Cooperatives NorthWest

Conference: Co-operative Opportunities and Support
Friday 2 July, 9.30am – 2.40pm, New Century House, the Co-operative Group, Corporation Street, Manchester M60 4ES
Co-operatives North West in partnership with Business Link Northwest, will be hosting a post election conference in Manchester City Centre, as part of Co-operatives Fortnight. The conference is free and open to anyone with an interest in co-operative enterprise, including those thinking of starting, joining or advising co-operatives. Key note speakers include Mary Rayner, Policy and Research Officer, Co-operatives UK.
The programme has been designed to help ensure your organisation is as healthy as it could be, or to start you on your journey as a co-operative or social enterprise, through a series of informative workshops led by key note speakers. Using Social Media as a marketing tool; Management Accounts and Cash Flow Management; Accessing Public Sector Procurement Opportunities; Starting up a co-operative. Plus Principle Six: facilitated networking and inter-trading session. Book now to reserve your place! www.businesslinknw.co.uk/events/pages/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=3467

SENW Mentoring Programme II
Social Enterprise North West (SENW) is pleased to announce that its second Mentoring Programme for social enterprises will start in July 2010 and we are now inviting applications for the programme. This fully-funded programme is a fantastic opportunity for growing leaders and managers of both start-up and existing social enterprises in the region to access independent one-to-one mentoring support from established and experienced leaders in the sector and to learn from their experiences and good practices. Mentees on the programme will also develop their own leadership and management skills and will benefit from training & networking opportunities. They will also be given many other useful tools and resources that will help them to develop their social enterprise. If you are from a new or existing social enterprise OR from an enterprising Third Sector organisation and would like to have a ‘sounding board’ to help you to develop your social enterprise and strengthen your own leadership abilities, this programme is for you. Over 75% of mentees reported feeling more confident about the future of their social enterprise after this programme. Over 85% of mentees said that their objectives for the mentoring had been fully achieved.

We are also looking for mentors from across the North West to work with us. If you have experience of working with or within a social enterprise and the ability to provide mentoring support, please get in touch with us. To request either a ‘Joining pack’ (for social enterprises) or a ‘Mentor pack’ (for mentors) contact Harsha Patel harshap@senw.org.uk . Deadline for receipt of completed forms is Wednesday 30th June. www.senw.org.uk

Irish Co-operative Conference: From Plunkett to the Credit Crunch
30-31 July, Trinity College, Dublin
Unlocking the potential for the growth and development of co-operative enterprises through access to ethical finance in Ireland North and South.
Keynote speakers include: Iain Macdonald, ICA; Peter Couchman, Plunkett Foundation; Seamus O'Donahoe, ICOS; Dr Ian Adamson, historian, Alex Bird, Co-operatives Wales. Day delegates from £25, Full residential delegates £125. 'Rail and Sail' travel from UK stations from £24. Organised by the Co-operative Forum NI. Contact annamcaleavy@googlemail.com  

Social value commissioning
Reports, toolkits and easy-read guides from the national NHS Social Value Commissioning project are available at www.northwest.nhs.uk/whatwedo/socialvalueproject/. With thanks for this information to Chris Dabbs, Unlimited Potential, members of Co-operatives NW.

Funding: The Phone Co-op’s Social Enterprise Start-up & Expansion Fund
Our Social Enterprise Start-Up & Expansion Fund provides resources to social enterprises to help them at critical stages in their development. The fund offers £250 to each social enterprise in the form of a credit on your Phone Co-op bills. The money can be used to pay for any telecoms products or services provided by us, including fixed line and mobile telecoms, broadband, web hosting, and phone systems. To be eligible, your social enterprise must be either a new business customer of The Phone Co-op, or taking extra services as a result of expansion, and must agree to use our services for two years. In addition, if your business has been advised by a recognised social enterprise business advice agency (such as a Co-operative Development Agency), you will be granted a credit account without having to go through a credit check. 0845 458 9070 www.thephone.coop/the-difference/start-up-fund

Funding correction: Funding for co-ops from the Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group are pleased to offer financial support to co-operatives in the North West (not only in Greater Manchester North Area). Funding from United Legacy Environmental Fund can support environmental projects, such as community gardens, woodlands, or environmental clean ups especially pieces of land local to co-operative stores. There is no deadline for environmental proposals and consideration could be given to applications up to £2,000. For more details contact david.bretherton@co-operative.coop 0161 246 3060.

Co-operatives Fortnight 19 June to 3 July
The first ever Co-operatives Fortnight is gathering steam. For full listings, inspiration and resources for your co-operative initiatives, see www.thereisanalternative.coop/taxonomy/term/1. Special CNW newsletter coming up.

Co-operatives North West is funded by trading income, the Co-operative Enterprise Hub and the North West Development Agency