Co-operative Enterprise Hub doubles funding for community businesses

The Co-operative Enterprise Hub works with regional and national groups of experts to bring organisations in the UK the best advice, training and consultancy on how to set up, run and grow a sustainable co-operative business. The Hub aims to expand the co-operative economy in the UK by creating strong, ethically-led businesses with a deep sense of social responsibility.

The initiative includes both grant and loan assistance, as follows:

• Grants:
  • Up to £5,000.
  • Only considered in conjunction with a loan application.
  • Grant recipients must have received advice and training through the Enterprise Hub.

• Loans:
  • Unsecured loans through the Co-operative Loan Fund
  • Loans can range from £5,000 to £75,000.
  • Low interest rates.
  • Repaid over ten years.
  • Loans are available for co-operatives that require finance to:
    • set up a new enterprise;
    • expand an existing enterprise;
    • assist employee buyouts or company successions;
    • purchase a property or business; and
    • purchase capital equipment or create working capital.

To qualify for support, applicants must have their registered office in the UK and be either:

• a co-operative, or soon to be a co-operative; or
• an incorporated body or soon to be incorporated.

The Co-operative Group has recently doubled the funding for its Enterprise Hub scheme in the hope of fostering a new community business every day for the rest of the year. The total funding available will now reach £15 million over the next three years.

Applications for assistance may be submitted at any time.

For more information go to: http://www.co-operative.coop/

(Source: Grantfinder)

MEDIA TRUST - FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Are you part of a community that feels voiceless due to long-term illness, disability, or older age? Does your community feel unheard? You could have a voice using digital media. We can support you to find it.

We will give seven successful applicants seed funding of £500 alongside a package of support, including training, mentoring by media professionals, and outreach support on how to run your own project.

All applicants need to be able to identify as feeling voiceless due to long-term illness, disability, or older age.

Applications for support are now open, go to Community Voices and get your voice heard.

http://www.mediatrust.org/about-media-trust/news/new-community-voices-grants-available-apply-now/

!! COMMUNITY VOICE OPPORTUNITY !!

A wonderful opportunity for groups in individuals and established groups in Powys.

The Big Lottery has launched the 'Community Voice' Programme and has invited County Voluntary Councils across Wales to submit a portfolio of projects which will strengthen the influence of local communities on public services. PAVO is looking for up to 10 different projects, which we can include on our submission.

Each project will need to demonstrate how it influences the future of Powys' single Delivery Plan, 'One Powys'.

Are you interested in:

• Giving your group or community the power to influence decisions in your community?
• Developing projects that meet local priorities and need?
• Helping communties to influence services provided to them, so that needs are better met?
• Getting involved in teh scrutiny of public services?

An information session will be held on the 28th June 2011, Llandewi Village Hall 2.00 - 3.30, where we will inform you of the Programme and have staff available to discuss your ideas.

An Expression of Interest pack is available from:

Mandy Phillips, PAVO, Marlow, South Crescent, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 5DH email: mandy.phillips@pavo.org.uk or telephone: 01597 822191

Deadline for all Expressions of interest will be 22nd August 2011.

Keep watching this space for more details!

GUARDIAN CHARITY AWARDS

The annual Guardian Charity Awards seek to recognise and encourage small and medium-sized charities that are improving social wellbeing in its broadest sense by delivering practical solutions to present-day problems.

Eligible charities must have been registered in the United Kingdom for more than two years and have an annual income of between £5,000 and £1.5 million.

Winners each receive £6,000, one year free NCVO membership and a tailored package of support from the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI) that includes mentoring, expert advice and training, and a media package from the Media Trust.

The deadline for applications is 15 July 2011 (midnight).

For more information go to:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

National Lottery Awards 2011 - Powys group through to Semi Finals

Public voting for the semi-finals of The National Lottery Awards is now open. Voting for the semi-final closes at midday on 20 June.

A Powys Project has been nominated for the Best Environment Project Award. Ten Green Bottles in New Radnor, Powys is a social enterprise. Local people and businesses donate their glass waste to the project and volunteers turn it into glass gifts, boxes, jewellery and more, which are then sold in the project’s shop and online.

To vote for the project go to:

http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/best-environment-project/113/

(Source: National Lottery Good Causes)

BBC PERFORMING ARTS FUND 2011

From 2011 the BBC Performing Arts Fund (PAF) will choose an art form to focus on for each funding round. In 2011 the chosen art form is dance.

The scheme will support the development of groups, helping them to increase their skills and engage new audiences, raising their profiles in their communities.

Project examples may include the following:

• Sending group members on training courses or summer schools.
• Running workshops encouraging participation.
• Bringing in external consultants to improve performances and run master classes.
• Establishing partnerships between schools and other community organisations.
• Commissioning new performances.
• Providing opportunities for new and innovative performances.

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available from a £200,000 fund.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 12 July 2011.

(Source: Grantfinder)

CHILDREN IN NEED SURGERY - POSTPONED

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Children in Need Surgery has been postponed. We will be re-organising in the near future, so watch the blog for more information.