Lend Me Your Fears –lending, borrowing,saving and earning

Amajor new piece of research onsocial enterprise in the region hasjust been published. Lend Me Your

Fears – lending, borrowing, saving andearning is a report on social enterprisefinance in the East of England. The workwas commissioned by EEDA andundertaken by The Guild. It covers twodistinct areas of enquiry:

• Finance available for socialenterprises

• Barriers to finance for someindividuals

The findings will enable funders andpolicy-making agencies to help improvethe access to finance of these two groups– both of which have traditionally foundit hard to find appropriate sources. Social Enterprise finance

The report raises some new andchallenging ideas about social enterprisefinance:

• Not enough business advisers knowabout the different forms of financethat are available

• Social enterprises don’t know about

InTouchInside:From the Editor 3Editor David Lloyd talks about research,social accounting and the bottom line.

Emmaus saves taxpayer £600K 4Helping the homeless makes bottom-linesense and benefits the rest of society too.

Nigel Griffiths unveils new Phoenix Fund 5Three East of England CommunityDevelopment Finance Institutions (CDFIs)will provide financial support to socialenterprise.

Security and opportunity 6Cambridge Housing Society provides itsimaginative and affordable housing andfinancial packages.

Co-operation helps the elderly 6The “Helping Hands” project providescare in an area with one of the county’shighest concentrations of elderly people.

Learning in the community 7“A school of regeneration” in theEastern Region? EEDA and GOER showan interest in the North East model.

Feature: The Hollies 10The experts said it was not possible tobuild a successful community business ona hospital site. The “Hollies” in Ipswichproves them wrong.

Focus on … 12In this issue, Michael Avis, Sarah Chartersand Andrew Saul look at six Suffolksocial enterprises.

Networks unlimited … 14News and upcoming events from the sixcounties in the Eastern Region. And yourchance to tell us what your doing.

Social accounting and social enterprise 16The balanced scorecard is a businessapproach to measure the impact of thevoluntary and community sectors.

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

May/June 2004 • Issue 4 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE EAST OF ENGLAND

specialist lenders in the sector• There is currently a surplus of loan

finance in the region• There is too much emphasis placed

on encouraging social enterprises toborrow rather than use grants – andnot enough on maximising incomethrough sales

• Many social enterprises are unwillingto borrow and lack the skills tomanage loans in a tradingenvironment

• Grant funding for social enterprisecan be counter-productive as it canremove the motivation to earnincome

• Social enterprises need access todifferent forms of finance at differentstages of development

Individual financeThere are also significant issues

addressed that relate to finance forindividuals

• People using social enterpriseorganisations such as credit unionsor the New Horizons ➜ page 2

Are you a social enterprise?

Can you print this magazinewithin your own facility?

If you are interested, pick up thetender details at nearbuyou.co.uk.

programme, value having the facility to savemore than access to cheap loans

• Lending agencies need to work closely with debtcounselling agencies and other partners

• There appears to be no learning opportunities in financialliteracy for adults in the region

• There needs to be an awareness raising process to enablepeople to find out about credit unions and other alternativefinancial services providers.

Not knowing the what and where of fundingThe research was funded by the SSEER programme as part of

its Access to Finance actions. It was recognised that there are anumber of new finance initiatives being set up, particularlyunder the Government’s Community Development FinanceInitiative (CDFI). This has resulted in a range of new loan fundsbeing made available to so called financially excludedindividuals wanting to start businesses, to small businesses of allkinds and specifically to social enterprises. Few people seemedto know what funds were available where and whether what wasavailable met the needs of those looking for finance‘The social enterprise sector is risk averse’

Was the popular view. If social enterprises could get a grantrather than borrow money then that is what they would do and,in particular the part of the sector that is emerging from thevoluntary sector was unwilling to manage the risk associatedwith borrowing. The research paints a more complicatedpicture.

• Many organisations that have historically relied on grantfunding do not have people with the specialist skillsrequired to manage trading accounts – it is not somethingthey have ever needed to do

• Without these specific skills, borrowing money to investwould indeed be risky

• Traditional commercial lenders ask for commitments thatsocial enterprises are unable or unwilling to make.Individuals on boards of directors do not stand to make

Finance

InTouch NO 4 May/June 20042

personal profits from the business so will not make personalguarantees against the loan

• Many social enterprises don’t know about the socialenterprise lenders that are in the market and don’tunderstand the different services they offer – in fact theyoffer loans without personal guarantees and offer a moredevelopmental relationship with their clients.

Risk aversion is rationalIn fact the report makes clear that being risk averse is rational!

Why poor people don’t use banksThere were many similarities in the findings relating to

individuals who are unable to access mainstream financialservices. For many people the view they have of existing serviceproviders is entirely rational.

• Traditional lenders can cause people to get into difficultiesif they do not understand how to use products effectively

• Financial service products are expensive if you are onlydealing with small amounts of money

• People don’t feel in control of their finances and keeprepeating patterns of debt because it seems the only pathopen to them

• There are a number of social enterprise providers who offera range of services at low cost and with support to help people

manage their finances betterThe findings from both areas of the

research will enable service providers tomake informed decisions about how theyinvest resources into the financial supportof social enterprises and excludedindividuals.

Nicky Stevenson (Nicky is a partner of The Guild, Norfolk)

➜ cover International modelsThe report looks at financial models elsewhere in the UK andbeyond. In the region we already have the model of theGrameen Bank method of providing Microcredit – firstdeveloped in Bangladesh and used in the UK by WEETU in itsFull Circle programme.

There is also a profile of social enterprise finance in Italythrough the Banca Etica – a national resource for socialenterprise, owned by the sector and raising and using its ownmoney to lend to social enterprises. Banca Etica is a partnerin the CLIPS project – one of SSEER’s transnational partners.

About the researchThe research into social enterprisefinance was undertaken between Julyand November 2003. A questionnairewas sent to over 400 social enterprisesin the region. Many were contacted andinterviewed about their experience ofusing finance and a range of lendersand other funders were alsointerviewed. The research team at TheGuild included Professor Ruth Pearson,a development economist at LeedsUniversity. Her extensive experience ofhow finance affects local communitiesadded a new and valuable perspectiveto this issue.

The report recommends...• That business support and financial services for social

enterprises should be better linked

• The financial services for social enterprises should be ownedby the sector – not by statutory bodies

• New financial services should be evaluated to show theimpact in the community

• New and existing social enterprise lending should be betterpromoted

• There needs to be a better understanding and sharing of riskrelating to borrowing

• Funding agencies should review the impact of grants onsocial enterprises

• A finance sub-group should be set up within the newregional social enterprise network to take the agendafurther

Editorial

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 3

InTouch

From the EditorPerusing the articles that are featured in this issue of InTouch brings it home that

much that is worthwhile, and even some things that are at the cutting edge ofsocial enterprise, are going on in the East of England.

A lack of awareness about available financial opportunitiesThe Guild research on social enterprise access to finance, Lend Me Your Fears –

lending, borrowing, saving and earning by Nicky Stevenson, is our lead article thisissue. The research clearly shows that we social enterprises have much to learn, andmuch to profit from, becoming more knowledgeable about the various forms offinance that are available. My own company, Business for People, took part in thesurvey. As the telephone researcher took me through the various forms of finance andasked questions about my awareness of them, I began to feel a tad embarrassed at myignorance in some areas. I was therefore surprised that she commented at the end ofthe interview that I seemed more informed than anyone else she’d spoken to so far!Clearly a few seminars or events on the subject wouldn’t go amiss. The Guild’s veryinformative piece of research is available from the trading website, nearbuyou.co.uk.Emmaus builds on success

Another excellent piece of research, by Cambridge University on Emmaus, isreported in this issue. The economic value of this particular social enterprise wasrobustly argued by Professor Christine Whitehead at the presentation of the findings,Building on Success, in London and Cambridge on 25th March. The Emmaus researchunderlines the importance of social accounting or auditing to weight the value of socialenterprises in economic terms in addition to the social benefits.

Lend me your fears was jointly funded by EEDA and the SEEE project, and theEmmaus research was funded by EEDA.Social accounting and the double/triple bottom line

In a similar vein, Social Accounting and Social Enterprise discusses social returns,the balanced scorecard and the methodology of the Social Audit Network. Co-ops UK’s“triple bottom line” approach (social, financial, and environmental) also gets amention.

The purpose should not to be to get organisations that trade for a social purposeutterly fixated on the bottom line for its own sake, but rather that they have nothing tofear from it. On the contrary, the social bottom line, if properly assessed, can be apowerful argument to present to stakeholders in the community, local governmentand financial institutions.More support available

I recall a discussion with the leader of local council a couple of years ago, trying toget across the value of what my own organisation was doing in our locality for thebenefit of its community. It was hard going. Much has moved on since then, witheconomic development specialists in local government taking an interest in socialenterprise, and Business Links, EEDA and other organisations such as Social Firms UK,the Development Trusts Associations and Co-operative Development associations allproviding substantial support. And there is a more developed financial system to tapinto although – as the Lend Me Your Fears research reveals – this is not as wellunderstood or utilised as it could be.

The challenge is to be educated about what is available, what is relevant for yourown organisation, and how to access it. We hope you find this issue of InTouch helpfulin that respect.

David Lloyd is joint managingdirector of Business for Peoplein Huntingdon. He is editorand contributor to variouspublications

Social EnterpriseEast of EnglandMay/June 2004Issue 4

The SEEE network is co-ordinated byBusiness Link Hertfordshire

InTouch is financed by SEEE (funded by the European Social Fund ) and published in its support by Business forPeople in partnership with CreativeTouch, both of which are social enterprises

4 Archers CourtStukeley RoadHuntingdonPE29 6XG

Tel. 01480 455200email: intouch@businessforpeople.org.uk

SEEE Staff:

Social sector manager: Jo Ransom

Project manager: Elaine McCorriston

Project executive: Kirsty Tanner

Development worker: Peter See

Web managers: Lin EvensMichael Waring

Editorial Staff:

Editor: David Lloyd

Content editor: Peter Durrant

Contributing editors: Sarah ChartersAndrew SaulMichael Avis

Creative/production editor:Austin Bambrook

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

The opinions expressed in this publication are notnecessarily those of the publishers or of Business LinkHertfordshire, Business for People Ltd or Creative Touch.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in an information retrieval system ortransmitted in any form without the written permission ofthe publishers. This publication has been prepared usinginformation provided by contributors and, while we makeevery effort, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. SSEER isunable to accept any liability for the consequences of anyinaccuracies, errors or omissions in this publication. Norepresentations, warranties or endorsements of any kindare intended.© SEEE 2004

News

InTouch NO 4 May/June 20044

Building on success: Emmaus Cambridge savestaxpayer £600K a year

Savings and benefits to the wider community made by Emmaus Cambridge

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New research undertaken by Cambridge University – launchedon 25th March to a packed audience at the House of

Commons and later that day in Cambridge – has identified thatEmmaus Communities offer large social and economic benefitsboth in the context of homelessness services and as socialenterprises. They concluded that reduced costs to the HealthService and the criminal justice system together with assistancegiven to other charities, is of the order of £600,000 per annum,representing a direct saving to the Treasury and, ultimately, thetaxpayer.

The Emmaus movement was founded by a French priest knownby his resistance code name “Abbé Pierre”. The first Communitywas set up in France in 1949 to meet the needs of people madehomeless by World War II. The concept was brought to the UK in1990 and Emmaus Cambridge was the first of eleven Communitiesto be founded in this country.

The research was funded by the East of England DevelopmentAgency (EEDA) to help demonstrate the contribution socialenterprises like Emmaus make to the region’s economy.More than just self-supporting

Emmaus Communities offer homeless people a practical way inwhich they can move from homelessness and dependency onstate benefit to taking responsibility for their own lives throughworking in self-supporting Communities.

“No one in an Emmaus Community gets a handout – they workand work hard for their bed and board,” says Tim Page, director ofEmmaus UK.

The Emmaus Cambridge Community is not just self-supporting.It also makes an annual surplus which it donates to other charities.People once considered by society as worthless and a drain onresources are now supporting themselves and helping otherdisadvantaged people through their own hard work.

The Cambridge University research team, headed by Professor

Christine Whitehead used the Emmaus Cambridge Community asthe basis for their study and found that:• Emmaus Communities fit the model of Social Enterprise: they

rely on an enterprise orientated approach; they have specificsocial aims beyond providing accommodation, includingcapacity building for individuals experiencing poverty, exclusionand homelessness; and they are very much autonomous socialorganisations.

• Emmaus Communities are involved in three types of socialenterprise. They provide a good standard of accommodation forCompanions (as the residents are known); they deliver a highlevel of support to these Companions; and all Companions areinvolved in productive activities such as recycling and furniturebusinesses.

• The Emmaus Community at Cambridge is seen as the ‘flagship’Community because of its longevity, management consistencyand financial independence. It provides 30 (24 at the time the

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 5

News

Griffiths unveils newPhoenix fund boost fordisadvantaged communitiesSmall Business Minister, Nigel Griffiths, announced on 14th

April £10.5 million funding for 25 schemes that will help todeliver significant investment to disadvantaged communitiesaround the country, including three in the East of England.Finance via CDFIs

The finance, which comes from the Small Business Service’s(SBS) “Phoenix Challenge Fund”, will boost entrepreneurshipamongst deprived areas by providing continued support to theburgeoning network of Community Development FinanceInstitutions (CDFIs).

CDFIs provide finance and business assistance to potentialentrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises,including social enterprises, which are often unable to accessthe finance they require from banks and other conventionalsources.

“CDFIs are filling a vital gap in access to finance in moredisadvantaged communities, forming a bridge between thepublic and private sectors”, Mr Griffiths said:

This second tranche of Round 3 funding from the PhoenixChallenge Fund for CDFIs, announced 14th April, takes the totalsupport to £42.5 million over the last two and a half years. (Thefirst tranche of Round 3 support of £11.3 million was announcedon 27 October 2003). Round 3 takes the period covered by thePhoenix Challenge Fund from 2000 to 2006.Finance for social enterprises and under-represented groups

The latest cash boost will help fill the gaps that exist in SMEfunding across certain parts of the country and will broaden thefunding opportunities for underrepresented groups, such aswomen entrepreneurs, black and minority ethnic businessesand social enterprises, often unable to access mainstreamfinancial support.

East of England CDFIsEast of England CDFIs that will benefit from theannouncement include:Women’s Employment Enterprise Training Unit (WEETU) – £147,381With Round 3 support, WEETU plans to increase Full CreditLending Circle activity to cover the whole of Norfolk and rollout into other rural parts of the East of England region. TheEast of England Development Agency (EEDA) is supportive ofWEETU and that its bid builds on the DTI’s “StrategicFramework for Women’s Enterprise” report, as well as EEDA’sstrategic activity.WEETU is also marketing its Full Credit product in other partsof the country.Suffolk Reinvestment Trust (SRT) – £211,000The creation of SRT will enable Suffolk to benefit moredirectly from the ESF Equal project, SEEE (of which InTouch isthe newsletter), led by Business Link Hertfordshire. Initiallysponsored by Suffolk County Council, SRT will becomeautonomous and separately managed from the Council. SRTwill have particular emphasis on encouraging growth ofsocial enterprises and co-operatives, especially in thedisadvantaged rural communities of Suffolk. Other SMEs willalso be covered, although joint working with Norfolk &Waveney Enterprise Services will provide the support in thisand other loan management fields. Supported by EEDA.Norfolk & Waveney Enterprise Services (NWES) – (£490,000)NWES is a well-established Enterprise Agency and is active inother IMD wards across the region, with a good track recordin delivering business support, including financial packaging.It is creating a subsidiary CDFI to work in conjunction withEEDA, the Business Links of Suffolk and Norfolk, localauthorities, WEETU and the Banks. Linking with SRT, NWESwill be targeting rural communities (where many banks haveclosed branches) and the more disadvantaged wards inNorfolk and Suffolk. Within this will be a focus on start-upsand early stage businesses, including a business training,development and mentoring package. Supported by EEDA.

Further information from: Department of Trade and Industry,7th Floor 1 Victoria Street London SW1H 0ET. Public Enquiries+44 (0)20 7215 5000 Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740 (forthose with hearing impairment) www.dti.gov.uk.

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research was conducted) accommodation units, together withsupport services, linked to a recycling and furniture businessand cafe. Emmaus provides services and donations to otherlocal homelessness organisations. Notably, it provides asuccessful detox environment for some drug-users.

• The financial and economic evaluation of the strictly businesselement of the enterprise, based on accounts figures for2001/02, show that the Community generated a trading surplusof around £153,800. Even allowing for the imputed costs of thebusiness property – which is owned by the Emmaus Community– and for voluntary inputs and outputs, the pure businesssurplus is estimated at over £130,000 for the year.

• Taking account of all elements of the Community’s activities –including, accommodation costs and income sources, thefinancial surplus is over £100,000. Even including imputedpotential costs of the whole property - the total Communitysurplus is still of the order of £30,000 per annum.

• A particularly important part of the Emmaus ethos has been thatCommunities take as little direct Government assistance aspossible. The only source of Government revenue fundingprovided to the Cambridge Emmaus Community is housingbenefit donated by eligible Companions.

• A reasonable measure of the savings to Government and thewider Community is of the order of £600,000 per annum. One

example of these savings is the capacity to reduce the mostobvious costs of homelessness. When a comparison is madewith local hostel rents (the most likely alternativeaccommodation option locally) the saving to Government isover £111,000.“This has been a fascinating piece of work to do. It is clear that

the Emmaus organisation is unique in its approach tohomelessness and it has the ability to provide value for money forGovernment and to contribute to society in such a positive way”said Professor Whitehead.

Barbara Phillips, Director, Social Enterprise Unit, DTI, said:“Emmaus is both dynamic and sustainable. It embodies the valuesand characteristics of social enterprise with its bold social aims, itsself-sufficiency, and its emphasis on people helping themselves”.

Sal Brinton, EEDA’s deputy chair commented: “Socialenterprises, or organizations which are run for the benefit of thecommunity, make a critical contribution to the East of England’s£79 billion economy and that contribution needs to beacknowledged through research such as this”.

A detailed summary of the research findings is contained in Emmaus UK: Building on Success. Summary of Findings by D Marshall, C Whitehead, R Lovatt and R Foreman. This is available free from Emmaus UK. 48 Kingston Street,

Cambridge. United Kingdom. CB1 2NU. Alternatively, it can bedownloaded from www.emmaus.org.uk

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Initiatives

InTouch NO 4 May/June 20046

Elderly people in rural Suffolk villagesare receiving a new kind of domestic

care. It’s not from the government. It’s notfrom the county council. It’s from a localco-operative.

Suffolk ACRE – Action withCommunities in Rural England – haslaunched a project that gives “floatingsupport” in an area where one of thecounty’s highest concentrations of elderlypeople puts a heavy strain on SocialServices resources.Supporting Co-operativecommunity enterprise

Now the ‘Helping Hands’ project hasreceived a £11,115 grant from Co-operative Action – which supports thedevelopment of new co-operativeenterprises.

Suffolk ACRE is, says Stephen Youd-Thomas of Co-operative Action, “meetingrural community needs with a multi-directional project that helps elderlyresidents to live more independent lives,promotes social inclusion, providesemployment and relieves pressure onpublic care services”.

have already been secured and supportworkers are already in place.Shift from governmental andinstitutional care

“There have been significant changes,over the past 15 years, in the way this sortof care is provided,” says Project Manager,Karen Lawson. “The presumption ofpredominantly public provision is longpast. Government policy is nowencouraging independent sector provision,partnerships between public, private andindependent sectors, and closercollaboration between local authorities,health authorities and providers.

“At the same time there has been a shiftaway from institutional, building-basedcare solutions to those focused onindependent living in the community. But,meanwhile, many elderly people live indesperate situations, severely limited byphysical or sensory disabilities or simplythe absolute remoteness of their location.Changing technologies and administrativemethods - such as new ways of pensionpayment, direct debits and bill accounting- causes confusion for many. Even a simple

Co-operation helps the elderly, providesrural social care, and eases unemploymentBy Graham King

Cambridge Housing Society (CHS) isnot only a major provider of social

housing but also provide support servicesthroughout the region. They have more(affordable) homes in Cambridgeshirethan any other housing association andthere are plans afoot for further newdevelopments.

But InTouch is especially interested inthe ways through which the CHS providesa range of community investmentservices across East Anglia as they work atcombating financial exclusion andhelping people to develop their financialliteracy skills. Their in-house NewHorizons Saving and Loan Scheme worksclosely with Rainbow Saver Anglia CreditUnion as well as the North CambridgeCredit Union (see InTouch March/Apriledition). In addition, they exceeded the

Security and opportunity –real news from a realHousing Association

Andrew Church, Community Investment Manager,Cambridge Housing Society, with staff ofCambridge Building Society and new residentKendall Riehl who has recently taken out a MovingIn Loan.

The grant is being used to develop theco-operative structure of a group thatmeets personal and social needs with arange of home services, from simplybefriending the lonely, shopping for elderlyresidents and helping them cope with newtechnology and administration processes,to giving practical advice on home safetyand security.Over-60s are 22% of Suffolkpopulation

The Waverney district – where theHelping Hands project was launched – hasone of the highest concentrations of elderlyresidents in a county where the growingnumber of over-60s accounts for 22% ofSuffolk’s population.

Helping Hands is a three year researchproject into establishing a uniquedomiciliary Care Co-operative to promotesocial inclusion in rural areas and provideemployment and training in an area whereunemployment is nearly twice the countyaverage and care workers are in shortsupply.

With help from the Countryside Agencyand Suffolk Social Care Services, contracts

Treasury’s target of 200 people opening aSaving Gateway Account, which matchespeople’s savings pound for pound up to atotal of £375. They also continue toprovide support to the account holdersup to account maturity, which is 18months after they opened the account. Inaddition they have:• launched a new pay-as-you-go home

contents insurance product for theirresidents, combining competitive rates,a range of payment options and coverfrom as low as £6,000 up to £30,000.

• enabled more than forty people to usetheir Saving and Loan Scheme to accessaffordable loans and enhanced savingsaccounts through the high streetbranches of the Cambridge BuildingSociety who on 19th March won theCambridge Evening News Community

… is the introduction on RegenSchoolpamphlets, and this was the theme of therecent meeting in Cambridge, hosted byGo-East and convened by Regen andCommunity Renewal Network East(CRNE). The purpose was to discusspossible ways forward for a community-based “school of regeneration” in theeastern region. The RegenSchool workson the principle of learning in thecommunity – although there are someuniversity connections – and the goal isto spread the concept throughout thecountry. John McGough, from theRegenSchool North East provided uswith an outline of the how other regionsare moving ahead in this area, a point notlost on a strong EEDA and GovernmentOffice Eastern Region representation.

The session was introduced by VickyEtheridge CRNE’s manager, and John’spresentation covered theirapprenticeship programme, whichinvolves a day and residentialprogramme to work with people, asopposed to for people, on criticallyconstructing their business plans. This isan intensive process which involvesconfidence building, the need to researchthe potential market and identifyingsources of support. In essence it’s aboutstart-ups and launching communitybusinesses with the underlying theme oftrading for a social purpose. Particular

examples concerned learning packagesin schools, sports developments, wild lifeprojects and filling service gaps withinthe public sector. This is an area which isalso being explored in the eastern region,e.g. via the SEEE project. CRNE havesome of the 102 projects on their books.An exemplar from the eastern region

But the underlying emphasis andexperience on which these regionaldiscussions were based came fromnearer to home. The Dallow Experience(Luton), led by Sarita Jain and JanetMontgomery, vividly brought home themany challenges and difficulties – as wellas the rewards – of beginning fromscratch with a grass-roots socialenterprise in a community setting. Therewas general agreement that the DallowExperience might perhaps serve as a test-bed experience, as possibilities of aRegenSchool-type approach in Norwich,Cambridge and Chelmsford wereconsidered.

RegenSchool had useful hand-outsheets, covering everything from localresidents identifying various needs,proposals to the council, SRB proposals,hands-on work, and incorporation.

Initiatives

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 7

Promoting learning through sharing experience …

Cambridge Housing Society, Endurance House, Chivers Way,Histon, Cambridge. CB4 9ZR. T: 01223 713555.

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Business of the Year 2003 award for itsprojects in the community and thecharity efforts of its staff..

At September 2003 affordable loanswere made available at 4.45% interest –which is even cheaper than a creditunion.

• Helped residents to claim over £11,000in welfare benefits and tax credits andcontinue to support the two creditunions mentioned above to developtheir business. Including an office basefor two development workers, AndrewWilson and Keith Presence who iscurrently working hard on an ESF-Equal round two bid for credit unionsthroughout the region.

And that’s not allCustomers can borrow a laptop PC free

of charge; In 2003, 93 people were helpedto develop new skills by providing themwith information, advice and guidanceand 267 referrals were made to trainingand education providers.

service to help people manage theirfinances could prove a great benefit toreducing debt and associated worry.Sustaining the economy and self-sufficiency

“Helping Hands hopes to make anessential contribution through a self-sufficient co-operative, run by itsmembers, but which goes beyond socialcare to also provide training andemployment for local people and valuablesupport for existing care authorities.”

Suffolk ACRE supports and sustains theeconomic, social and environmental needsof rural communities in Suffolk by forgingeffective partnerships betweencommunities and agencies and promotingself-help.

Co-operative Action promotes thedevelopment of co-operative, mutual andsocial enterprise solutions. Since the fundwas established in 2002, grants and loansof between £5,000 and £50,000 have beenawarded to co-operative projects fromenergy and agriculture to retailing andchildcare.

www.regenschool.com

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For further information about Co-operative Action, email: @co-operativeaction.coop or see the website www.co-operativeaction.coop

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Suffolk ACRE is at Suffolk House, 2 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP.Tel: 01473 242500; Fax: 01473 242530;email: info@suffolkacre.org.uk

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Initiatives

InTouch NO 4 May/June 20048

Luton’s first ever social enterprise conference took placerecently at Stopsley Baptist Church and was hailed asuccess by all those who attended.

Over 80 delegates attended the one-day conference, whichincluded a trade fair showcasing 16 local organisations andsocial enterprises. Much interest was generated in the productsand services offered by the exhibitors, who included Recycle IT,Kidz n Komputers and the Dunstable Disability ResourceCentre.

The event was co-organised by Business Link Bedfordshire &Luton, a service provided by Chamber Business; Luton BoroughCouncil and Voluntary Action Luton. All these organisations arepart of the wider local partnership that supports socialenterprises across Bedfordshire and Luton.Useful information, useful networking

“The feedback has been very positive from both the speakersand delegates”, said Robin Lawrence, Business Link’s socialenterprise business adviser. “All those who attended theconference said they found it beneficial and would put intopractice the knowledge they had gained”.

Community enterprise manager Wendy Tremble, from LutonBorough Council’s Regeneration Service, said: “We need moreof these awareness events to encourage social enterprise inLuton. There’s lots of information available about supportservices, training and other local network events and of course itis always useful to network with others involved in socialenterprise.”

Among the exhibitors were:• Homes for Homeless People (HHP), providers of

accommodation, support, resettlement, training andadvocacy for 16-24 year olds.

A First For Luton’sSocial Enterprises

• Khidmat, a community group providing services for Luton’sAsian community including training for those wishing tobecome social care workers.

• Business in the Community (BITC), which runs a Partners andLeadership programme where business people from thecommercial sector are matched with community enterpriseleaders to gain an insight into different ways of working.

• Voluntary Action Luton, one of the support organisationssupporting the growing number of voluntary and communitygroups in the Luton area.

Government three-year strategy for social enterprisesSteven Wallace from the Government’s Social Enterprise Unit

was one of the guest speakers. Mr Wallace said: “TheGovernment has a three-year strategy to promote and sustainsocial enterprises. The strategy aims to tackle the barriers to thedevelopment and growth of social enterprise by creating asupportive environment. Lead responsibility for implementingthe strategy lies with the Social Enterprise Unit, part of the DTI’sSmall Business Service.”

Mick Dillon, executive manager of the Disability ResourceCentre based in Dunstable spoke to delegates about the “Roadto Sustainability”.

He said: “As social enterprises, we have to present aprofessional front. We need to not only promote the volume ofwork we do but the impact it has on the community”.

Other guest speakers included Alan Wallace, assistant directorof the Development Trust Association and Sarah Leeming fromthe Innovation Centre.

This event is part of a programme of events that will take placethroughout this year and up to May 2005 across Bedfordshireand Luton as part of the activity for the EQUAL project SSEER.

Launch of new partnership between the voluntaryand public sectors through FuturebuildersThe new Futurebuilders £125 million

government investment fund wasunveiled on 5th May at Westminster bychief executive David Gutch. HomeSecretary David Blunkett was inattendance along with one thousanddelegates from the voluntary and publicsectors.

“I’m delighted to be able to announce tothe sector today that Futurebuilders will beopen for its first applications on 5th July.Over the next three years we are hoping toinvest in around 250 organisations withinvestments ranging from around £30,000to several million, as well as providingdevelopment grants of around £10,000 to anumber of other applicants” said MrGutch.

The Futurebuilders website went live thesame day and will show people how to goabout it. More detailed information about

the investment plan will be available on5th July.

David Blunkett said: “Voluntary andcommunity organisations already add agreat deal of value to the delivery of publicservices. They have a profound knowledgeof their local communities and an ability toconnect with people who are marginalised.

Providing appropriate public services tothose who need them is vital to buildingstrong, active communities. By providingcapital investment and developmentfunding, Futurebuilders will enable thevoluntary and community sector to play itsrole. It will encourage excellence byfunding and promoting the best ideas.

Futurebuilders will be managed by aconsortium from the voluntary sector. Itwill provide a mix of grants, loans, andcapacity building ie support, training andadvice, to the sector.

It will work to five themes which were setby government after consultation with thesector. These are: • Community cohesion• Crime• Education and learning• Health and social care• Support for children and young people

Consortium members include: leadpartner Charity Bank, Unity Trust Bank,Northern Rock Foundation and NationalCouncil for Voluntary Organisations.

The Minister for the Voluntary Sector,Fiona Mactaggart said: “The challenge forvoluntary and community organisations isto become more independent and self-sustaining. Futurebuilders is an importantstep in that direction.

Guest speaker Steve Wallace, Social Enterprise Unit,DTI said that the Government aims to tackle thebarriers to the development of social enterprise

www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk

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Initiatives

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 9

Social Firms UK has been working with members, partners andassociates to develop a range of business opportunities that will

support the creation of successful new social firms over the next twoyears.

Two events are being organised to present these businessopportunities to members and interested organisations – In theNorth of England on Tuesday May 25th and in the South of Englandon Tuesday June 8th. This event is supported by The PhoenixDevelopment Fund, Building on the Best Programme

The programme will provide information about opportunities forfranchising and replication for social firms, and presentation ofbusiness opportunities will include employment agencies,computer recycling, fulfilment and distribution, a social firm hotel,homecare social firms, aquarium rental and maintenance franchise,and soap company franchise. There will be workshops/groupdiscussions

Also presented will be Funding your business – options forcapital, grants and loans and support available from Social FirmsUK and Social Firm Regional/National Networks.

If you wish to attend, or if you have a business opportunity youwish to present, contact:

Social Firms UK, Aspect House, 2-4 Monson Road, Redhill.Email: info@socialfirms.co.uk .Phone: 01737 764021; Fax: 01737766699.

There is no charge for this event but a strictly enforced £50 chargefor no shows will apply. There is no closing date for bookings but itis expected that both events to be fully booked from an early stageand therefore there is a limit of 2 delegate bookings perorganisation.DTI survey on needs of social enterprise

The DTI is conducting a survey on information needs of the socialenterprise sector. The next stage of the survey is an onlineconsultation which is being hosted by SEC (Social EnterpriseCoalition).

The consultation went live on Tuesday 11th May and will run forfour weeks. SEC have requested you publicise the consultation toyour members, and/or participate, especially if you are a socialenterprise, or provide a web link or a mention in your membersnewsletter.

The results will be used to inform both the DTI’s and SEC’sinformation strategy, the more social enterprises that respond, thebetter the picture of the information needs of the sector will be. Allrespondents will be entered in to a prize draw for tickets to theSocial Enterprise Coalition’s Annual Conference in January.

New: Business Opportunities in SocialFirms Franchising and Replication

www.socialenterprise.org.uk/survey/

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InTouch is a bi-monthly publicationwith a circulation/distribution to 2,500 social enterprises,stakeholders and supportorganisations in the six counties of the East of England.

A social enterprise itself, InTouch is creating employment and training opportunities in all aspects of magazine publishingincluding media sales.

By advertising in InTouch you areaccurately targeting customers in the social economy whilecontributing to the long-termsustainability of the InTouch project.

Call 01480 455200 to book your ad.

InTouchSOCIAL ENTERPRISE EAST OF ENGLAND

KeepAdvertising rates——————————————————STANDARD POSITIONSDouble Page Spread £2000Single Page £1000 Half Page £500Quarter Page £250——————————————————SPECIAL POSITIONSOutside Back Cover £1,200Inside Front Cover £1,100Inside Back Cover £1,100——————————————————INSERTS For inserts please contact Austin Bambrook on:Tel: 01480 455200——————————————————DISCOUNTS Book 2-5 issues for 5% discountBook 6 or more issues for 10% off

Feature – The Hollies

InTouch NO 4 May/June 200410

They may look like a couple of aging rockers(although one used to be a mod), but theenergy, enthusiasm and sense of pride for the

Hollies and everything it stands for couldn’t havebeen more obvious. Greeted with beaming smilesand cheeky wit, Kenny Summers (Assistant Manager)and Richard Ambury (Acting Company Secretary)certainly made me feel welcome. Positive empowerment

The Hollies was set up five years ago to continuethe work a of an occupational therapy departmentfrom the now closed psychiatric unit of St. Clementshospital in Ipswich. Whilst the the physicalsurroundings, machinery and culture of occupationas a therapy were retained, today the drive is to getpeople integrated into the community, notinstitutionalized. A more proactive model than thetraditional set up, the Hollies’ ethos has always beenabout empowerment. Designed to help those whosuffer from mental ill health, its pivotal aim isrecovery, training and providing new skills wherepeople (not patients) are encouraged to get back intothe work habit and thus gainful employment. KennySummers, Assistant Manager for 4 years (a carpenterwho ran a business for 10 years), admitted he feels areal sense of purpose working in such a positiveenvironment. “I can do the business aspect, the workis stimulating and I get to witness people gettingbetter”.

With no medical therapy provided, people (or “theguys” as they’re called) are not known by their illnessbut their name. Instead of being told what to do,where to sit and when to go for breaks, they’re askedwhere they want to be. What can they offer us? Whattalents do they have? The tiniest bit of skill is teasedout and providing they want to work and take part inthe recovery process, staff will give them all thesupport they need. As part of a reward scheme,everyone who attends their sessions receives aincentive payment and many go on to become full-time employees. By taking on responsibility andmaking decisions, there is a sense of feeling re-valued by the community. As Kenny explained, thedifference “is sometimes really quite dramatic”. Transition to independence

Currently running eight separate businesses, theHollies’ current and most ambitious undertaking isto break away from under the NHS umbrella and aimfor independence and self sufficiency. The firm’smanager, Jeremy Beckett, realized it was the righttime to make this transition, and set about recruitinghelp from a number of organisations. Peter See, thenwith Suffolk ACRE, now development manager ofSEEE was consulted, and suggested setting up two

Escaping from the public funding straitjacket

companies limited by guarantee, creating one as aregistered charity and the other as a trading arm ofthe organization. The charity would allow thebusiness to raise funds through public events (whichthe NHS is not allowed to do) and provide greatflexibility in terms of what can be done with themonies raised. Income received via the charitywould therefore sustain the day-to-day running ofthe business and enhance the services it provides.

Working tirelessly towards this transition isRichard Ambury. A member of the Hollies projectteam and specialist advisor for the NHS Trust for thepast seven years, he describes himself as “Thegreaser who oils the wheels”. Proudly announcingthey are on the brink of achieving independence,Richard anticipates completeself sufficiency within the nexttwo years. With the aid of theiragent, Co-operatives UK inManchester, they expect to beregistered before June. “Theseare really exciting times” heexplained. “It will enable us toget away from labeling peopleas mentally ill, be moresocially inclusive in ouroutlook and help break downstigma, helping us betterengage with the community.”

Suffolk ACRE and the threePrimary Care Trusts (PCT) inSuffolk have provided theHollies with invaluableexpertise, with the PCTsagreeing in principal tounderwrite their expectedtrading deficit for about 18

by Sarah Charters

Overcoming a major challengeThe “experts” said it was not possibleto build a successful business on ahospital site, but the Hollies has proventhem wrong. Admitting it’s been anenormous challenge, Kenny describedhow taking on a site where the patients(as they were then called) had separatetoilets and strict rules, staff haduniforms and doors were locked forprotection, can be a scary concept. Onemember of staff who had a really hardtime accepting this transition took twoyears to come to terms with it, butafterward admitted Kenny was right.He could see the results, was a lothappier and received greater jobsatisfaction.

Breaking away fromunder the NHS

umbrella, the HolliesGarden Centre plans toachieve independence

and self-sufficiancy.

months. The PCTs will also pay the wages of theformer NHS staff and cover the costs of the premises,allowing the separation from the Health Trust (whopreviously provided all revenue contributions).

The membership of the boards for the twocompanies will be divided equally between staff,service users and interested members from thecommunity (who have appropriate expertise). TheHollies team not only considers this a uniqueconcept but a vital one. A recipe for success

So successful is the Hollies initiative that this littlecorner of the St. Clements site is buzzing. Last yearthe business turned over £176,000 (100% throughtrading) increasing from £25,000 3 years ago, whilstan optimistic growth pattern of approx 35% perannum is predicted.

With a team of approximately 100, the workforcegenerates skilled carpentry, producing quality,made-to-order garden and domestic furniturealongside exquisite hand-painted silk wall hangings,cushions and cards. Commissions are undertaken.Light industrial packing and administration servicesare also provided, whilst The Pavilion Café offersvisitors a warm and welcoming atmosphere. An arrayof culinary delights and refreshments are waitressserved throughout the day, 7 days a week. Activelysupporting goodwill trading, the shop is an Aladdin’scave of competitively priced materials and carvingsfrom Africa and Asia. The Garden Centre suppliescustomers with value-for-money plants, outdoorpaving slabs, a garden and landscaping service andlarge sculptured features for the creative gardener.These include tables and seating sculptured intoabstract works of art from the amazingly shapedroots of Balinese trees. Such items sell extremely well

Learning to cook for himself at the age of 14, Martin Florybegan a career in catering in 1997 Working across the country,including a top-notch hotel in London, the hours were long andarduous. Martin accepted this was all part of the job, but whenfalse accusations and bullying became a regular occurrence,things started to change. Moving from job to job, his dreamsturned into dissolution and Martin’s confidence and self-beliefdwindled.

In a run of bad luck, Martin received a slash to the face in amugging, was burgled in his home, and his granddad died.Family problems left him with little hope of support and Martinbegan to feel a black cloud hanging over him. No matter wherehe went, he felt like nothing was working out.

Martin had many layers of negative experiences to deal withsuch as seeing his grandmother – who was like a mother to him– die in front of him while he was young.

Today, it’s a different story. Since being referred to theHollies, Martin’s love of making things has given him somethingboth practical and rewarding to do. So much so he’s nowstudying a two-year City and Guilds Cabinet Maker ProgressionAward level II at college. Recently nominated and elected to jointhe Shadow Board as a director, Martin intends to use hisqualification to become a full-time teacher at the Hollies.

Martin wants to make a difference and help others likehimself. As he explained, “The team saw I had potential, theyhad plans for me and that’s when they suggested college. TheHollies is a great, wonderful place to be in. They don’t put youdown; they treat you as a person and respect you.”

with many of the large pieces selling for around £700.Profits are reinvested back into the business,enabling staff to be employed where appropriate.

With so much potential, it’s hardly surprising thebusiness now trades via numerous satellitebusinesses around Ipswich and plans to lease thebuilding and surrounding grounds. By providingextra car parking and outdoor eating areas the aim isto make the site more visible, encourage a greaternumber of visitors and generate positive word ofmouth publicity. Not something I consider thissocial firm has anything to worry about.

My friends already know of this wonderful placeand can’t wait to experience its warm, relaxing vibe.Once they have, I’m sure they’ll agree such businesssuccess is not down to luck, but greatforesight. Why am I so convinced?Well if you have to ask, as onecustomer did, “So which ones are thepatients?” the answer is clear!

Martin Flory’s warm smile and polite disposition makes him apleasure to be with. Especially useful for his voluntary stints inthe Hollies shop every Saturday. Pictured Martin Flory and IanBrown (Team leader) in the woodworking workshop

Case Study – Martin Flory aged 28

Hollies Enterprises LtdTel: 01473 329463Fax: 01473 329095Email: david.apps@lhp.nhs.uk

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Lunchtime in thePavillion Café – always

busy with customersfrom the hospital and

community dropping infor food or light

refreshmentsthroughout the day

Feature – The Hollies

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 11

The Station Hill branch ofWood N Stuff is a pretty

little garden centre andcraft shop, that also

provides occupationalrehabilitation.

Articles by Michael AvisFocus on: Suffolk

InTouch NO 4 May/June 200412

Monks Eleigh – with its thatched and pantiled cottages – is aquintessential “chocolate box” Suffolk village. When, as

has been the experience of many rural villages, the local shopand Post Office was to close, the local community (population350) decided to do something about it. In March this year theyopened the Monks Eleigh Community Village Shop and PostOffice.

I spoke to Peter Maynard who is in charge of finance. To setthe shop up, £10,000 was raised through fundraising and theremainder through grants from Suffolk County Council,Baberough District Council and the East of EnglandDevelopment Agency.

The business operates from a small, refurbished barnbelonging to the local pub and is incorporated as an industrialprovident society called Monks Eleigh Community Association.This guarantees that all profits made are used to sustain thebusiness or other projects within the village.

The shop is supported by 40 volunteers who maintain thequite extensive hours of 7.45am-6.30pm weekdays, 9am-5pmSaturdays and 9.30am -12.30pm Sundays. It has a remarkablerange of products, including a fine selection of cheeses – manyof which are sourced locally – and it also sells newspapers whichattracts passing trade. Monks Eleigh Community Shop is acredit to all who helped in its development, and it is well worth avisit if you are passing through – especially if you like cheese.

Local shop for local people

Located on Station Hill in Bury St Edmunds, Wood N stuff looks like a pretty little garden

centre and craft shop. But this is just the public faceof a co-operative social firm providing occupationalrehabilitation by making or growing everything thatis for sale. It has recently opened a second shop atHaverhill.

Wood N Stuff is made up of a labyrinth sprawlingover four greenhouses, a woodturning room,workshops, a broadband-linked computer room andcanteen – a hive of activity with members happilyworking on their latest projects.

Holding this all together is John Mully, a manbubbling over with energy and enthusiasm. Hesupervises everything – workshops, administration,growing, sourcing, supplying, employing, and... thelist goes on. John is assisted by a paid staff of 14 andthree volunteers.

The business was launched in 1995 as a co-operative Social Firm. By generating income as abusiness it has a large degree of freedom in itschoices, including how it utilises disabled staff. As aco-operative it also gives the members a chance tohave their say in the running of the business.

Additional funding is received through the DayCare System or Social Care as it is now known. Theco-operative serves 152 people working in both theBury St Edmunds and Haverhill branches with anage-range extending from 18 to 93 years anddisabilities ranging from slight memory problems to

quadriplegic. This additional funding relieves thepressure on the members to have to produce goodsfor sale, very much a Wood N Stuff philosophy.Outings and trips are also organised for membersand last year they had an outing to France.

The sense of wellbeing and confidence that themembers get from making something and thenexperiencing a customer buy it from the shop ispraiseworthy indeed.

If any readers wish tostart up a similar venture,John Mully says he wouldbe please to help where hecan.

Wood N Stuff opens second shop at Haverhill

John Mully

Suites 1-4 Station Hill, Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP32 6ADTel: 01284 702 195

3 Rookwood Way, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8PBTel: 01440 707 878

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Monks Eleigh Community ShopThe StreetMonks EleighIpswich IP7 7AV

i40 volunteers staff Monks Eleigh

community shop which is openseven days a week

Articles by Andrew Saul and Sarah ChartersFocus on: Suffolk

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 13

Special Objectives for Local Disabled(SOLD) was established 17 years ago

in Lowestoft. The business teacheswoodwork, metalwork and crafts todisabled people; there are five staff, andup to twenty-five learners. ManagerStephen James showed me around theworkshop.

On the ground floor is the woodworkdepartment, and an area beingestablished for metalwork. In theirprevious building, they also had ahorticulture department, and plan toerect a greenhouse to re-establish it at thecurrent location. A recent grant from theEuropean Social Fund has allowed themto build a kitchen unit, in which traineesimprove their domestic skills.

The ESF grant has also allowed them toinstall a lift to the upper floor, which isthe location of the art and ceramicsdepartment, the administrative office andan IT suite, in which courses in digitalphotography are held. SOLD took digitalphotos, which were assembled into acalendar, to be sold to raise funds forWaverney Stardust, a boat for thedisabled. “One charity helping another,”as Stephen James put it. The ESF grantalso built a first floor fire escape suitablefor wheelchair users. “Having put in a lift,we need to be able to get them out ifthere’s a fire,” Stephen pointed out.

SOLD has a block funding contract withthe Suffolk County Council, and becauseit is near the Norfolk/Suffolk border itgets Ad-hoc funding from Norfolk CountyCouncil. The funding is supplemented bythe sale of products from its craft shop inLowestoft.Taking a Sideways Step

Side Step is a marketing co-operativeset up as an off-shoot of SOLD. I spoke toPaul Barber whose own story is anillustration of the type of people the twobusinesses help. Having worked all hislife as a merchant seaman, Paul lost a legin an accident at sea. For some timeafterwards he drifted through life withoutaim or focus until he came to SOLD. Hehad never tried woodwork before, butcame to enjoy it so much that he nowdreads weekends and holidays.

Side Step members make woodworkunder the umbrella of SOLD, then buy itand sell it as Side Step. They would preferto have their own manufacturingbusiness, but cannot find suitableinsurance because of their disabilities.SOLD is insured only because it has along-standing relationship with itsinsurers. It too would have difficultyfinding insurance as a start-up in thecurrent financial climate.

Side Step was formed using moneyborrowed from a friend, who was later

SOLD and Side Step

SOLD – Stephen JamesSide Step – Paul Barber01502 512617i

Creating a garden planter in the SOLD workshop

Suffolk ACRE Staffduring a brainstormingsession at the ResourceCentre. Externalfacilitators help findalternative ways ofaccessing hard to reachmembers of thecommunity

paid back from profits, and sells woodenitems for gardens – such as planters,fencing and trellises. The next step for thebusiness is to purchase a van, but it istaking a long while to save up the £1000needed. So reader, if you have a van youno longer require, please considerdonating it to Side Step.

SOLD and Side Step certainly improvethe self esteem of those involved. As Paulcommented,“It feels good to go pastsomeone’s garden and say, ‘I made that.’”

Andrew Saul

Ipswich based Suffolk ACRE is a rural communitycouncil established over 60 years ago. Specialising

in community development, it runs a number ofadvice, support and development projects includingSuffolk Community Enterprise (SCE). Fundedthrough the SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) andworking with other organisations such as BusinessLink, SCE aims to facilitate community businessdevelopment by offering access to a comprehensiveadvice and support service, completely free ofcharge. SCE has a staff of three (Suffolk ACRE hasmore than 50) made up of Business Advisor CynthiaSchears and two part-time credit union workersbased in Lowestoft.

In the three years SCE has been established, tensocial enterprises have been successfully aided.These include a workers co-operative providing anafter-school childcare club, a community transport

Free support forsocial enterprisestart ups

scheme operating services between rural villages anda garden centre, shop and café (the Hollies at St.Clements) providing support and opportunity topeople disadvantaged by mental ill health.

SCE promotes best practice in communityenterprise via a quarterly newsletter, interactivewebsite and information sheets. Suffolk ACRE wasthe first voluntary organisation in Suffolk to achieveInvestors in People status in 1995, and in March 2003was named one of the 12best employers inSuffolk/North Essex.

Sarah Charters

Suffolk ACRETel: 01473 242500Fax: 01473 242530workingtogether@suffolkacre.org.ukwww.suffolkacre.org.uk/workingtogether

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Networks unlimited

InTouch NO 4 May/June 200414

This section of InTouch is for you topromote and report on the activities ofyour organisation. Send news of staffchanges, business developments andexamples of smart thinking to PeterDurrant on 01223 262759 or send an emailto humberstone@pop3.poptel.org.uk

Good News from STEngwhich stands for the “Social

Training Enterprise Group”which has held its firstroadshow in Cambridge.STEng represents an excitinginter-disciplinary style ofworking through whichBranching Out, the DarwinNursery, OWL, Wysing Arts,Burwell Community Print,FACET, Prospects Trust,Rowan and Turning the RedLights Green areconstructively workingtogether to pioneer workexperience and trainingopportunities with and for awide range of disadvantagedpeople. More from KarenDevon on 01223 811662.

Scrapstore inBedfordshire and cottonnappies in Hitchin

We’re not sure if there is aconnection between the two,but have you come acrossScrapstore – on 01525 375437– which promotes creativeplay in Leighton Buzzard forchildren? This demonstrates –through exploration of thematerials offered by theproject – how children andyoung people can beencouraged to value theirabilities and so enhance theirself-esteem.

In Hitchin, Get Real – on01462 636188 – wasestablished by two motherswho were appalled by the lackof information available toparents concerning nappyoptions. Do get in touch withInTouch if you know of similarprojects.

If you want to know what’shappening nationally on theEQUAL front you can obtain afree newsletter viawww.equal.ecotec.co.uk andwe’ll even send you a copy, on

request, of issue no.9 whereDavid Lloyd and JohnWilkinson discussed how “theSSEER partnership… ensureswider buy-in across theregion.”

Small and local – the EastAnglia Schumacherlectures

At the end of last year agroup of enthusiasts met inCambridge to participate inthe first East AngliaSchumacher lectures. Theday’s objective was to thinkabout regional sustainabilityin tune with the Schumacherprinciple of ‘small isbeautiful’.

If you would like a copy ofthe report contact JohnRankin on 01223 276757 oremail john.ranken@virgin.net.

The report is full of usefulsocial enterprise-typeinformation such assustainable lifestyles, localeconomic and strategicpartnerships, East AngliaFood Links, and a reallyuseful appendix on regionaland national organisationsand resources.

Co-operativeUK and theirwork on care homes

Co-operativesUK providesinformation on funding,management and the legalstructure for co-operative carehomes – which provide apractical alternative to privateownership, putting peopleahead of profits and helpingto provide communities witha long-term solution to thecare needs of older people. Itcan put interested parties intouch with experts andadvisors to create an effectivecare home solution whichmeets local needs. For moreinformation, contact HelenShaw at Co-operativesUK by

email at: helen.shaw@cooperatives-uk.coop or bytelephone on: 0161 246 2941.

On-line, and off-line,newsletters and otherregional writteninformation

In future editions ofInTouch we’d like to writeabout the many, and variousforms of newsletters andsimilar dissemination vehiclesavailable on social enterpriseand associated frontsthroughout the region. So doplease keep us informed ofwho or what is ‘trading for asocial purpose’ (and writingabout it on a regular basis) outthere. For starters, we canrecommend Suffolk ACRE’son-line newsletter fromwww.suffolkacre.org.uk; aswell as the newsletter of theMarsh Farm Community on01582 512555; COVER’sexcellent quarterly Bulletin on 01223 893443 oro f f i c e @ c o v e r - e a s t . o r g ;Networking East on 01842754101; or office@crne.org.uk;and Helen Marini’s excellentProfit Plus from 01727 813561or Helen@exemplas.com.

detailing tax advantages,fund-raising advice, auditingaccounts and how to run anorganisation. Plus there’s anequally helpful sister booklet –Just about Managing.

Launch of NationalBusiness Support Registerfor Social Enterprises

Social EnterprisePartnership GB, announcedthe launch of a NationalBusiness Support Register inearly March. The concept isfor business advisers from allthe sub-sectors of socialenterprise to pool their detailsonto one collective,comprehensive database. Thiswill enable potentialrecipients of business supportto carry out online searchesfor the most appropriatesource of business advice fortheir particular needs in theirlocality.

The Business SupportRegister will become one ofthe most comprehensive andrepresentative tools for thesocial enterprise sector toresult from the SocialEnterprise Partnershipprogramme. SEP are seekingregistrations from non-statutory deliverers ofbusiness support to the socialenterprise sector (excludesBusiness Links, for example).The invitation to registerapplies to both organizationsand independent advisers. Toregister, log ontowww.sepgb.co.uk and click on“Business Support Register.”

Community DevelopmentFinance 2004 – CDFIdirectory launched

The UK’s first directory ofcommunity developmentfinance institutions waslaunched in March. The 70-page, full-colour directoryprovides a complete listing ofthe CDFA’s members andassociates. It is broken downby the regions in which theylend. There is also a sectionwith details of CDFIs that lendmoney nationwide. A series oflively case studies and articlesalso helps give a fullunderstanding of the breadth

The comprehensive guideto legal structures

Voluntary but not Amateur –available from the LVSC on020 7700 8107 orinfo@lvsc.org.uk – providescomprehensive knowledge onu n - i n c o r p o r a t e dorganisations, charitabletrusts, con-stitutions, limitedcompanies, and the road toincorporation.

It consists of 200 pages

Networks unlimited

InTouch NO 4 May/June 2004 15

and range of the productsoffered by the UK’s growingnumbers of CDFIs. Essentialreading for anyone who wantsto set up or expand abusiness, social enterprise orcharity in a deprived area, it isalso an invaluable resourcefor anyone working inbusiness support or the widerfinancial services industry.

Community DevelopmentFinance 2004 is available at£15 including post andpacking (usual price £17.50).To order your copy at thereduced price contactinfo@contentteam.co.uk orphone 020 7812 9341. TheCDFA is offering substantialreductions on bulk orders toallow organisation to equiptheir staff with this importantresource.

HertSETHertSET was recently

launched in Hertfordshire toprovide a network for localsocial enterprises and supportorganisations. The aim is toprovide mutual support,participation in training,policy/strategy decisions andnetworking opportunities. Theinaugural meeting of thenetwork will take place in Julyto establish the objectives andactivities of the network for thefuture.

Business Link Hertfordshirewill suggest some ideas aroundthe type of activity the network

might like to try but ownershipof the network will remainfirmly with its members.Various members will hostfuture events, so there will be avariety of venues.

Initial suggestions are thatthe network will:• Provide suitable training

events at the request of thenetwork. These may bespecific sub groups or for theentire network.

• Have a ‘network’ page inProfit Plus

• Hold lunchtime meetingswith interesting andthought-provoking speakers.

Business Link will facilitatethese for interestedmembers.

• Be the voice of socialenterprise for Hertfordshire,with its opinions passed onto local authorities, the DTI,the Social EnterpriseCoalition and other nationalbodies

• Contribute to the regionalbody, SEEE

• Provide support for itsmembers by mutual trading,by joining forces to attractprocurement officers andprivate buyers, by assistingeach other when necessary

• Hold social gatheringsBeing part of HertSET will

allow members access to manyresources across the county. Itwill provide the opportunity tostage focused working groupswhen issues arise and deliverinvaluable and relevantstructured training.Information will be passed toall network members regardingcounty wide and country wideevents and the network will actas a facilitator for discussionsand events for its members.

Contact Helen Marini on01727 813561 or emailhelen@exemplas.com.

netCUDA conference:“new credit unions: newcommunities”

Thursday 17 June: 10.00am –4.00pm at AshcroftInternational Business School,APU, Chelmsford.

The new model credit uniondeveloped by netCUDA offersthe potential for all socio-economic groups who live orwork in the area covered by thecredit union to becomemembers. This in turnprovides the basis for thesustainability of the newmodel credit union.

The conference will be ofinterest to individuals andorganisations engaged infinancial inclusion issues, debt

advice, money management,community development andregeneration.

Contact: netCUDA T: 01245496235, or email:netcuda@btconnect.com.

Ready for enterprise?Are you a voluntary sector

organisation already earningbut eager to turn new ideasinto additional income? Anew short course from theNCVO, in association withCOVER, could be your nextstep to funding sustainability.

Getting Ready for Enterprisea 2-day training course for‘earning ready’ organisationslooking for outside businesssupport. It will be anintensive 2 days: 1 day

training in hard skills, then aday testing ideas in asupportive environment. Tworepresentatives from eightorganisations have the chanceto emerge with the energyand ideas to take their incomegeneration to a new level.

The first course, will beheld in Cambridge in autumn.The course will combinepresentations, small groupwork, and marketing pland e v e l o p m e n t a r o u n dparticipant’s own ideas.

If your organisation wantsto be considered for the first Getting Ready forEnterprise course inCambridge, email the NCVOSustainable Funding Projecton sfp@ncvo-vol.org.uk.

Training/conference opportunities

As reported in theJanuary/February edition ofInTouch, the CommunityFund awarded the Develop-ment Trusts Association£518,364 lottery funding toroll out the Enterprise Accel-erator© Programme acrossEngland over the next threeyears. The Enterprise Acceler-ator will help developmenttrusts and other community-based organisations increasetheir trading for social pur-pose. Such communityorganisations often operatein disadvantaged areas orcommunities facing isolationor exclusion (both urban and

rural) where local economiesare in decline or depression.Some have already devel-oped trading operations withimmense success – most havea long way to go to realisetheir full potential.The first Enterprise Accelera-tor Programme is beingpiloted in the Eastern Regionand the first Introductoryworkshop was held on 21stApril at Red Lodge nearNewmarket. Regional Devel-opment Manager of theDTA, Nigel Boldero, commented, “The interest inthis new programme hasbeen very encouraging – we

have exceeded our target forparticipation in the firstWorkshop and a wide rangeof community based organi-sations are taking part fromacross the region. We areespecially pleased at thedeveloping links with organi-sations able to offerparticipants specific help andsupport as the programmeunfolds. We had a lively andenjoyable introductory session where participantsfound out more aboutwhat’s on offer and whatdeveloping a communityenterprise involves.”The DTA has also been

successful in securing furtherfunding from the Voluntaryand Community Infrastruc-ture review in the region andis now planning to expandthe pilot to include a groupof voluntary and communitysector infrastructure bodiessuch as Councils of VoluntaryService and Rural CommunityCouncils. 'The potential fordeveloping enterprisingideas, including betweengroups of such bodies, istremendous', Nigel added.Want to find out more?Contact Nigel Boldero on01603 754250 or emaileastern@dta.org.uk

Encouraging Response to ‘Enterprise Accelerator’

Social accounting

InTouch NO 4 May/June 200416

The Active Communities Unit’s strategy for performanceimprovement in the voluntary and community sector is thelargest ever government consultation on the themes of

quality and impact. It is linked to a series of ACU strategies whichhave a combined funding pot of £80 million. The Quality andImpact project has been actively involved in the development ofthe strategy. Hetan Shah, former manager of the Q & I project anda current SEP (Social Enterprise Partnership) director created aplace for social enterprise in the key consultation, and was one ofthe experts interviewed prior to the strategy being drafted. It ishoped that this work with the ACU may help to unlock significantfunds and support ‘proving and improving’ initiatives within thesocial enterprise sector for years to come.

Organisations throughout the UK can draw upon the work of theproject to help determine their forward strategies.Social return on investment: when quality & impact collide!

If you have ever wondered what happens when internalmanagement approaches (quality!) and impact measurementmethods (impact!) collide, you’ll be interested to know that SocialFirms UK recently hosted a workshop on Social Return onInvestment workshop for groups that are piloting a new quality-building tool for management – the Balanced Scorecard.

The Balanced Scorecard taps into key indicators of ‘quality’ or‘health’ from five perspectives that are integral to the values ofsocial firms. Social Return is one of the perspectives on thescorecard, along with the ‘employee;’ ‘financial’; ‘customer andcommunity’; and ‘business development’ perspectives.

Social return is a way of expressing a social enterprise’s impactsby comparing the value of the impacts, in money terms, to theamount of money invested in the organisation. This gives acompelling way of telling the ‘impact’ story in language thatfunders and government bodies can recognize – money!

On 1st April Social Firms members and social accountingexperts got together to look at ‘social return’ in greater depth. Theresult? Social firms now understand how looking at social returncan benefit them in both proving and improving. ‘Socialaccountants’ now see how some of the methods that nef (neweconomics foundation) has developed to measure social returncan be used in the social accounting process.

For an introduction to social return and the SROI tool see SocialReturn on Investment: Miracle or Manacle or learn about the

Social accounting and social enterpriseThe ACU Strategy for Performance improvement

findings of nef’s pilot work on in this area in the report – SocialReturn on Investment: Valuing What Matters – available atwww.neweconomics.org under ‘society’ in the ‘new ways ofmeasuring’ section.More for Your Toolbox!

Both the Development Trusts Association and Co-ops UK havecreated new ways of showing that these social enterprises aremeeting social, economic, environmental and other goals. TheDTA successfully piloted a set of indicators – a health check – tohelp development trusts to check their ‘health’ in key areas.

Co-ops UK has developed a set of 10 indicators for co-operativesto use to see how they fare along social, economic, andenvironmental lines. Indicators include measures of democraticparticipation by co-op members and employees and measures ofdiversity, customer satisfaction and looks at how the co-op investsits money and procures resources as well as environmentalmeasures such as recycling as a proportion of the waste produced,and carbon dioxide production. Some indicators may be helpfulacross the social enterprise sector. An explanation of the indicatorsand guidance on how they were defined and used for the pilotproject can be found at www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=211.

The Q & I project is building a contact list for its email newsletterto all who are interested in proving and improving. Emaillisa.sanfilippo@neweconomics.org with your contact details.New approach to social accounting

For those who have wondered what social accounting is allabout, here is the latest news. While social accounting has foryears involved at least five steps, the Social Audit Network havebeen working on a clearer, easier-to-approach method. See box fora brief outline.

Layered social accountingPreliminary Step: Commitment & Resources. Organisationbecomes acquainted with the resources and commitmentneeded to undertake Social Accounting and determineswhether and how to proceed.

Stage 1: Set the framework for the accounting process.Clarify the mission, objectives and activities of theorganisation and identify stakeholders.

Stage 2: Set the Scope & Collect Information. Determine theboundaries of the social accounting process reportingprocess, collect information through consultation, and keepthe information in a ‘book-keeping’ system.

Stage 3: Create Accounts & Present for Audit. Compile andinterpret data to social accounts, and accounts to a panel ofapproved ‘social auditors’.

For more information on social accounting, sign up to theSocial Audit Network circular by contacting Claire Brady:clairebrady_cbsn@yahoo.co.uk

For more information on ACU go to:http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/org/dob/direct/acomu.html

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The information above is reproduced by kind permission of SEP GB Ltd, 9 RedLion Court London EC4A 3EF. T: 020-7583 9444

Social accounting inthe East of EnglandBoth of the initiatives (Social Firms’ balanced scorecard and Co-operative UK’s indicators for Co-ops) mentioned in this articleare being successfully rolled out in the Eastern Region by CCDA(Cambridge Co-operative Development Association). See articleCCDA cuts the mustard... in January/February InTouch.Business Link Cam-bridgeshire will also beholding a workshop later thisyear on social accounting.

Adrian AshtonCambridge CDA01223 360977

cambridgecda@connectfree.co.uk

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