Links to other useful sources of information
Useful Links
Below are a list of organisations that support social enterprises
Tel: 020 7961 6506
Ashoka is the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs, developing models for collaboration and design infrastructure needed to advance the field of social entrepreneurship and the citizen sector.
BASSAC
Tel: 0845 241 0375
The British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (BASSAC) is a membership network of multi-purpose community organisations. BASSAC represents its diverse members at a national level and offers them strategic support.
Black South West Network (BSWN)
5 Russell Town Avenue, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9LT 0117 939 6648
Established February 2000 to be a voice for the Black Voluntary and Community Sector (BVCS) in the South West of England. Aims to increase the effectiveness of the sector through the provision of advice, information, training, representation, publications and development services.
Business in the Community (BITC)[] Business in the Community
Bristol: Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol BS1 4GB Tel: 0117 9897749
Plymouth: 2nd Floor, Alliance House, 161 Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 1HZ Tel: 01752510410
BitC's ProHelp programme is a network of professional firms each offering their support to local voluntary and community groups.
Business Link South West] Business Link
Tel: 0845 6009966
Delivers social enterprise support through Social Enterprise Link
Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO)
1st Floor, Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol BS1 4GB Tel: 0117 981 7727
A registered charity dedicated to extending opportunities to people from the most disadvantaged communities in the UK
Examines and promotes ways in which rural communities across the UK and Ireland can be empowered to shape and influence change and work to ensure that rural priorities are fully recognised by decision makers. They also run the 'Fiery Spirits network' for rural activists.
Ground Floor , Zetland House, 5-25 Scrutton Street, London EC2A 4HJ, T: 020 7033 6970
The Changemakers Foundation is creating a world in which young people have the confidence to lead and everyone understands we need them to.
Co-active Ltd, 25 Wolseley Close, Plymouth PL2 3BY United Kingdom Tel: (01752) 500888
C-Active develop co-operatives, community businesses, community development trusts and other types of social enterprises by engaging with individuals and communities, enabling them to create and use opportunities and fulfil their potential. Co-Active delivers the Social Enterprise Business Link service in the South West
southwest@communitymatters.org.uk
Community Matters is the National Federation for Community Organisations
Community Recycling Network (South West)
57 Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QH, Tel: 0117 942 0142
Supports voluntary, community and not for profit organisations involved in waste minimisation, reuse, recycling and composting in the South West. Provides information, representation, advice and support.
COSMIC
Ridgeway House, Ridgeway, Ottery St Mary, Devon Tel: 01404 813226 Fax: 01404 813226
Cosmic has been training in Information Communication Technology (ICT) for over eight years. Cosmic also provides support for voluntary and community groups in Devon and beyond.
creating:excellence
Ground Floor, East Reach House, East Reach, Taunton TA1 3EN Tel: 0800 328 3234
Aims to improve skills and knowledge of all those involved in sustainable communities work in the South West.
Culture South West, Sterling House, Dix's Field, Exeter, EX1 1QA Tel 01392 229587 Fax: 01392 229395
Culture South West's role is to help improve the quality and range of cultural activity available to those living in or visiting our region and support the further development of our creative industries.
Development Trusts Association (South West)
South West Regional Office, Unit 6, Cranmere Court, Lustleigh Close, Matford Business Park , Exeter EX2 8PW Tel : 01392 824266
The Development Trusts Association is the leading network of community enterprise practitioners dedicated to helping people set up development trusts and helping existing development trusts learn from each other and work effectively.
Directory of Social Change (DSC)
24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP Tel: 020 7391 4800
DSC is the leading source of information and training to voluntary and community sectors worldwide
Envision
Tel: 0845 456 9350
Envision works to support orgnisations in improving their environmental performance. With practical, subsidised support, businesses signed up to Envision have reduced environmental impacts, increased profits and growth while reducing energy and waste costs.
Fair Play South West
Charlton, Abbots Leigh Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PX
Promoting equal opportunities for women in the voluntary, public and private sectors in the South West.
NCVO Sustainable Funding Programme
National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL Tel: 020 7520 2411
A first-stop shop encouraging and enabling voluntary and community groups to increase their financial stability through organisational planning, grant diversification and income generation
The Plunkett Foundation promotes and supports co-operatives and social enterprises in rural communities worldwide.
Smart Resources
SmartResources is a website bringing together reputable information providers and trustworthy and sympathetic suppliers to help charities, voluntary organisations, social entrepreneurs and faith-based communities.
RISE
Unit 1, Cranmere Court, Lustleigh Close, Marsh Barton, Exeter EX2 8PW Tel: 01392 473465
RISE is the voice for SW social enterprise. RISE does not provide direct business support, but activities include
- Developing quality standards for business advice providers
- Facilitating business advice networks where there are gaps
- Networking and sharing information on good practice for social enterprises
- Lobbying and promotion of the sector to policy makers
More than £7 million of RDPE funding has been allocated to this theme, targeted in two ways;
- A grant to support projects from community and social enterprises for the improved delivery of, and access to, basic services
- Advice and support for community and social enterprises that deliver basic services, in order to improve their overall viability
Southbank House, Black Prince Road, London SE1 7SJ Tel: 020 7793 2323
The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise, representing a wide range of social enterprises, regional and national support networks and other related organisations.
South West Councils for Voluntary Service (no website link)
C/o Exeter CVS, Wat Tyler House, King William Street, Exeter EX4 6PD Tel: 01392 202005
South West Forum
Unit 6, Cranmere Court, Lustleigh Close, Matford Business Park, Exeter EX2 8PW Tel: 01392 823758
South West Forum is a strategic organisation of more than 200 local and sub-regional 'umbrella' and intermediary organisations. The key roles of the Forum are to influence policies and decision-making at regional level and promote the development of the voluntary and community sector in the South West.
South West Observatory
East Reach House, East Reach, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3EN Tel: 01823 447390
Set up as a partnership of regional bodies to share the production, analysis and dissemination of intelligence and research related to regional policy in the South West of England.
South West Planning Aid
South West Planning Aid offers free, independent and professional advice and support on planning applications and development plans to individuals and community groups who cannot afford professional fees. Tel: 0117 929 7292
The Princes Trust
The Prince's Trust South West Regional Office, 66 Ringwood Road, Bath, BA2 3JL Tel: 01225 489 930 Fax: 01225 489 931
Provides business planning advice, grants and loans to young people.
123 Whitecross Street, Islington, London, EC1y 8JJ
UnLtd is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs by providing a complete package of funding and support, to help individuals make their ideas a reality
Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE)
Harper Adams University College, Edgmond, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB Tel: 01952 815338
WiRE supports women in rural business by offering members a package of practical business services