Accounting means to put together bookkeeping systems to produce financial statements. An accountant needs to understand your organisational needs, so an understanding of the social enterprise sector may help. Accounts can also offer other services: payroll systems, bookkeeping, tax issues and management accounts.

Find an accountant by recommendations.

Community Accounting Plus  Tel 0115 947 0839

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants  Tel 0141 582 2000

Institute of Chartered Accountants  Tel 020 7920 8100

Accounting packages that may be suitable include Sage, QuickBooks, or Pegasus

Economics term referring to the social, community, commercial or financial benefit which social enterprises deliver (links in with social auditing).

An opportunity to celebrate, promote and advance all forms of adult learning and is co-ordinated by NIACE. www.alw.org.uk/

There are organisations that can offer training and advice on advertising. Contact your local business support agency Business Link North West Tel 0845 00 66 888

There are web sites available for you to advertise your social enterprise on, such as:

• Cheshire and Warrington Social Enterprise Partnership
• seem.uk.net
• socialenterprise.org.uk
• candoexchange.org
• shopsocialenterprise.com

– now superseded by OFSTED (see below)

There are two types of assets - fixed and current.

Fixed assets are anything owned by the organisation that has commercial or exchange value, e.g. buildings, shares, equipment.

Current assets are items that can be turned into cash quickly such as: stock, cash, money owed by debtors.

The benefits of applying for awards can sometimes cover volunteer motivation, free advertising and increased funding. Organisations whose programmes offer awards to social enterprises are:

Enterprising Solutions Awards - from the Social Enterprise Coalition for best social and community enterprises, Tel 020 7793 2319.

See also Entrepreneur

You can either have a business account at one of the main banks or alternatively use a bank that works with organisations that specialise in ‘not for profit’ organisations and charities. Check to see who is offering free banking.
Social Banks:
The Charity Bank Limited  Tel 01732 774040
Unity Trust Bank  Tel 0121631 2743
Tridos Bank  Tel 0117 973 9339
Street UK Tel 0121 230 1060
The Cooperative Bank  Tel 08457 215 215

see Skills for Life

‘the ability to read, write and speak in English, use mathematics and Informastion technology at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society.

In the social enterprise sector bidding tends to relate to bidding rounds for funding applications. This can mean preparing a submission explaining why the funders should give an organisation grant funding. Some bidding rounds are rolling whilst others have specific deadlines.

See also Tendering

Department for Business Innovation and Skills - The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a Government Department in England that was created in June 2009 from the merger of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. www.bis.gov.uk/

Business Link Tel 0845 601138

Enterprise Quest – business tips and ideas. Also offer fact sheets on a selection of business ideas which you can buy individually for a few pounds. They give a clear breakdown of everything you should be looking at for your new business idea. Tel 0191 461 8000.

Cobweb Information for Business – Business tips, ideas and fact sheets. Tel 0191 461 800.

If you are going to incorporate your organisation you will have to register your business name at Companies House, and carry out a search on their website to make sure no one else has the same name. There are restrictions on the usage of some sensitive words such as: ‘Royal’ or Institute’. Further details can be found on Companies House website, Tel 0870 33 33 636.

It is a good idea to check the name is also available as a web address (domain name) and register with organisations such as:
Easily
Easyspace
Low Cost Names
1&1
123reg

Describes in detail the objectives of a business, and the necessary steps to achieve them. You will find an example business plan on the menu.

Organisations that can help with business planning are:

Business Links  Tel 0845 6011038

Cheshire and Warrington Social Enterprise Partnership  

See Support Organisations

Citizens Advice Bureau- CAB offer a service that helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice.

Cheshire West CAB : http://www.cwcab.org.uk/
Cheshire East CAB : http://www.cecab.org.uk/
Cheshire East CAB (North) : http://www.cecab-north.org.uk/index.html
Warrington CAB :  21 Rylands Street Town Centre Warrington Cheshire WA1 1EJ. Telephone: 01925 246994

Cheshire Disabilities Federation-
No longer in existence it has been re-named Cheshire Centre for Independent Living. A network of Disability Services covering Ellesmere Port, Crewe, Halton, Macclesfield, Vale Royal and Warrington. Each service provides information on a wide range of subjects of interest and concern to disabled people, their carers, family and friends. www.cheshirecil.org/  

ALSO:

The Community Development Foundation is a source of intelligence, guidance and delivery on community development in England and across the UK. CDF is a non-departmental public body and a registered charity. http://www.cdf.org.uk

Chief Executive

OR

Cheshire East Council -  Unitary Local Authority serving the east side of the former Cheshire County.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights-
now called Equality and Human Rights Commission -  it has a statutory remit to promote and monitor human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote equality across the seven "protected" grounds - age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. www.equalityhumanrights.com/

Charities are not social enterprises and can only trade under certain circumstances:

• Primary purpose trading
• Beneficiary trading
• Occasional trading

You will need to discuss these options with the Charity Commission. In spite of this, charities can establish a ‘Trading Subsidiary’, which can be in the form of a trading arm, if the trading activities are not directly undertaken to fulfil the charities primary objective.

You need to check that the charity has the authority to support the formation of a trading company. However, a trading arm can come under the heading of a social enterprise.

Charity Commission Tel 0800 2798 798

Cheshire Learning Resource Network –
a partnership of private, voluntary and public sector providers of social care formed to develop opportunities to improve skills in the social care sector. It channels funding in the Cheshire area from Skills for Care (the Sector Skills Council for Social Care.)

Contact Vicki Harper or contact her on 01244 976907

Community Legal Service-
The CLS brings together organisations offering legal and advice services into local networks. www.legalservices.gov.uk/civil.asp

Assessing the community’s needs and support for any new social enterprise venture is vital. By consulting the community and undertaking a marketing plan it will give your organisation a better chance of survival.

You might like to check your latest parish plans for any recent surveys or consultations.

For advice on carrying out a community consultation there are organisations who can offer help:
CVS - Councils for Voluntary Service

• Chester Voluntary Action
• Ellesmere Port Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations
• Voluntary and Community Services Cheshire East
• Voluntary Action Vale Royal
• Warrington Council of Voluntary Service

Also:

• Cheshire Community Action - Tel 01244 323602
• Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation Tel 01952 590777
  

These provide broader economic and social benefits to their communities through commercial activities. They are often community owned.

They can include:

• Development Trusts
• Community Land Trusts
• Community business

See Development Trust Associations 0845 458 8336

A new type of legal structure specially designed for social enterprises. They are limited companies with special additional features created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage. This is achieved by a community interest test and asset lock, which ensures that the CIC is established for community purposes and the assets and profits are dedicated to these purposes.

Registration of a company as a CIC has to be approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role. Contact The Regulator at Companies House Tel029 203 46228

In a social enterprise structure the constitution will be covered in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of a company or Rules of an Industrial and Provident Society. However, there is nothing stopping you from having a model constitution.

You can find templates and examples of constitutions at your local CVS, the Charity Commission Tel 0845 300 0218, or the CIC Regulator Tel 029 203 46228.

Model rules are also available for many Industrial and Provident Societies (depending on their activity), for example the Plunkett Foundation’s ‘Rural Community Shops’ Project (formerly ViRSA) can provide model rules for a community-owned village shop and Wessex Reinvestment Trust can provide model rules for an IPS wishing to attract funding through community share investment. Contact Co-operatives UK’s legal sevices team in the first instance Tel 0161 246 2900.

A cooperative is defined as "An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise".

Cooperatives are classed as social enterprises. They work to specific values and principles, and examples include workers’ cooperatives, consumer and producer coops, cooperative partnerships and cooperative consortia.

Co-operatives UK Tel 0161 246 2900.

Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives (UK) Ltd 020 7331 7216.

Criminal Records Bureau-
Aims to help organisations make safer recruitment decisions, by providing wider access to criminal record information. : www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Credit unions are financial co-operatives owned and controlled by their members. They offer savings and great value loans plus they are local, ethical and know what their members want.

Each credit union has a ‘common bond’ which determines who can join it. The common bond may be for people living or working in the same area, people working for the same employer or people who belong to the same association, such as a church or trade union.

For a list of local offices contact: Association of British Credit Unions (Co-operative lending and borrowing schemes)  Tel 0161 832 3694

The Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector -
a tutor training course and this qualification leads to Associate Teacher Learning and Skills status (ATLS), Licensed Practitioner Status and allows for Professional Formation for tutors in the "associate teaching role”.

A customer is a purchaser, a consumer, a user, or possibly an indirect beneficiary of the products and services produced by an organisation. Customers can be individuals, groups or organisations (such as commercial companies, public sector bodies, or other social enterprises, community groups or charities).

An individual or organisation does not necessarily have to pay for the goods or services to be regarded as such, their needs and expectations should be understood and met. A social enterprise must, by definition, have some paying customers who pay for the goods and services they receive.

For more information contact Institute of Customer Service Tel 01206 571716

Council(s) for Voluntary Service- Offer information and support to local voluntary organisations to enable them to work more effectively by providing advice, consultancy and support on a range of management issues.

In the Cheshire and Warrington  area they are:

• Chester Voluntary Action
• Community and Voluntary Services Cheshire East
• Ellesmere Port and Neston Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations (EPNAVCO)
• Vale Royal Voluntary Action
• Warrington Council of Voluntary Service
  

Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Commission -
formerly Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance (CWEA) is the Sub Regional Partnership for economic development in Cheshire and Warrington. www.cwea.org.uk/

Disability Discrimination Act-
Is aimed at tackling discrimination against disabled people in employment, access to goods, facilities and services.

The DTI use their ‘a guide to good practice’ booklet to offer guidelines on how to define a social enterprise - you can use their 3 tests:

Test 1 Registration – organisations should be registered with Companies House as a legal structure

Test 2 Trading – the social enterprise should be actively trading, excluding income from grants, subsidies etc.

Test 3 Pursuit of a Social Aim - principally re-invests its surpluses in the business or in the community.

Other defining characteristics of a social enterprise may be:

1 Social purpose

2 Trading

3 No distribution for private profit

4 Common ownership

5 Democratic structure

6 Accountability

Department for Education and Skills- Now called Department for Education ,

For advice and information on disabled people’s and employees rights and reviewing premises for disabled access, contact: Equality and Human Rights Commission Tel 08457 622 633.

For general information on disability issues in Cheshire and warrington

• Disability Information Bureau
• Cheshire Centre for Independent Living  
• Vale Royal Disability Services
• Warrington Disability Partnership 

The Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector
A tutor training course and this qualification leads to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills status (QTLS), Licensed Practitioner Status and allows for Professional Formation. The Dtlls course is equivalent to a Certificate in Education (Cert Ed) or PGCE course.

Entry to Employment -
LSC/SFA  programme for young people not ready to participate in Modern Apprenticeships e.g. they have basic skills needs, no qualifications, lack of motivation, no career aim, personal issues.

Employing staff? For help with employment rules and regulations contact ACAS Tel 08457 47 47 47.

The BERR have free publications with information on employment rules and regulations - Tel 9845 015 0010.

Home Office - How to check someone is entitled to work in the UK. Tel 0845 010 6677

Help with finding the right person for your organisation contact Job Centre Plus Tel 0845 601 2001

Business Link Tel 0845 6009 006

A social entrepreneur sees strength and resource in communities and acts on opportunities to activate these qualities.

Organisations that support social entrepreneurs:
School for Social Entrepreneurs
Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs UNLtd
University of Wales Institute Cardiff (MBA) Social Entrepreneurship
Community Action Network helps social entrepreneurs and is a leading organisation for social franchising - Tel 0845 456 2537

Equal Opportunities-
Equal opportunities aim to ensure that all people regardless of sex, race, colour, religion, or physical or mental ability are given equal access to all aspects of society

Equal opportunity issues arise throughout employment, particularly in recruitment, selection and promotion. There are three types of discrimination: direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation.

To find what this includes contact:
ACAS Tel 08457 47 47 47
Equality and Human Rights Commission Tel 0845 601 5901

Factoring or ‘invoice discounting’ is a way of collecting payment of part on an invoice’s amount more quickly than the usual 30-90 days. It is useful when an organisation experiences frequent delays in payments.

For a fee a financial concern will provide a portion of the invoice amount in advance, and receives payment when the invoice are due and give the organisation the balance of what is owned to them. Contact your local bank for advice, or for case studies on how factoring can help improve cash flow: Decision Finance.

Further Education-
Learning or training that takes place after the age of 16. It can be full time or part-time, academic or vocational. Generally speaking, universities provide higher education whilst schools and colleges for the over 16s provide further education.

Feasibility studies are needed to provide an over view of the main issues relating to your business idea. The purpose is to identify any ‘make or break’ issues that would prevent your business from being successful in the market place. A feasibility study determines whether the business idea makes sense and will be achievable.

Finance within social enterprise can cover more than one route. It is recommended by BERR that social enterprises be at least 50% trading to be classed as a social enterprise.

As most social enterprises start up with grant funding or loans, refer also to the grants and loan section as well as to the cash flow forecasting in the business plan. You will should cross reference with other sections in the A-Z which also relate to finance by selecting the category 'Finance'.

Organisations who offer help and advice for food projects are:

F3 – a consultancy enabling local and sustainable food initiatives (a co-operative) Tel 0845 458 9525

SAUSE is a website that has been compiled as a result of research carried out for community food farming, by SUSTAIN. It offers a ‘Toolkit for Community Food Products’ - Tel 020 7837 1228.

Making Local Food Work – an initiative managed by the Plunkett Foundation with the objective to 'reconnect people and land through local food increasing access to fresh, healthy, local food with clear, traceable origins'.

Rural Community Shops (formerly ViRSA – the Village Retail Services Association) – now a project of the Plunkett Foundation, this supports rural communities wanting to set up and run a community-owned shop. It provides practical assistance, a network of community retail advisers, a national office and various publications.

Franchising offers franchisees the advantage of starting up a new business quickly based on a proven trademark and formula of doing business, as opposed to having to build a new business and brand from scratch. You can buy a licence from an existing organisation (the franchisor) and use their trade name, products, services, systems, promotions, training etc.

Community Action Network is a leading organisation for social franchising - Tel 0845 456 2537

Social Firms UK is another organisation that deals with social enterprise franchising - Tel 01737 764021

Grants are given to help an organisation to meet its aims, which could be for a variety of things such as start up, training, or a new project. It is not free money; it will need to be accounted for. The majority of organisations who give grants will have their own guidelines on applying and monitoring the grant that has been offered to you.

If your funding body is not happy with the way in which you have used the grant, in the times allocated, they can ask for it back (clawback). You need to read your conditions carefully to make sure you can achieve your outputs and reach your goals. Help and advice on sourcing grants is found on the Funding page.

The Health & Safety Executive can answer all your questions relating to health & Safety in the workplace - Tel 0845 345 0055.

You can also find publication on health-and safety matters on www.hsebooks.co.uk  Tel 01787 881165.

Heritage Lottery Fund-
Charged with distributing funds from the National Lottery support a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom.
www.hlf.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Institute for Learning : 

The Institute for Learning (IfL) is the professional body for teachers, trainers, tutors and trainee teachers in the further education and skills sector, including adult and community learning, emergency and public services, further education colleges, Ministry of Defence and the armed services, the voluntary sector and work-based learning.

All publicly funded trainers are required to register with IfL. www.ifl.ac.uk/

There are two types of I&PS; a bona-fide co-operative and a society for the benefit of the community.

Co-operative I&PS is a corporate form used by a broad range of enterprises, it will use and observe the international co-operative principles. They will be governed by their ‘Rules’ not a Memorandum and Articles of Association as in company law.

An I&PS Community Benefit Society is a democratic not-for-profit organisation but their primary objective is to serve the broader community, not just membership, it is also governed by its ‘Rules’.

I&PS are governed by the FSA - Financial Services Authority Tel 020 7066 1000

Compulsory insurance types are: Employers’ liability insurance; Motor insurance. Depending on your type of business your organisation may need other specialised types of insurance.

There are other areas of risk for which insurance cover is wise: Building Insurance; Contents Insurance; Business Equipment; Public Liability and Professional Indemnity.

For more help contact:

Association of British Insurers (ABI) Tel 020 7216 7546.

British Insurance Brokers’ Association Tel 0870 950 1790.

Social Firms UK have produced a guide ‘Internet Marketing For Social Enterprises’ available for free download.

LTCW has produced Jargon Buster...

It is a list of terms/acronyms/initials - call them what you will - but its all jargon.

We have attempted to unpack what they all mean to help you through the Learning Jargon Maze. We do not pretend to be the experts and if you have a better interpretation please let us know. You can access this Jargon Buster from this link

Similarly, if you come across any more Jargon (and interpretations) which can be added to the list please contact us : simon@learning-together.co.uk  .

All of the terms in the Jargon Buster are also included in this A to Z list.

Other websites with jargon busters

Charities Evaluations Services - Jargon Buster Group -

www.jargonbusters.org.uk/

The Jargonbusters Group is an informal partnership of funders, government departments, regulatory bodies and voluntary sector organisations.
Jargonbusters aims to help UK funders, the Charity Commission and voluntary and community organisations to be more consistent in the way they use technical terms in voluntary sector management and commissioning.

IT Jargon Buster -

www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/course/jargon/a.shtml
Compiled by the BBC to demystify many ICT terms

Teenage Jargon

www.gotateenager.org.uk/default.aspx?page=jargonbuster.
Put together by teenagers and parents, and presented by ‘Parentline Plus' this dictionary of 'teenglish' (complete with definitions) should help break down the language barrier when communicating with teenagers.

Business Jargon

www.bitc.org.uk/resources/jargon_buster/index.html
Compiled by Business in the Community this offers you definitions of many of the buzzwords in responsible business practice.

You may want to lease premises or equipment for your organisation. You could weigh up the pros and cons of leasing as opposed to buying. It may be advisable to read the small print or get advice from your solicitor or bank manager before you sign up to some more complex leases, such as premises.

For finance leasing contact: Finance & Leasing Association  Tel 020 7836 6511

Lawyers For Your Business gives organisations a free half-hour legal consultation.

For legal help contact the Law Society Tel 020 7405 9075.

Publications
'Keeping it Legal: Legal Forms for Social Enterprises’ - Now updated to 2nd edition.
'Organisational Structures for Rural Social Enterprises'

Legal structures are explained on the SEDD Legal Status page.

Books and fact sheets to help are:

'Keeping it Legal: Legal Forms for Social Enterprises’ from the Social Enterprise Coalition Tel 020 7793 2323. Now updated to 2nd edition.

'Organisational Structures for Rural Social Enterprises' from Bates, Wells and Braithwaite Tel 020 7551 7777.

Learning and Skills Council- now superseded by the Skills Funding Agency – See SFA

ALSO:

Legal Services Commission -
looks after legal aid in England and Wales. It also makes sure that people get the information, advice and legal help they need to deal with a wide range of problems. It works in partnership with solicitors and not-for-profit organisations to provide services to help people in need. www.legalservices.gov.uk/

Co-operatives Magazine

new start Tel 0114 281 6133

Regeneration and Renewal Tel 020 8267 8063

Social Enterprise Tel 0114 2816130

Third Sector

This can provide the evidence you need to prove that your product/service will sell (or not) at that particular time and price. It’s about researching and understanding the product and customer.

For help locally with your marketing plan contact your local Business Link and speak to a business advisor - Tel 0845 058 6644.

For people who want to know more about Internet marketing, Social Firms UK have produced a guide Internet Marketing For Social Enterprises available for free download.

An effective way for your organisation to grow is to focus on its marketing efforts. This means understanding how to get your product or service to the right customer at the right price and at the right time, and also how to keep your customer.

For training books and information on qualifications in marketing contact: CIM - The Chartered Institute of Marketing  Tel 01628 427500.

Social Enterprises can become members of organisations, which can offer a variety of benefits from trading opportunities to help and advice.

Cheshire and Warrington Social Enterprise Partnership
Community Action Network - CAN  Tel 0845 456 2537

Co-operatives UK  Tel 0161 246290

A company’s constitution is contained in 2 documents 'The Memorandum of Association' which contains the objects and powers and 'The Articles of Association' which sets out the internal management structure and procedures.

You are advised to take legal advice as a safety precaution.

For a variety of M&AA examples relating to the different types of incorporation for social enterprises contact: Community Interest Companies Regulator – Companies House  Tel 029 2034 6228

Co-operative Society have their own model for Co-op’s CIC’s

Millennium Volunteers-
Aims to promote and recognise a sustained commitment by young people aged between 16 and 25 to voluntary activity, which makes a clear impact in the community. Now Taken over by "V” the Youth Charity.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations-
The umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England.

Patient and Public Involvement-
Made up of groups of volunteers in communities who are enthusiastic about helping patients and members of the public influence the way that local healthcare is organised and delivered.

Practice Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations-
Designed specifically for voluntary sector organisations, a self-assessment system for identifying and planning organisational development and performance improvement. www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=42

Procurement refers to the overall process of acquiring or selling a product or service.

Depending on the circumstances, it may include some of all of the following: identifying a need, specifying the requirements to fulfil the need, identifying potential suppliers, soliciting bids and proposals, evaluating bids and proposals, awarding contracts or purchase orders, tracking progress and ensuring compliance, taking delivery, inspecting and inventorying the deliverable, and paying the supplier.

Social Enterprise Coalition – offers guidance with procurement for the NHS Tel 020 7793 2326

NCVO Public Service Delivery Network – a network for all those working in and with the voluntary and community sector on public services

Public Procurement ‘A Toolkit for Social Enterprises’.

Securing a property could be the best way of finding the correct premises for you’re organisation.

The advantages of buying are:

• you would have fixed overheads
• the value of the building could increase
• you may have the opportunity of renting out to increase your revenue.

The disadvantages could be:

• it’s not so easy to fold up the organisation 
• you have to budget for the upkeep and security.

You also have to abide by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to make your building accessible for customers and staff. Don’t forget you will need professional input. To find a registered surveyor contact Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors  Tel 0870 333 1600

Social Enterprise London - www.sel.org.uk/publications.html

The Plunkett Foundation - www.plunkett.co.uk/resources/publications.cfm

Quality Assurance -
provides professional recognition and support for those engaged in improvement.

Rural Community Shops (formerly ViRSA) is a project which helps rural communities set up and run community owned shops. The Rural Community Shops section of the Plunkett Foundation website is an excellent place to start as it offers a variety of help and advice. Tel 01993 810 730.

Rural Community Council(s) -
Works to enable communities to improve the quality of life for all people living and working in rural areas. The local on for the Cheshire and Warrington area is Cheshire Community Action : http://www.cheshireaction.org.uk/

Different organisations have different views of what defines rural e.g. population of less than 10.000 people, or distance from major roads. However, both the Census 2004 and The Countryside Agency used population.

For a more specified definition see the National Statistics classification 

Organisations who deal with rural social enterprise:

ACRE Tel 01285 653477

Cheshire Community Action . Tel 01244 323602

Plunkett Foundation Tel 01993 810730

Social auditing is a way of measuring the added value of your organisation (or triple bottom line). It’s how an organisations social, environmental and ethical performance is monitored.

For further information:

Social Audit Network  Tel 01 392 666281

Social Enterprise East Midlands  Tel 0115 845 6434

Speak to other social enterprises for recommendations of local solicitors, or contact Lawyers For Your Business(Tel 0207 405 9075 ) operated by the Law Society, who will help you find a solicitor.

Bates Wells & Braithwaite is a company in London that has specialist knowledge of social enterprise. There website has a variety information which may answer some of your questions relating to social enterprise - Tel 020 7551 7777.

Sport organisations can be social enterprises and can be made financially sustainable and socially inclusive.

SEEM has set up a project to meet these needs and have a dedicated sports worker, who can offer free help and advice For more information on sport in the social enterprise sector contact Phillip Tulba at SEEM  Tel 0115 845 6436.

Sport England  Tel 08458 508 508

Sports & Recreation Trusts Association (SpoRTA)  Tel 020 8317 5000.

Cheshire and Warrington Sports Partnership

One who has a share or interest in an enterprise. All organisations will have stakeholders, they may include: partners, local and non-local community, community workers, direct customers, clients, service users, beneficiaries, board or management groups, finance or grant providers, shareholders, and employees.

For a more in-depth guidance read 'Keeping it Legal: Legal Forms for Social Enterprises’ - Now updated to 2nd edition.

Strategic Area Review-
Ensure that learners in every part of the country have high quality, safe and accessible learning opportunities that are capable of meeting both their needs and those of their employers and local communities.

Statistics are important for confirmation when strengthening and supporting your business and marketing plan to use figures for evidence in your funding applications. To find local, regional and national statistics contact:

Plunkett Foundation

National Statistics

Cheshire East Council - Research and Intelligence.

Cheshire West Council - Research and Intelligence

Listed below are some of the organisations that offer help to social enterprises.
BizFizz
Business in the Community
Business Links Tel 0845 6011038
Cat’s Pyjamas Tel 0151 702 0564
Charity Commission Tel 0845 3000 218
Community Accounting Plus Tel 0115 947 0839
Community Action Network Tel 0845 456 2537
Co-operatives UK
Councils for the Voluntary Sector Tel 0114 278 6636
Development Trusts Association Tel 0845 458 8336
Directory of Social Change
New Economics Foundation
School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Tel 01623 600 650
SEEM (Social Enterprise East Midlands) Tel 0115 845 6434 Social
Enterprise London
VIRSA 01993 814377
Social Enterprise Coalition Tel 020 7793 2323
ProHelp (free professional help) Tel 0870 600 2482

For all your tax and vat enquiries contact the newly merged HM Revenue & Customs  Tel 0845 010 9000.

The following have details of tenders:

Official journal of European Communities

Government contracts typically worth less than £100.000

European online journal

Training offered locally may or may not be accredited you might find some advertised in newsletters and on support organisations websites. Make sure theses agencies are aware of you, and have your details.

On going training available:
SETAS (Social Enterprise Training and Support) Tel 01332 604080
School for Social Entrepreneurs Tel 115 875 8828

University Courses:
Post Graduate courses in social enterprise Centre for Institutional Studies, University of East London
Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Said Business School, Oxford University
University of Wales Institute Cardiff (MBA) Social Entrepreneurship

Volunteer Bureau(x) -
Offer a one-stop resource for information, advice and guidance on all aspects of volunteering both for volunteers and recruiting organisations

Vetting and Barring Scheme

The VBS had been created to help safeguard children and vulnerable adults, following the Bichard inquiry and was designed to check the records of those who wanted to work with vulnerable groups.

Further information from : www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vetting-barring-scheme/

Voluntary and Community Sector -
Broad range of fields including: social care, housing, childcare, disability, health, environment, cultural heritage, the arts, advice, counselling, guidance, education and learning and many more…….

Funds provided by for instance a bank, building society or specialised lending institution to an organisation/individual to start up or develop a business or company where a high degree of risk maybe involved.

For more information and details of funding for social enterprises contact:
The Adventure Capital Fund  Tel 020 748 83455.
Bridges Ventures  Tel 020 7262 5566.

If you are thinking of setting up a social enterprise or expanding an existing enterprise, or moving into contracting or developing a trading activity alongside your organisation’s existing activities, you may find it helpful to visit an organisation which has already done something similar. Funding may be available to both you and the host organisation you choose to visit to help you cover the costs of your visit.

Organisations offering funding for a visit

Development Trusts Association – Tel 0845 458 8336.

NCVO’s Only Connect scheme – Tel 0800 279 8798.

Professionally staffed (paid) organisation - though may also include volunteers, providing a service or meeting a need that is of benefit to the public.

Volunteers in the majority of cases are the backbone of the social enterprise sector. Many boards are made up of unpaid volunteer directors or trustees; some social enterprises are run entirely by volunteers.

Volunteering benefits the social economy and enhances the fibre of local communities. However, they should be covered by ‘Duties of care’ to include training, Employers Liability, insurances, and costs (accommodation, expenses etc).

For more guidance contact:
Volunteering England  Tel 0845 305 6979.
National Council of Voluntary Organisations Tel 0800 279 8798.

Also contact your nearest Council for Voluntary Service who may operate a specialist Volunteer  Bureau

Warrington Learning Partnership –

Provides advice about learning and training requirements as well as what residents think about current learning provision in Warrington.

Organisations who specialise in working with women in business, including social enterprises, are:

Prowess Tel 01603 762355

WIRE Women in Rural Enterprise Tel 01952 815338

See 'Women in Business: The Co-operative Option'. Email helen.seymour@cooperatives-uk.coop Tel 0161 246 2921 or 077 88 190 589.

Women in Rural Enterprise Tel 01952 815 338

Organisations who specialise in helping young people in business are:

The Princes Trust - which help people between the ages of 14 and 30 years. Contact to find an advisor in your area.  Tel 0800 842 842.

Shell LiveWire offer advice and support for entrepreneurs aged less than 30 years.  Tel 0845 757 3252.

Also:

Young Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington