Social Enterprise in West Sussex
The term social enterprise is used to describe a business model
where profit is reinvested principally to fulfil social objectives
or to grow the business, rather than by the need to maximise profit
for shareholders and owners.
Examples of social enterprises include some cooperatives and staff
mutuals, social firms, community interest companies, some companies
limited by guarantee or shares, and community enterprises.
West Sussex County Council is leading a network of organisations
which provide countywide infrastructure support for social
enterprises. We focus our efforts both on start ups and on existing
social enterprises that wish to grow, as well as promoting and
raising the profile of social enterprise and providing access to
support, advice and information.
If you'd like to learn more about social enterprise or about the
opportunities for support and information available, please visit
the West
Sussex Social Enterprise Network (WSSEN) web site.
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Social Enterprise Fund
West Sussex County Council invites organisations to submit
proposals for viable business ideas to be delivered for the benefit
of the economy, the community and the environment of West
Sussex.
We are looking for proposals that meet one or more of West
Sussex County Council’s
Performance Framework objectives and, in particular, that
contribute to supporting and delivering the ‘Minding Our
Businesses’ and ‘Active Communities’ strands. The Guidelines (see
Supporting documents below) give full information.
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Help and Advice
WSCC, in collaboration with partners such as WSSEN and local
Councils for Voluntary Service (CVSs) will hold a number of
workshops to provide information about the SEF and to help with the
development of proposals. While attending these workshops is
purely voluntary and will not determine the success (or otherwise)
of your application, we expect them to provide useful information
on the process and on how to develop your idea.
To book a place at one of these workshops, please email social.enterprise@westsussex.gov.uk
Half day workshops
Four workshops to explain how the SEF will work,
give an overview of the criteria on which applications will be
assessed and the processes involved will be held on the mornings
of:
- 22 May - Crawley (Crawley Library)
- 25 May - Worthing (Field Place)
- 28 May - Billingshurst (Billingshurst Community and Conference
Centre)
- 31 May - Chichester (University of Chichester).
Full day workshops
Two further workshops will be held to help you to develop your
idea. These will give an overview of ideas and business plan
development, as well as information about preparing budgetary
information to help you to get your SEF bid ready and will be held
on:
- 26 June (north of the county-venue to be confirmed);
and
- 29 June (south of the county-venue to be confirmed).
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Timescales
- Deadline for receipt of completed forms, whether by email or
post: Midnight on 30 July 2012.
- Meeting of independent panel of experts to discuss entries:
September
- Announcement of winners: October.
- Award ceremony: December.
For queries on the SEF please email social.enterprise@westsussex.gov.uk
For further help, please contact WSSEN
or your local CVS.
The Social Enterprise Fund (SEF) was established in 2011/12 as
one of a number of initiatives to support the social enterprise
sector in West Sussex and to promote social enterprise throughout
the county.
Supporting documents
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