Cooperatives NorthWest

NETWORKING & EVENTS

Meet the Growers at Unicorn Grocery

7pm, Monday 17 October,Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albany Rd, Chorlton, Manchester

Come and hear Unicorn’s most local growers talk about the realities of organic growing and trading. Tickets £3 (includes soup) in advance from the shop. Read more here.

BOOK NOW for CNW networking event, trade show and ‘green energy’ initiatives seminar

12 – 4pm, Tuesday 25 October, Kuumba Imani, Millennium Centre, 4 Princes Road, Liverpool L8 1TH

This event will encourage supply chains and trading activity between co-operatives and social enterprises in the North West. Delegates will have the opportunity to meet potential customers and suppliers in an informal networking environment. Individual tables will be available for exhibiting products and services or promotional materials.

The afternoon seminar, presented by Sustainable Change Co-operative will help businesses and others better understand what sustainability means for them, and how to turn words into meaningful, practical action. Visit our website for more information. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!
Free places may be availble. Book early for discounted places. Visit our website for more information.

Food, Co-operation and Community in the North of England

10.30 - 4.30, Monday 17 October, St George’s Centre, Leeds, LS1 3BR

A free event for staff and volunteers from new and established co-ops, community food enterprises, and food access projects, to help further develop sustainable co-operative enterprise in the North of England. Tasty lunch included, made with local, organic and seasonal produce. Booking is essential! Read more here.

Book now for SENW 2011 Trade Fair

9:30am - 4:15pm, Tuesday 18 October, Devere Whites Hotels at Reebok Stadium, Bolton De Havilland Way, Bolton, DL6 6FS

The day will feature workshops, exhibiting social enterprises, keynote speakers, opportunities to network, and more. Read more here.

North West women’s enterprise day event

8:30am – 5pm, Friday 28 October, Byley Lane, Cranage, Crewe, CW4 8EW

Book early for this event, which won an Outstanding Impact Award from Enterprise UK in 2010. It will inspire, challenge and offer practical help to start-up or grow your business and overcome obstacles. Read more here.

Futures North Workshop

Wednesday 2 November, Hallam Union, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 2QQ

The theme of year’s Future’s North event is “Communities, Trading, Capital, Investment”. Read more here.

Locality 11 Event: Communities Ambitious for Change

1-2 November, Palace Hotel, Manchester

Locality’s first national conference aimed at North West based organisations from the voluntary, community, social enterprise and statutory sectors. An opportunity to share learning and best practice, access expert advice and network. Read more here.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Food, co-operation and community

10.30am – 4.30pm, Monday 17 October, St George’s Centre, Leeds, LS1 3BR

This free event is for everyone involved in food co-ops, community food enterprises and food access projects. Read more here.

Free introduction to marketing & communications

10am – 1pm Monday 17 October, Ellesmere Port EPNAVCO, First Floor Offices, Ellesmere Port Indoor Market, CH65 0HW

This event will focus on creating a plan that helps save you time, but maximises the results of your marketing. Free to anyone working in public or third sector in North West. Read more here.

Simply Legal training event

9am – 4pm, Wednesday 19 October 2011, Quaker Meeting House, Liverpool

The training workshop is suitable for the following: those advising, working with or participating in any community enterprise or co-operative organisation. It particularly focuses on the choice of legal and organisational structure. Read more here.

Social Franchising Workshops

10am - 4pm, 25 October, Blackburne House, Blackburne Place off Hope Street, Liverpool L8 7PE

A unique and highly practical one-day workshop led by the School for Social Entrepreneurs for those leading growth in their social enterprise. Read more here.

Community investment for community supported agriculture projects, biodynamic farms and land trusts

3 November, 10.30am - 4.30pm, Preston.

The free day event is aimed at CSAs who need money, communities interested in buying land for farming and biodynamic farmers – particularly relevant for groups incorporated as Industrial and Provident Societies. Visit our website for more information.

SROI Practitioner Training

22-23 November, Manchester

SROI is an approach to understanding and managing the value of the social, economic and environmental outcomes created by an activity or an organisation. Read more here.

Social Enterprise Planning courses

Social Enterprise Planning is a live online practical course for people wishing to undertake a feasibility study and prepare a plan for establishing a social enterprise. The course provides supporting material and a practical social enterprise planning toolkit. Read more here.

FUNDING, FINANCE & OPPORTUNITIES

Study Visit to SUMA Wholefoods

Near Halifax, Saturday 15 October, 11am-3pm.

As part of the Making Local Food Work programme, Sustain and the Soil Association are working with SUMA to arrange free visits for food co-ops. Visit our website for more information.

Village SOS competition: fancy a share of £5.3m?

Application deadline 20 October

Village SOS is now launching a competition where your village could win up to £30,000 to make your own community business idea a reality. The project will give around 250 awards to kick start community businesses that will revive villages. Read more here.

Social Enterprise North West AGM & Director Nominations, November 2011

Nomination deadline 31 October.

As part of the AGM process, SENW seek nominations for two directors from social enterprises trading across the region. For a nomination form and further information, contact Collette Morris collette.morris@senw.org.uk.

Free business support for North West co-operatives

The Co-operative Business Assistance Programme offers two days of free, direct, tailored consultancy to five North West co-ops. For more information on how to access free support from expert advisors, visit our website here.

MEMBER PROFILES

Carer’s Union
Carers’ Union is a co-operative exists to campaign for better rights, support and information on behalf of all carers in the UK. It will carry their voice into every arena, local and national, where issues that affect them are being discussed. It will work with parliament, local authorities, primary care trusts, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, other health bodies, the voluntary, charity and faith sectors, and all other relevant bodies. It is based in Merseyside, Greater Manchester. www.carersunion.org.uk 

South Manchester Credit Union
Launched in 2000, South Manchester Credit Union has over 1600 members and has provided loans to a value of £3.7mil in the 10 years since it was started. The credit union is run by a small office team along with dozens of volunteers who staff its regular collection points at 13 venues across South Manchester. www.smcreditunion.co.uk

OpenSpace
OpenSpace is a co-operative co-working project, offering cheap, flexible office space in a creative, friendly atmosphere. It is made up of freelancers and small businesses who were tired of working out of bedrooms and spare rooms and so created an office to work in together, meet clients and be around other people working in the same sector. OpenSpace is located in Manchester. www.openspace.coop

Follow CNW on Twitter and like us on Facebook to receive instant updates on our news and events.

Co-operatives North West is funded by trading income, The Co-operative Enterprise Hub, Social Enterprise North West, European Regional Development Fund and your donations. If you wish to know more about how to donate, please contact mick@cooperatives-nw.coop.