum. During the BEST stage of the Phoenix project the Nearbuyou trading website had been launched, 40 people had graduated from the Civic Champions programme and 42 training days had been provided for new and emerging social enterprises. The EAST3 project will build on this success. Phil Mercer, Regional Director for the Small Business Service in the East of England, continued the upbeat message by pointing out that the Eastern Region is the most successful in the UK in attracting funding for supporting social enterprise. Other successful Phoenix Round 2 bids were In Credit (Stevenage Borough Council), Share and Succeed ( Business Link Hertfordshire) and DEVICES (Luton & Dunstable Innovation Centre). The social economy in the Eastern Region is worth a staggering £3 billion per annum, according to EEDA estimates. Phil touched on the EEDA-led Investing In Communities (see InTouch January/February 2004), a 10-year regeneration programme to be delivered through strategic sub-regional partnerships in each county, building on existing structures.

Advice on tendering Colin Bottjer, Norfolk County Council Contracts and Purchasing Manager, gave some advice to social enterprises and SMEs seeking trading opportunities from local government. National government has instructed local government to be fully e-procurement by 2005. Contracts for Norfolk are on their website – www.norfolk.gov.uk/business/suppliers. Colin’s advice was: actively seek appropriate opportunity via the e-

commerce route, read bidding documents carefully, and seek feedback if you’re not successful.

Brite Trash The conference organisers at The Guild made sure it was not all work by staging a performance by Bright Trash. This group of boiler-suited percussionists manages to make music with … well … er … trash. Most delegates had undoubtedly never heard rhythm emanating from three water butt before, nor a metal pail and other ferrous items added the “tinphony”. The audience clearly enjoyed the change of pace, particularly when participating by clapping in contrapuntal response to the rhythm.

Social enterprise now and in the future After the coffee break, the keynote speaker for the morning was Baroness Glenys Thornton, Chair of the Social Enterprise. Glenys’ view is that cross-governmental issues have to be addressed within the UK, including the prime need for a procurement agenda. RDAs (Regional Development Agencies) are not all sympathetic to social enterprises, with many seeing them as only very small, insignificant players whereas some – such as the John Lewis Partnership and certain recycling projects – are large or very large. Add to that a generally unsympathetic European procurement regime and it can be seen that much work needs to be done to move the social enterprise agenda forward. Some positive actions that can and should be taken include social enterprises working together to present one voice – their own voice – to government and governmental agencies. So although Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has done a great deal to increase the profile of the sector, much remains to be done. The Labour Party should lead in encouraging dialogue with trade unions about the role of social enterprise.

Transnational Partnership and Norfolk Social Enterprise Network The final hour of the pre-lunch session was devoted to hearing from some of the SEEE Equal Transnational partners in Italy and Portugal about their projects (see article about the Portuguese projects in January/February issue of InTouch), and watching a video about some of the work The Guild is doing with the Norfolk Social Enterprise Network.

Social enterprises on display

The serious and not-so-serious aspects of the East is Best conference

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During the breaks, conference attendees were able to visit the stands of some of the social enterprises who had been assisted by the Phoenix project: including East Anglian Brewers, a cooperative of Norfolk beer brewers that purchases locally grown grain, WEETU (Women’s Employment Enterprise and Training Unit), Mind’s Yceni project and the two social

Initiatives enterprises that entertained the delegates.

EAST3 The afternoon session focused on Phoenix 2004-2006. Nicky Stevenson of The Guild introduced the concepts of EAST3 and its over-arching priorities. 1. Roll out the Nearbuyou trading website nationally, while identifying champions in each county. 2. Develop Open College Network accredited social enterprise courses for workers within social enterprises. 3. Develop and pilot a diagnostic identification tools for business and community SE support agencies. 4. Bursaries and grants for “go and see” visits to exemplar SEs. 5. Deliver the Civic Champions programme with public sector personnel and organisations.

it a national procurement website with specific regional sections. This would, for example, enable a social enterprise in one region to bid on an appropriate contract in a different region. (See article on page 16 for further information).

Building on the Best

Back Street Energy

Diane Robinson, Senior Policy Advisor at The Social Unit, Small Business Service, was the afternoon’s key speaker. She gave some background to the Phoenix Fund and how it resulted from work done in 1998. Its primary function is to promote social enterprise in disadvantaged areas and among underprivileged groups. (For more information visit www.sbs.gov.uk). It was decided that rather than have a round three, that support would be given to the existing 90 projects, which need more time and resources to become sustainable.

The last session ended, like the first, with entertainment. This time it was the turn of three talented (and as the their troupe name implies, energetic) young women dancers who train other young people in dance skills. Their varied and interesting routines were a well-received and welcome change of pace.

A view from Business Link Diane was followed by Michael Veasey – Start Up and Enterprise Development Manager, Business link for Essex. Reinforcing the points of the previous speakers, Michael also fleshed out the county-specific activity of the EAST3 project.

Nearbuyou Michael Waring, Network Organiser for The Guild, took the audience through the Nearbuyou website and the plans to make

Social enterprise entertainment elebrating the BEST of the East

Looking Forward The conference was a well-organised and balanced insight into some of the achievements in developing social enterprise in Norfolk in recent years. Some of the speakers also highlighted the more general success of organisations and partnerships that are focused on the wider Eastern Region, particularly EEDA and the SEEE project. However, the notes of caution from Baroness Glenys Thornton about the issues yet to be addressed at local, national and international levels were a reminder that there is much work ahead in mainstreaming social enterprise. David Lloyd

Plans outline how redevelopment of Thames Gateway site could safeguard wildlife and create jobs

site in Essex where there are plans to create much needed employment space will have its rare wildlife protected, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and English Nature have promised. EEDA purchased the 27.5 hectare Northwick Road site from Safeway in 2002 for £1 million. It was identified by regional and local partner agencies as an important strategic site which could be regenerated to provide hundreds of new jobs and much needed space for training and businesses in the area. But the site is of national importance for the wildlife it supports including a variety of rare insects – particularly bees, wasps and beetles – reflecting the national importance of the East Thames corridor for wildlife. English Nature and EEDA have worked closely together to find a solution. Detailed ecological surveys have been carried out for EEDA by consultants who have documented the species and their rarity. As a result the two government

agencies have identified areas of the site which will be conserved as they contain the richest wildlife habitats and separate areas which could provide employment space and the jobs sorely needed in a major Sea-buckthorn and other ruderal plants colonising the cracks regeneration area. A further important aspect of of the former oil tank bases. future plans for the site is an extensive term unemployed in Canvey than in the dialogue with the local residents and rest of the region, therefore it is businesses to look at how the rest of the imperative that EEDA works to create site can be developed as community more job and business opportunities. “If the application is successful we will open space and a nature reserve, with a visitor centre giving people opportunities prepare the site for new developments to view and understand the wildlife that such as office space and training centres, housed in well-designed environmentally inhabits the site. EEDA chief executive David Marlow friendly buildings.” Greg Smith, English Nature’s Area said: “Our aim with this site is to bring about a sustainable approach to its Manager, said: “We are delighted with development, managing the need to this outcome which is good for the local bring the site back into use for the benefit community, good for wildlife and good of Canvey’s economy and that of Thames for the local economy. Through their Gateway South Essex, with the need to constructive approach EEDA has set a striking example for the development preserve this rich source of wildlife. “There is a higher proportion of long- community in the Thames Gateway.”

InTouch

NO 3 March/April 2004

Feature – Working Herts

Youth working for a greener future

The Working Herts team of trainees: (Left to right) Robert McHutchison, Luke Sanseverino, Nathan Laveridge, Jamie Jordan, Luke Peck and Supervisor Mitch Carter.

by Sarah Charters

o the man in the street, Borehamwood is home to shopping centres, its own football club and a BBC television studio. Yet in the midst of this Hertfordshire town an eco-social enterprise is beginning to make its mark. Overflowing with filing cabinets, in-trays and a continuous throng of activity, for the Working Herts team it’s all in a day’s work. Instigated by Hertsmere Borough Council seven years ago, Working Herts was born out of a will to relieve the district’s two main concerns of high unemployment and badly insulated houses. It was realised one project could bring these two issues together by making homes within the scheme the most energy-efficient in the country while simultaneously achieving social inclusion via training and employment. In September 1997, a successful entrepreneur and resolute environmentalist Paul Watkinson was appointed as Working Herts’ Chief Executive and funding was secured through sponsorship from Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) training fees. Grants were also obtained via the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB). Designed to recruit the long-term unemployed,

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aged between 16 and 24, the project works directly with the New Deal and Education to Employment programmes, run by Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire LSC. Providing a supportive and encouraging environment, youngsters undertake environmental project work and in turn receive trade and life skills in preparation for permanent employment. As part of the hands-on ethos of Working Herts, the team also assists trainees with practical and emotional issues such as housing, money, relationships and health while teaching self-respect and respect for others.

Working Herts’ Key success factors

Four plus one day week Commitment to the scheme requires working a four day week with one day set aside for special sessons in a diverse range of subjects. In addition to seminars on first aid, health and safety, and energy and water conservation, learning is balanced with fun activities such as go-karting which aids social development and gives the trainee a more positive perspective.

• Making satisfied customers (householders) an absolute priority • Working with a very wide range of partners • Having agencies on the board who represent our main interests • Encouraging employer involvement (in designing activities) ensuring relevant training is provided

Feature – Working Herts Case Study – Anthony Hulland (22)

nthony Hulland has spent all his life in residential care and foster homes. Moving from one place to another across Hertfordshire, stability is not something he can easily relate to. Leaving school with only a few GCSEs and a recommendation that he attend college and undertake a Landmark Course for the learning disabled, many might have considered his future to be less than bright. Despite being dubbed slow, Anthony knew he was not learning disabled. However he took on the challenge and proved his critics wrong by completing the two year course in one. Beginning to realise his potential, Anthony discovered an interest in horticulture whilst at college. A further education centre specialising in outdoor professions such as horticulture, agriculture and animal welfare, he was able to mix with a variety of students and learn all about the industry. Deciding to pursue his new found career, Anthony continued in education for a further three years, qualifying with an Entry Level, First

Diploma and National Certificate NVQ 1. Anthony admits college was a far more positive experience than school. Not simply because he was learning a subject he enjoyed, but the environment provided the support and understanding he feels is so necessary for young people. With the additional ability to establish close friendships without concern that he might be moved on (due to a change in care home or foster family) made a huge difference to his confidence. However, despite his success in education, finding a job was proving to be less than fruitful, as he found himself out of work for the next two years. Joining the New Deal programme and attending numerous training courses kept Anthony busy, but with little prospect of work, it was hard to remain optimistic. That was until he joined Working Herts.

Anthony Hulland - Trainee, last day at Working Herts before starting his first full time employment with John O’Connor Ground Maintenance.

21 weeks after starting the programme, Anthony has been offered his first job by John O’Connor Ground Maintenance. Really excited at the prospect of working in the field he has trained hard for, he has nothing but praise for the team at Working Herts. “I really enjoyed the work and got on well with the other trainees and supervisors. They gave me advice and support and helped prepare me for my interview”.

Paul Watkinson explained how this works “We give trainees a reason to get up in the morning, teaching them how to dress smartly, get on with people and provide good customer care. We also provide weekly driving and motorbike lessons as an added incentive. Should a person’s attendance be bad however, we knock them off the lessons”. Whilst this discipline falls in favour of the carrot rather than the stick argument, Working Herts’ view is not shared by all. “The government”, Paul explained “does not see these lessons as academic qualifications. Bureaucracy can therefore get in the way of our work. We deal with the every day problems and are experts in our field.”

A real hit Despite such challenges, Working Herts is proving a real hit with trainees, councils, energy suppliers, the police and residents. With fear of crime affecting as much as 76% of the population, the scheme’s social inclusion agenda and positive influence on youth culture is wholeheartedly supported. Homeowners, can insulate their homes for only half the costs. The elderly, low income and fuel-poor householders within certain districts can receive free loft and cavity wall insulation, thanks to Housing Repairs Assistance(HRA) grants (match funded by British Gas and London Electricity) and the council. Working directly with Three Valleys Water, the project also facilitates a water conservation programme. Trainees research customers’ water consumption and assess how demand could be managed more efficiently to make significant savings. Today Working Herts has 14 full time staff plus several volunteers, 3 offices (sited at Borehamwood,

Hatfield and Luton), 7 mini buses and 35 trainees. Turnover last year reached £750,000, with 70% obtained via trading and 30% through grants. Since 1997 between 600 and 1,000 domestic properties have been insulated each year and over 6,000 households have had water saving devices fitted.

Securing the loft hatch before completing a loft insulation

70% moving on into employment 80 new trainees are recruited each year with 70% moving on into full time employment. In the year 2000 Working Herts also became the national winner of the Environment Agency’s “Working in Partnership Award”. Not surprisingly Working Herts has outgrown its compact office at Borehamwood. With ambitions to relocate to bigger premises, I Working Herts Tel: 0208 3864848 can’t help thinking this is one social Fax: 0208 3864828 enterprise that will achieve all its thatsit@btinternet.com aspirations. www.workingherts.org

InTouch

NO 3 March/April 2004

Focus on: Hertfordshire Articles by Andrew Saul

St Elizabeth’s three enterprises

ome distance outside Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire lies St. Elizabeth’s. One hundred years ago, the centre was set up by nuns for the care of people with epilepsy and learning difficulties; there is often a link between the two. While the nuns still have influence, they have less to do with the dayto-day operation than they did five or six years ago. It is also responsible for three social enterprises, two of which are on the St. Elizabeth’s site, the other in Bishop’s Stortford. The first of these businesses, and the one located in Bishop’s Stortford itself, is Splinters. The business takes in old furniture. “Some is polished up and cleaned, some restored to how it was before, and some completely transformed,” said Sue Spiller, one of the three training staff. “We sell from the site.” But as John Davis, the business manager for St. Elizabeth’s, told me, making and selling products is not the main aim. “Improving social skills is the main aim. Teaching woodwork is a by-product. We aim to improve their skills in other areas, such as literacy and numeracy,” says John. “Selling products to the public gets them used to interacting with people. In the units at St. Elizabeth’s, the staff does the washing up and so forth. Here, they are treated as adults. They do the washing up themselves.” While the business is seen as a social enterprise to help its beneficiaries be more independent and to improve the quality of their lives, it is quite successful in the financial sense, making about £10,000 from sales in the past year. Back at the St. Elizabeth’s site are two emerging social firms, which hope to emulate the success of Splinters. Horticultural Therapist Ray Rolfe is Ash Vale has a “Sponsor a Tree responsible for an scheme.” If any In Touch readers organic horticulture would like to help this worthwhile project called Ash Vale. project by sponsoring a tree, They are still at a very contact Ray Rolfe at the early stage, and are at Horticulture Project, St. Elizabeth’s present busy trying to centre, Bourne Lane, Much rabbit-proof their land Hadham, Herts., SG10 6EW, and set up telephone 01279 843451. greenhouses. The project is brand new, and was set up by a grant from the venture capital fund. Nonetheless, it has started, and raised over £500 from sales of plants at their Christmas bazaar. “Ash Vale hasn’t really got off the ground yet,” said John, “but we are looking at a potential turnover of several thousand pounds a year.”

Sponsor a tree

Splinters trains residents of St Elizabeth’s to restore donated furniture for sale from its premises in Bishop’s Stortford.

The other project is the Art House, which deals with painting and ceramics. The residents’ designs are all in their individual styles, and it is up to them whether they choose to do ceramics or print making. Residents’ designs are silkscreen printed on to T-shirts and cards. They also do a range of ceramic ware, and have a potter’s wheel they are just starting to use. Again, the business is still at an early stage, and needs to build up a market base, but John feels it has the potential to achieve a substantial turnover. “There is a higher chance of repeat sales than horticulture, selling T-shirts and cards,” John told me, “but as Splinters works on donated furniture, they don’t have the same cost of raw materials as the other projects.” John does hope to sell day placements, as well as employing residents at the three businesses. “Residents do get paid under permitted work rules,” says John “we are trying to reach out through the social enterprise, and not be as isolated.” John feels that St. Elizabeth’s is a positive environment for its residents. “It’s a happy place,” he told me. That was certainly my own impression of it.

i The Art House sells pottery created by St Elizabeth’s residents.

St Elizabeth’s Centre Splinters – John Davis Tel: 01279 755301 Ash Vale – Ray Rolfe 01279 843451 The Art House – Becky Sheraidah 01279 843451

Not just about rent!

s well as providing accommodation for 27 young people aged between 18 and 30 (there is also a “crash pad” emergency overnight accommodation facility), Bishop’s Stortford YMCA provides a ‘Work and Learn’ programme which encourages people to think about their career options. “We’re not just about collecting rent,” says general secretary Jane Knights, “everybody has an action plan. They may need help with basic skills, advice on benefits or accessing work or training.” Bishop’s Stortford YMCA has two computers in its training room with access to the Internet and encourages residents to access Bishop’s Stortford YMCA Jane Knights other local Tel: 01279 838068 training providers.

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NO 3 March/April 2004

Focus on: Hertfordshire Articles by Sarah Charters

Positive therapy through Industry

ndustrial Therapy Organisation (Watford) Ltd (ITO) is a recognized rehabilitation and training enterprise in the print industry. Providing sheltered employment for people with special needs, learning disabilities, mental and physical illness, they also recruit the longterm unemployed. Set up 23 years ago in South Oxhey, Hertfordshire, this not-forprofit company is the largest employer in the area, managing 80 staff and 3 volunteers. It provides social inclusion for the local economy: turnover (2003/2004) was £250,000, with £89,000 directly from trade. Three years ago however, ITO was on the brink of bankruptcy. With the aid of a DTI grant and plenty of resolve, General Manager Mark Williams is steadily regenerating the business. He explains “We are a hybrid stuck between a rock and a hard place. Limited by the workforce due to their disabilities we cannot increase production or increase our profit margins”. To overcome this

challenge, ITO has set up a quarter of a million pound digital printing operation. Supplying high quality, shortrun work at very competitive prices the aim is to generate a regular and sustainable The heart of ITO’s new £250,000 digital printing operation income. Customers can order booklets, product brochures, small facility. ITO works closely with catalogues, business cards, manuals, Hertfordshire County Council via the invitations, digital proofing and finishing. Community Mental Health Team and Other product services include blister Adult Care Services and Job Centre Plus sealing, collating, shrink and sleeve which facilitates the provision of the wrapping, envelope insertion, light workforce. assembly and box making. ITO is accredited with ISO9002 and As a social enterprise and registered Investors in People, is an Equal charity, ITO’s objective is to promote self- Opportunities employer and provides all respect and dignity through work, with its customers with quality assurance the aim to progress each member of its guarantees. They also hold the 2004 Royal workforce to open employment. Life, Bank of Scotland Charity of the Year social and work-based skills are provided business award. through on-site training and personal Industrial Therapy Organisation (ITO) development programmes. Accredited T. 0208 4280288 F. 0208 4201073 ito-watford.org.uk City and Guilds qualifications can be www.ito-watford.org.uk obtained through their training and IT

Creating Paper history has a future positive vibes

The Vibe under 18s nightclub in Borehamwood is part funded by the Police Initiative Fund.

ertsmere Community Development Service manages an ESF funded programme to identify, set up and support 10 social enterprise projects in themost deprived areas of Hertsmere and the surrounding area. The Vibe, a nightclub for under 18s, was set up in June 2003 and has become a highly professional operation managed by young people. Running workshops on marketing, bar tending and nonalcoholic cocktail making, the project has a committee of 10. The Vibe receives grant aid from the Community Chest, the Youth Action Team and the T. 0208 953 8611 F. 0208 953 7891 Police Initiative bcpcom.org.uk Fund.

n January 2000, Apsley Paper Trail, also known as The Paper Trail Project (TPTP), was formed to preserve two historically valuable paper making sites in Apsley, Hertfordshire. A charitable community development trust, it has two subsidiary companies which actively trade through a number of social enterprise ventures. TPTP is a not-for-profit enterprise, and plans to become self-financing by turning its grant funded projects into sustainable net contributors. It already provides start up units and office space to paper related businesses, a digitalised state of the art conference and training centre, meeting rooms, an Art Room where paper related classes are taught, and a Gallery where visitors can learn all about paper. Seven staff members and 12 specialist paper makers contribute to a turnover for 2003 of £2.47 million, of which only 76 % came from grant income. The Paper Mill site (at Frogmore Mill) is a fully operational business producing small runs of specialist paper using a 100 year old steam driven machine. It publishes its own magazine and provides a purpose-built professional training and education centre. Work experience

opportunities are also available. Heavily involved in recycling projects and research and development within the industry, TPTP aims to build a high-tech business, education and training facility and visitor attraction. Proposed to be a national showcase centre for the graphic communications industry, TPTP’s Chief Executive Jacky Bennett explained “It will be an industrial theatre. It’s all about history having a future”.

Apsley Paper Trail’s gallery exhibits paper sculptures including one of an elephant. Elephant dung is one of the Paper Trail’s many unusual ingredients. Others include shredded bank notes and bananas.

Apsley Paper Trail T. 01442 234600 F. 01442 275748 postbox@thepapertrail.org.uk www.thepapertrail.org.uk

InTouch

NO 3 March/April 2004

Networks unlimited This section of InTouch is for you to promote and report on the activities of your organisation. Send news of staff changes, business developments and examples of smart thinking to Peter Durrant on 01223 262759 or send an email to humberstone@pop3.poptel.org.uk Financing Social Enterprises The free report The Financing of Social Enterprises is available from the Bank of England. Telephone 020 7601 4878 or try www.bankofengland.co.uk

Business Link Hertfordshire supports social enterprises Business Link Hertfordshire has announced the launch of a free on-line training service, written specifically for local Social Enterprises. The two courses available are “Business Planning for Social Enterprises” (module 1) and “Moving into Management” (module 2). Business Link Hertfordshire has developed them in conjunction with Jim Brown (of Baker Brown Consultants). Many SEs are unsure of how to go about writing a business plan, which addresses meeting both their social and commercial objectives. The Business Planning Module is a robust and detailed programme, geared towards giving users more confidence in their abilities to write a business plan for their organisations. Moving into management covers the often-ignored dilemma of managing growth and change successfully within a social enterprise. The beauty of on-line learning is that you can access it when and where you want to (provided you have a computer, of course) and complete the course in your own time. You will compile a ‘Learning Log’ as you progress through the modules, which you will be able to print off and keep for future reference. To get started, go to

14 InTouch

www.exemplas.com/socialent erprise. The modules are completely free to use, due to sponsorship received from the European Social Fund. All you need to do is register as a user and give it a go. Business Link Hertfordshire will be pleased to receive any feedback and suggestions for improvements we could make to either module.

Peter See joins SEEE Peter See will be taking up a new challenge as the SEEE Development Worker to drive forward Social Enterprise East of England. He joined Suffolk ACRE in August 2000 as Business Advisor in the Childcare Development team before moving to his most recent role as manager of the Suffolk Community Enterprise project. Working with Business Link for Suffolk, Suffolk County Council and other partners, the project has delivered business advice and support to social enterprises in Suffolk, as well as raising awareness of the potential of social enterprise to provide

services and create employment. Peter commented: “I’m looking forward to the new role. The Eastern Region has some outstanding examples of social enterprise and support networks. The targets now are to build on this work, make it simpler for customers and advisors alike to find the information and support that is right for them and to promote to regional and national agencies the opportunities that exist in the East of England.”

Arts, social inclusion and grant information We’ve borrowed the following from the last edition of MailOut which is the national magazine for developing participation, particularly social inclusion, in the arts. More from www.emailout.org. One article is about Momentum Arts (formerly Eastern Touring Agency) which has a successful record of running innovative projects in the field of social inclusion and regeneration throughout Eastern England. Two of their workers describe an arts and social inclusion project in Colchester on www.momentumarts.org.uk . Their final page usefully mentions funding options such as Healthy Lifestyle Grants from www. heartresearch.org.uk as well as environmental help from the Waterways Trusts Small Grants Scheme on 0151 373 4387. Also, the Housing Corporation supports training and development initiatives to get residents more effectively involved in regeneration projects: www.ctegrants.org.uk.

Kirsty Tanner joins Business Link Hertfordshire

New SEEE Development Worker, Peter See

NO 3 March/April 2004

Kirsty Tanner has joined the team at Business Link Hertfordshire as Equal Project Executive, supporting Elaine McCorriston on the Supporting Social Economy in the Eastern Region project

(SSEER). Kirsty has worked within the organisation for over 2 years at the IT Centre, having joined Business Link straight from university where she studied Public Policy and Management. During her time at the IT Centre she has been heavily involved in a training rollout funded by ESF. Most recently she has been project managing the development of e-commerce websites for SMEs within Hertfordshire to give new businesses a web presence. Kirsty has been working closely with local businesses to give them as much advice and education on ICT as possible to enable them to work more effectively and successfully. Unfortunately we are unable to provide a photo of Kirsty Tanner, as the one that was taken was stored on the Business Link Hetfordshire fileserver that was stolen during a break-in on the evening of 17th March. We wish Kirsty much better luck than her photo!

COVER’s Eastern Region Directory has just been published COVER’s directory provides a much needed guide to key networkers and organisations working in and with the voluntary and community sector in the East of England. For more information try 01223 893443 or e-mail office@cover-east.org

Improving the quality of life in Fenland The Fenland Strategic Partnership aims to make a difference by encouraging local groups across different sectors to work more closely together through improving the quality of life in the area by sharing information and pooling expertise and resources. It includes organisations such as Fenland District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police and East Cambridgeshire and Fenland

Networks unlimited Primary Care Trusts, as well as local businesses and the voluntary and community sector. More from Chris Nelson, Head of Community Services, on 01354 622250 or e-mail cnelson@fenland.gov.uk

New Rainbow development worker A new face will help to promote Rainbow Credit Union and encourage joinedup thinking Keith Presence has recently been appointed as Development Worker for Rainbow Saver Anglia Credit Union Limited (RSACUL or Rainbow). Keith is an accountant whose industrial career includes information technology and property companies where he has been responsible for finance and accounting and Treasury and banking services. He joins Rainbow Savers Anglia Credit Union with a view to help creating a selfsustaining environment in which both Rainbow and its members can grow substantially. So what does the work involve? Keith explained, “this is a really interesting and worthwhile job. There are three main activities: First, helping ordinary people understand credit

unions and how they can help manage their finances with savings and loans. (more about this in the lead article, When the banks don’t want you). The second activity is to grow partner groups in new areas, similar to a franchise. It makes financial sense for a new group wanting to set up a credit union to use Rainbow’s existing infrastructure. We have recently set up such an organisation in Lowestoft. The third activity is to improve communications and the way we work between all the credit unions in the East of England. Keith can be contacted on 01223 713746, or by email at: keith.presence@cambridgehs. org.uk

Land at knock-down prices … The General Disposal Consent Order 2003 provides local authorities with the discretion to sell land at less than market value, but only if this results in the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well being of the area. You can visit www.odpm.gov.uk for more information. The Development Trusts Association has long been interested in the concept of asset transfer. Nigel Boldero, DTA regional development manager for the East of England has an article, along with contact details, in this issue of InTouch.

… And a way to finance property

Keith Presence, the new Development Worker for Rainbow Saver Anglia Credit Union Limited

It is difficult for not-forprofit organisations to create security and develop tangible assets – especially as many, historically, have become over-reliant on local and national grants. On this front the Unity Trust Bank’s Rentto-Buy scheme can provide up to 100% of the amount needed to buy a property, with the obvious aim being that the enterprise concerned will eventually own its own

Creative Clusters is an international conference and network for people developing the creative industries

property with all the benefits this brings. Go to www.unity.uk.com for more information and a free subscription to the excellent quarterly, Social Economy.

The well connected community

regeneration and renewal, require community participation in partnerships and public decision-making. Available from: Marston Book Services 01235 465500, direct.orders@marston.co.uk

Creative clusters network

A new book by Alison Gilchrist, of the Community Development Foundation, The Well-connected Community – a networking approach to community development, seeks to demonstrate how informal and formal networks strengthen community partnerships and improve cross-sector working. Among other things, The Wellconnected Community advocates a new model of community development that promotes networking as a skilled and strategic intervention, develops useful links between theory, policy and practice and provides recommendations for good networking practice. Policy interest in the contribution that communities can make to civil society and democratic renewal has grown under New Labour. Key programmes, particularly those promoting

Creative Clusters is an international conference and network for people developing the creative industries. They are interested in regeneration and development projects, from all parts of the world, that can show results in both cultural and economic terms. Website: http://www.creativeclusters.co.uk

A company culture for running statutory services? The Local Government Act 2003 will now give local authorities new powers to trade and charge for nonstatutory services. The powers will permit local authorities to set up companies to run statutory services and effectively permit them to create a new company culture, rather than local authority culture, in the delivery of services. Visit www.hmso.gov.uk for further details.

InTouch

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on-line

Nearbuyou:

Unique online trading exchange for the social economy goes national

he East of England is the test-ground for the viability of one of the social economy’s most innovative projects to date. The Guild, a leading provider of consultancy and training services to the voluntary sector and social enterprises, has already successfully rolled out the first phase of www.nearbuyou.co.uk – a unique online trading exchange aimed at strengthening the social economy. The service was launched in Norfolk in November 2002 and then extended to the six counties of the eastern region. Now The Guild is delighted that nearbuyou.co.uk, the only site of its kind in the country, is gearing up to go national later this year.

A central source for posting and accessing tenders www.nearbuyou.co.uk is a central aspect of a three-year development programme, the Best Project, which is funded by the Phoenix Fund through the DTI’s Small Business Service and the European Social Fund EQUAL programme. Its aim is to strengthen the income generating capability of social enterprise organisations. It is widely acknowledged that for many, the ability to tender effectively for public service contracts will be key. A key feature of the site is a facility that enables private and public sector purchasers to post information on forthcoming tenders. Guidance will also be available on bidding and income generation. “We see this as big opportunity for social

Community Publishing Our experts working with disadvantaged individuals help you to produce high quality and readable newsletters, magazines, books and leaflets. And it can cost less than you are paying now.

CreativeTouch Tel: 01480 433302 Email: austin@creativetouch-cambs.org

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Mixed awareness among local authorities In some parts of the country, local authorities are already working closely with social enterprises and understand the advantages of working with the sector. In other parts of the country, many District and County Councils are still unfamiliar with the social economy, and this is acting as a brake on the sector’s growth. Nearbuyou.co.uk will make it much easier for local authorities to share best practice and learn from each other about the social economy. Recent developments in Norfolk include the recognition of Norfolk County Council as a Centre of Excellence for procurement practice.

A free service to social enterprises

Do you want your publication to be read?

An emerging social firm set up to help individuals who are disadvantaged in some way to access the creative and media industries.

enterprises,” said Michael Waring, Network Organiser with The Guild, which manages the site. “Previously they have found it very difficult to gain access to local authority purchasing arrangements and it will go a long way towards raising the profile of the sector with procurement officers.”

Arts Video Multi-media

Publishing Design Audio Music Training

As a free service to businesses with social objectives, users of nearbuyou.co.uk in the East of England can already share news and information on forthcoming events, advertise goods and services, identify and trade with other organisations and develop new networks and partnerships. Plans have just been formalised on the other features that the site will include when it is extended throughout the UK later this year. As far as social enterprises in this region are concerned, The Guild is keen that they get in touch to register their interest if they have not already done so. “For social enterprises in the East of England that have not already made contact with us, the first step is just to log on to the site and find out more”, said Michael Waring. “The site offers a free listing in an online directory and each enterprise can have its own web page that can be simply edited and linked back to an organisation’s own website if it has one. Some of the new features included when the site goes national will be the ability to add photos and descriptions of products and services, a tender alert service allowing social enterprises to receive email notification of tenders specific to their business and geographical area, and a mailing list form allowing anybody interested in a particular enterprise to add their details to a mailing list that will be stored by Nearbuyou and can then be used for all sorts of promotion and communication purposes. Overall the service has the potential to provide a really big boost to the sector and we just want all the social Michael Waring enterprises out Network Organiser Nearbuyou there to take full T. 01603 615200 michael@the-guild.co.uk advantage of it.”