<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xml:base="https://www.voscur.org" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"> <channel> <title>Voscur - Social enterprise</title> <link>https://www.voscur.org/core-categories/social-enterprise</link> <description></description> <language>en</language> <item> <title>Social Economy West – Programme Updates </title> <link>https://www.voscur.org/news/social-economy-west-%E2%80%93-programme-updates</link> <description><div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Social Economy West – Programme Updates </h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_image/public/Logo%20Banner%20-%20Social%20Economy%20West%20Project.png?itok=EpKhYOMw" width="750" height="189" alt="Social Economy West partner logos" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-date-provision-is-due-to-b field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">1 August, 2024</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Voscur are pleased to share some updates from <a href="https://www.businesswest.co.uk/grow/social-economy-west">Social Economy West</a> – a West of England Mayoral Combined Authority initiative, designed to support and grow the social economy in the region. </p> <p>Voscur are currently supporting 26 Bristol-based social enterprises through the programme. Each enterprise attends 1-2-1<strong> </strong>diagnostic<strong> </strong>sessions, within which their key enterprise challenges are assessed and an action plan is co-created to make progress in key objective areas. Through this coaching and support process, Voscur has worked with organisations in a number of ways, including to analyse their current business model, identify key risks, explore opportunities for growth and scale, assess alternative income streams and prepare for social investment. </p> <p><em><strong>“The action plan document was incredibly useful to prioritise tasks and really think through what our next steps should be” </strong></em></p> <p><em>– Social Economy West client </em></p> <p>Central to the program is a series of workshops, which has already included sessions on business modelling, enterprise planning, social investment and scaling impact. Coming up, clients can sign up to workshops on <a href="https://www.vcseacademy.org/events/managing-risk-in-your-organisation/">risk management</a> and impact measurement (<a href="https://www.vcseacademy.org/events/the-cycle-of-impact-measurement-4-key-steps/">measuring and analysing</a>, <a href="https://www.vcseacademy.org/events/impact-series-4-reviewing-reporting-impact/">reporting &amp; reviewing</a>). As the cohort grows, we also look forward to developing peer networking opportunities later in the year. </p> <p><em><strong>“Really looking forward to putting these new skills into practice as we develop our next business plan!” </strong></em></p> <p><em>– Social Economy West client </em></p> <p>We are excited to have launched the Social Economy West mentoring programme, pairing leaders in the social economy sector with experienced social entrepreneur and business mentors. These mentoring partnerships are a chance for social enterprise leaders to connect with an experienced peer, a sounding board to help guide them as they go through organisational change. If you would like to access mentoring support, please <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=trfwTGsYn0OqibQE0GuUYmHcroYQ_6hJuyX65d_-N2lUMVVDUE1aSjRZN0ZHQlBJSUg3MjRGOThMVC4u">click here</a> to learn more and apply. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please reach out to Orlaith (<a href="mailto:orlaith.m@voscur.org">orlaith.m@voscur.org</a>). </p> <p>All Social Economy West opportunities are fully funded for eligible clients (including a special workshop discount code to access sessions via Voscur’s VCSE Academy). To apply and start accessing support, please get in contact with Orlaith McGuinness (<a href="mailto:orlaith.m@voscur.org">orlaith.m@voscur.org</a>), or fill out the form here: <a href="https://www.voscur.org/social-enterprise-support" target="_blank">Social Economy West | Business West</a> </p> <p>We look forward to meeting you! </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-core-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Core Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/social-enterprise">Social enterprise</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-expiry-date field-type-datetime field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Expiry date:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Thursday, 1 August, 2024</span></div></div></div></description> <pubDate>Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:13:17 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Ian Hudson-Murt</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">107006 at https://www.voscur.org</guid> <comments>https://www.voscur.org/news/social-economy-west-%E2%80%93-programme-updates#comments</comments> </item> <item> <title>Unlocking social enterprise at the farm</title> <link>https://www.voscur.org/community-impact/unlocking-social-enterprise-farm</link> <description><div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Unlocking social enterprise at the farm</h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-featured-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_image/public/BDCF.png?itok=BORkIC0i" width="294" height="242" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-credit field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image Credit:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Bedminster Down Community Farm</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-date-provision-is-due-to-b field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Tuesday, 9 July, 2024</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p> </p> <p>As a young CIC, Bedminster Down Community Farm had been struggling to build a strong foundation for its operations, with a new team with limited resources struggling to manage the farm’s finances, volunteer inductions and strategic partnerships.</p> <p>In January 2024, members of the Farm team attended Voscur’s 'Unlocking Social Enterprise' event, part of the <a href="http://www.voscur.org/lap">Local Access Programme</a>. The event included financial skills development, which the team found to be extremely useful, giving them a greater sense of energy for their work.</p> <p>Following the event, in Spring 2024, Bedminster Down Community Farm received two days of enterprise consultancy from a Social Enterprise Associate who is also part of the leadership team at Redcatch Community Garden.</p> <p>The associate provided guidance on setting up template documents, processes and procedures to help streamline the farm’s operations, and introduced the team to various strategic organisations and contacts, resulting in funding grants, corporate support relationships and more volunteering opportunitites.</p> <p>The farm’s directors and team members then came together to develop an action plan, which included reviewing the constitution document, creating a funding costing template and setting up a system for tracking restricted funding projects.</p> <p>Bedminster Down Community Farm now has improved financial management, enhanced volunteer schemes and established partnerships with organisations such as Feeding Bristol, Burgess Salmon and UWE. It has increased visibility and credibility through the farm’s development of its business connections, and now plans to offer corporate volunteering days and community events.</p> <p>Lizzie Stephens, director at Bedminster Down Community Farm, said: “The input has been invaluable, really amazing, we’ve made new connections, increased our resilience and gained so much confidence in running our CIC.”</p> <p> </p> <h3>Are you looking for support?</h3> <p>The story above was from Voscur’s social enterprise support programme, which offers tailored advice, peer support and consultancy to voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations who wish to grow their reach and effectiveness. Examples of some of the areas of consultancy and support on offer are business planning, governance, organisational development, impact evaluation, finance, communication and community engagement. </p> <p>If you would like to find out more about one-to-one advice, peer support, training, and discounted expert consultancy for social enterprises, please <a href="http://www.voscur.org/local-access-programme/contact">contact us</a>.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-core-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/health-and-wellbeing">Health and wellbeing</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/core-categories/neighbourhoods-and-communities">Neighbourhoods and communities</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/social-enterprise">Social enterprise</a></div></div></div></description> <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:00:44 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>rachel.v@voscur.org</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">106887 at https://www.voscur.org</guid> <comments>https://www.voscur.org/community-impact/unlocking-social-enterprise-farm#comments</comments> </item> <item> <title>Social Enterprise Leadership Development Programme 2023-24</title> <link>https://www.voscur.org/news/social-enterprise-leadership-development-programme-2023-24</link> <description><div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Social Enterprise Leadership Development Programme 2023-24</h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_image/public/Social%20Enterprise%20Leadership%20Development%20Programme.png?itok=GMXKADb3" width="750" height="586" alt="Social Enterprise Leadership Development Programme. Starting in November 2023. Voscur. Clore Social Leadership." /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-date-provision-is-due-to-b field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">11 September, 2023</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><strong>The Social Enterprise Leadership Programme is a 5-month leadership development opportunity. It is designed to increase the knowledge, understanding, capability and confidence of Bristol’s VCSE sector social enterprise leaders through a programme of interactive, challenging, supported learning. The programme is hosted by Voscur as part of our work within the Bristol Local Access Programme and will be delivered by Clore Social Leadership.</strong></p> <p>The Social Enterprise Leadership Programme outcomes are:</p> <ul> <li>To equip VCSE organisations with skills to trade and successfully apply for social investment,</li> <li>To increase leadership ability and confidence,</li> <li>To enable thriving social enterprise peer support networks<br /> </li> </ul> <p>The complete course will cover:</p> <ul> <li>Trading skills – theory based social enterprise skills</li> <li>Leadership – tailored sessions to support both new and experienced leaders to improve their practice</li> <li>Risk – management, mitigation, supporting Boards in taking managed risks</li> <li>Inspirational social enterprise leader presentations and teaching</li> <li>Personal growth and reflection – practical interactive sessions with opportunity to practice skills between sessions</li> </ul> <h4><strong>Who is it for?</strong></h4> <p>Individuals in a leadership position of a social enterprise in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and based in the West of England (Bristol, Bath &amp; North-East Somerset, North Somerset, or South Gloucestershire).</p> <p>The programme is accessible and inclusive to a wide range of organisations. To be eligible your organisation should be:</p> <ul> <li>Based in the West of England (Bristol, Bath &amp; North-East Somerset, North Somerset, or South Gloucestershire),</li> <li>Trading/generating income with a primarily social purpose, designed to benefit society and/or the environment, and</li> <li>Constituted, with a bank account, a Board of at least two unrelated directors/trustees and an <a href="https://communityinterestcompanies.blog.gov.uk/2019/08/07/asset-locked-body-mystery-revealed/">Asset Lock</a> in place e.g. CIC, CIO, registered charity</li> </ul> <p>Priority will be given to social enterprises serving communities experiencing inequality within the West of England.</p> <h4><strong>Programme Elements and Key Dates</strong></h4> <p>The programme will run between November 2023 and March 2024, with a blend of online and in-person sessions, held at community venues within Bristol. It will include the following elements:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Discover Programme</strong><br /> A 4-week course, combining online self-guided learning with 2 in-person sessions, to explore the fundamentals of leadership and encourage participants to reflect on themselves as leaders.<br /> <em>Online start date: 6th November<br /> In-person sessions: Friday 10th November 10am-12pm &amp; Friday 1st December 10am-12pm</em><br /> </li> <li><strong>Lumina Spark</strong><br /> An individualised psychometric profile tool providing highly interactive experiences for learners to explore their strengths and development areas, giving them a foundation upon which to further their leadership skills and behaviours.<br /> <em>Monday 22nd January 10am-4pm</em><br /> </li> <li><strong>Stepping Into Leadership Masterclasses</strong><br /> A series of masterclasses aimed at those who are new to leadership or have received little formal training in management.<br /> <em>Wednesday 7th February 10am-1pm, Wednesday 21st February 10am-1pm &amp; Wednesday 6th March 10am-1pm</em><br /> </li> <li><strong>Managing Risk Workshop</strong><br /> A half-day in-person workshop to explore risk management, mitigation, and techniques for working effectively with boards to support them in taking managed risks.<br /> <em>Late February - exact date TBC</em><br /> </li> <li><strong>Expert Speaker Series</strong><br /> An exclusive opportunity to hear from a diverse range of social leaders.<br /> <em>December, January &amp; March - exact dates TBC</em><br /> </li> <li><strong>Celebration Event</strong><br /> <em>Thursday 21st March – time TBC</em></li> </ul> <h4><strong>Programme Fee</strong></h4> <p>Thanks to the support and funding of the Bristol Local Access Programme and the Access Foundation, we are able to offer this programme at a highly subsidised fee of £100. This is part of our commitment to provide accessible skills and development training to all. It is a unique opportunity to access over £1,000 worth of leadership skills and development training for just £100. </p> <h4><strong>Programme Commitment</strong></h4> <p>We want this programme to benefit those that are committed to developing their own social enterprise approach and making changes in their organisation. Due to the limited number of places available, we kindly ask that you take the time commitment into consideration before applying for this programme and, if necessary, speak to your manager and/or team to ensure that your attendance and participation on the programme can be fully supported.</p> <h4><strong>How to apply</strong></h4> <p>Please read our <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NlxBwYAw23I6cQZVQ8jQbJ1NzQ6ehnbF/edit?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=102949107481050291479&amp;rtpof=true&amp;sd=true">application guidance</a> before completing the following online forms:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://forms.office.com/e/rwvWsnhn3a">Application form</a></li> <li><a href="https://forms.office.com/e/JeSQE5nvns">Diversity monitoring form</a></li> </ul> <p>The application deadline is<strong> Sunday 8th October 2023 at 11.59pm.</strong></p> <p>There are limited places available. All applications will go through a moderation process to assess eligibility and suitability, taking into the total number of applications received and programme capacity. Applicants will be informed about the outcome of their application by <strong>Friday 20th October. </strong></p> <p>Equity and diversity are very important to our diverse VCSE sector and population, and we actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities. </p> <p>If you need any support with your application, please contact Rachel Varley on 0117 909 9949 or email <a href="mailto:rachel.v@voscur.org">rachel.v@voscur.org</a></p> <h4><strong>Partners</strong></h4> <p><strong>Clore Social Leadership</strong><br /> Cultivating positive social change is why we exist. Our primary goal is to make leadership development accessible and affordable to every social leader in the UK, supporting them to be resilient, self-aware, and able to tackle the social challenges of the 21st century. Through our programmes we develop leaders who have the skills, knowledge, and networks to transform their communities, organisations, and the world around them.</p> <p>Since 2010, we have worked with 4,000 leaders from nearly 3,000 social change organisations. Our experience covers diverse UK place-based communities including Hull and East Yorkshire, Wales, Oxfordshire, Leeds, Bradford, the South West, and the South East. Our impact spans communities of practice including Women and Girls’, Housing and Homelessness, Migration and Refugee, Criminal Justice, Racial Justice, and Youth.</p> <p><a href="https://cloresocialleadership.org.uk/">https://cloresocialleadership.org.uk</a></p> <p><strong>Voscur</strong><br /> Voscur is the support and development agency for Bristol's Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. This Social Enterprise Leadership Programme is part of our work within the <a href="https://www.voscur.org/local-access-programme">Bristol Local Access Programme</a>, which offers enterprise development services, small grants and up to £1m of investment, and aims to remove the barriers to funding and support that social enterprises often face. </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-core-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Core Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/social-enterprise">Social enterprise</a></div></div></div></description> <pubDate>Mon, 11 Sep 2023 10:18:59 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Anonymous</dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">105259 at https://www.voscur.org</guid> <comments>https://www.voscur.org/news/social-enterprise-leadership-development-programme-2023-24#comments</comments> </item> </channel> </rss>