ABOUT
NEWS
The Change Exchange: Community Enterprise and the Big Society in a Climate of Cuts (previously advertised as the DTA Northwest Regional Network Meeting)
Thursday 4th November 2010, 10am until 3.30pm Leasowe Development Trust, Millennium Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe CH46 1PQ
The Change Exchange: To follow the Comprehensive Spending Review on the 20th October, this ideas road show connecting national campaigns with member experience, will travel to Leasowe, Merseyside on 4th November. We'll be discussing the impact of the Big Society agenda on community practitioners, and what the various elements will mean for the DTA membership. Key topics will be the Comprehensive Spending Review, Northwest Local Economic Partnerships, Volunteering and Citizenship, Right to Bid, Right to Buy, Community Owned Schools and GP Commissioning.
We are, among other social enterprises, community groups, charities and movements, being told that we 'are' the Big Society, but not what it really means. The DTA believes we need not only to offer the Government solutions to the problems this country faces, but also to offer them visions of the way society could operate.
Background papers and agenda to follow prior to event. If you are interested in attending, please email Sophie Catlin at s.catlin@dta.org.uk for full details and a booking form
The Big Society Challenge:
Concurrently, the project "The Big Society Challenge" will celebrate what has already been done, what is currently being done, and will showcase the movement's plans for the future through a new publication to be launched in November by Keystone Development Trust, in collaboration with the DTA. You can also join in with the debate at www.dta.org.uk/bigsocietychallenge
Pollgate - the row and the results
Following a poll released by Social Enterprise magazine to find out which social enterprise support organisation provides the best value, the results have been unveiled amidst controversy.
The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) has topped the controversial Social Enterprise magazine poll to find out which organisation our readers think provides the best value for money to government.
We launched the poll last week after it was announced that the Office for Civil Society (OCS) was cutting the number of its strategic partners from 42 to 15.
The result was 174 votes and an unexpected wave of controversy. Some supported the way we asked for our readers' opinions and others condemned us as 'crass' and insensitive. Read on for more about 'pollgate'.
SSE, working with UnLtd, proved the most popular in the poll with 51 (29.3 per cent) votes, way ahead of the organisation in second place, CAN, which got 27 votes (15.5 per cent).
SSE has set up learning programmes for social entrepreneurs across the UK and Ireland. It has also opened a school in Australia and is in the process of setting up other schools around the world.
CAN (formerly known as Community Action Network) offers flexible office space to social enterprises, as well as business support and helping them gain access to social investment.
Joint third in the poll was the Development Trusts Association and Social Enterprise Coalition, with 19 votes (10.9 per cent) each, followed by Co-operatives UK with 16 votes (9.1 per cent) and the Plunkett Foundation with 14 votes (eight per cent).
From our list of strategic partners relevant to social enterprise, SSE received one of the lowest amounts of funding from OCS- just £74,000 in 2009/10. Plunkett received £65,000 and CAN received £123,711.
The most funding went to NCVO, which was given more than £1m by the department, followed by the Social Enterprise Coalition with £534,000.
SSE's policy and communications manager, Nick Temple, was one who did not agree with the Social Enterprise poll, but welcomed the result.
He said: 'Though SSE is not keen on setting strategic partners against each other as we believe the sector needs to work together in tough times, we are obviously delighted that the value of SSE's work with UnLtd in this area has been recognised by your readers.'
A Cabinet Office spokesman said that no further information about the cuts would be released, but that a consultation should start at the end of the year with the revised partners programme starting in Spring 2011. He declined to comment on the poll.
Source: Social Enterprise Network and Social Enterprise Live
How can you improve the success rate of your competitive tenders?
Large companies tendering for contracts usually have experienced bid teams. They have perfected their process of responding to tenders. They use sophisticated review stages as a key part of preparing their tender responses.
Small businesses can find it difficult to compete. Do you have a bid process? Do you have a ?red team? review? Do you have a ?black hat? review? Could your bid processes be improved?
We can help you develop more competitive responses to public sector tenders. If you are preparing a tender we can provide:
- A confidential review of your draft bid
- An independent and honest review
- Expert feedback
- Quick turnaround time
- Help to develop your tendering processes
For more information you email rosemary@rlkpartnerships.co.uk or call 07973 655 043
LCVS Skills DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: MANAGING FINANCES
The Managing Finances session will demonstrate and reinforce the importance of managing the finance function – whatever the size of the organisation.
In addition to giving much practical guidance to treasurers, volunteers and finance staff, the course will cover roles, duties and responsibilities together with the need to access financial expertise and will include:
- Legal framework and statutory requirements
- Internal controls and good trusteeship
- Role and responsibilities of a Treasurer
- Principles of good ‘financial housekeeping’
Overall, this course is a timely reminder of the principles of good financial ‘house-keeping’.
There are a number of places still available. If you would like to attend complete and return the booking form as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this valuable training opportunity.
FUTUREBUILDERS
Most people know about the large loans and development grants that Futurebuilders can provide to organisations which provide public services under contract.
They also provide smaller loans for organisations that need some help to meet the costs of preparing for contracting.
Tender Fund - three-year interest-free loans between £3,000 and £50,000.
Small Organisation Tender Fund - grants up to £15,000.
Consortia Fund - a mix of loans and professional support for new consortia preparing to bid for public service contracts.
