E-Bulletin

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E-Bulletin - issue-2, Summer-2011

Click here to download the Collaborative Communities E-Bulletin Issue 2, Summer 2011.

Welcome to the Collaborative Communities E-Bulletin

The Collaborative Communities project supports the development of a robust and sustainable Third Sector by working with Third Sector organisations to address the multi-faceted issues of sustainability; organisational robustness, reduction in grant dependence and income generation. The project aims to prove and develop the unrealised potential of social enterprises as a particular type of service provider in our region by creating 6 to 10 exemplar social enterprises which fill market gaps in service delivery provision. It consists of 8 Partners: the County Voluntary Councils and County Councils in Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea. 15 Officers work to support a robust and sustainable Third Sector. 4 Flagship Officers work to develop exemplar social enterprises with the potential to deliver significant social and economic benefits. The project provides expertise around:

Example of an organisation assisted

Collaborative Communities officers have been working with the Presbyterian Church in Llanelli who are developing a project to create an innovative town centre venue to engage with the young people of Llanelli and help reduce increasing antisocial behaviour and underage drinking within the town centre. The project looks to set up a Youth Café on Saturday afternoons for teenagers, especially for those who are in the transitional period after moving from primary school to secondary school. For the older teenagers a Saturday evening Youth Club would be developed with state of the art facilities for live bands and youth activities. Ellana Thomas, Volunteer Project Officer, said “The Collaborative Communities initiative has been a huge asset and pivotal in assisting us to secure funding, not to mention helping to produce our comprehensive business plan. I'm in no doubt whatsoever that without their professional help, sound advice and guidance we would not be so far ahead with this project in such a short space of time".

Events and Workshops

Community Shares Event

Friday 16th September 2011, 10am - 1pm, The Queens Hall, Narberth

An opportunity to find out about a new approach to funding community projects! Community share offers are proving to be a great way to engage with the whole community while raising funds for community projects. Come along to this free event to find out about, the ins and outs of community investment, the benefits of share issues, how to organise issuing shares and legal structures and their implications. Speakers include Jim Brown - Lead consultant Community Shares Programme and Cris Tomos – Wales Co-operative centre.

For more information or to book your place(s), please call the Collaborative Communities team on 01437 769422

Third Sector Funding Conference

11th October, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

The landscape of funding for third sector organisations in Wales is changing. We are seeing a decrease in statutory funding at the same time as an increased demand for our services. The external environment which we are navigating is increasingly challenging. However, even in adversity lies opportunity and so this year’s conference enables you to hear first hand from those organisations that are already seizing these opportunities. We bring you a panorama of organisations that have developed successful strategies for sustainable funding from community, corporate, digital to individual donors and trading, as well as the other main income sources in Wales – trusts and foundations, statutory and Lottery. Come along to this year’s conference and find out first-hand the steps that you can take to enable your organisation to emerge from the ‘age of austerity’ stronger and fitter, independent and sustainable.

To book your place, please contact the WCVA, www.wcva.org,uk

Pembrokeshire Funding Fair

15th November, 10am – 4pm, The Queens Hall, Narberth

A great opportunity to meet with a wide range of local and national funders. Bidding for grant money is becoming more and more competitive so this year’s presentations will help groups to develop a more sustainable approach. Presentations confirmed include the Community Investment Fund, Tendering for Contracts, latest Lottery news and online marketing tips.

For more information or to book your place(s), please call the Collaborative Communities team on 01437 769422

Social Enterprise Conference

16th & 17th November, Richard Ley Centre, Swansea

Collaborative Communities will be presenting a workshop on Sustainable Attitudes and Culture. This workshop provides the opportunity to identify whether your organisations culture is helping or hindering your plans, particularly with a view to your financial sustainability. Through identifying your cultural ‘soft spots’ you can begin to take active measures that will establish the kind of culture you need, establishing positive attitudes that will reinforce all your work and pave the way for success.

For further details on events and workshops please contact your local Development Officer or call 01269 590247, email contact@collaborativecommunities.org.uk.

Project Achievements

This quarter development officers have supported a further 26 organisations with over 7 hours of support, bringing the total of organisations assisted to 158. An additional 4 jobs have been created, 6 environmental management systems have been put in place and 2 equalities strategies and monitoring systems have been implemented in organisations assisted. A further 3 social enterprise have been created. Officers have supported organisations to draw down a further £111,000 of funding, bringing the total to over £600,000.

Targeted Finance Package

The Targeted Finance Package invests in the creation of new social enterprises, the expansion of social enterprise activities of existing organisations, and projects which increase financial sustainability in Third Sector organisations. For more details on the Targeted Finance Package please contact your local Development Officer.