Social Enterprise - Information Sheet

A Social Enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or the community.

Social Entrepreneurs use business methods to achieve social aims. The Big Issue, The Co-operative Group, Café Direct & Merseyside’s own Bulkly Bob’s are examples of some of the best-known Social Enterprises in the UK. They channel the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector into the problems facing communities in order to find solutions.

What’s on?
Events in and around Luton

You can view events and register your own events on the website www.bookevents.org

Bedfordshire and Luton Enterprise Group	Sub regional group with representation from councils and service provider organisations. Contact via Beds County Council Business/Enterprise Team or Luton Borough Council's Business and Economy Team, Regeneration Service: Tel: 01582 547383 or 546444
Bedfordshire and Luton Social Enterprise Network (BSEN)	Membership Line: 01582 878203 Telephone: 01582 477259 Website: www.bsen.org
Business Link East of England	Telephone: 08457 171615 Website: www.businesslink.gov.uk
Cabinet Office	Website: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/social_enterprise
The Chamber, Bedfordshire and Luton	Telephone: 01582 522448
Community Matters	Telephone: 020 7837 7887 Website: www.communitymatters.org.uk *
Community Devt. Trust Strategy Group	Contact the Enterprise Manager LBC Regeneration Service for information. Tel: 01582 546444
Development Trust Associate (DTA)	Telephone: 0845 458 8336 Website: www.dta.org.uk (note LBC is a member*)
Nearbuyou	Telephone: 01727 813401 Website: www.nearbuyou.co.uk
Social Enterprise Coalition	Telephone: 020 7793 2324 Website: www.socialenterprise.org.uk
Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE)	Telephone: 0845 606 6296 Website: www.seee.co.uk (note LBC is a member)
Voluntary Action Luton	Telephone: 01582 733418 Website: www.voluntaryworks.org.uk/valuton
Wenta	Telephone: 0845 371 0891 Website: www.wenta.co.uk

Note for * Contact the Enterprise Manager, LBC, Regeneration Service if you would like information accessed.

Publicity
Contact the following to put your articles in.
In Touch Magazine – operated by SEEE – useful to include articles
about your organisation’s activities. Contact as per the table above.

LutonLine, operated by Luton Borough Council.
Contact: Amanda Hunt Telephone 01582 547325.

Support from Luton Borough Council

Networks

Community Development Trust Strategy Group, Luton
Aims: to support Trust/similar organisations operating from a substantial base in Luton. For locally owned and controlled organisations please contact:
The Chair
Lewsey Farm Learning Centre Trust
92 Tomlinson Avenue
Lewsey Farm
Luton,LU4 OQP
Tel :01582 691990.

LBC Support to the group:
Enterprise Manager
Luton Borough Council
Regeneration Service
Town hall,
Luton, LU1 2BQ
Tel: 01582 546444 or 547383.

Luton Social Enterprise Group
In conjunction with partners reviewing proposal for group, to co-ordinate and support events & initiatives for social enterprises in Luton.

Grant and Funder Finder
Funding search services for community organisations from Luton Borough Council. Also offers support to those groups making applications, please contact:
Community Funding Manager
Tel: 01582 546271 or 547203.

IIC (Investing in Communities)
In collaboration with Bedfordshire County Council as joint managing agents, supporting the IIC Enterprise strand, particularly assisting access to business start-up services, and initiatives to encourage people to consider starting their own business.

Events and Initiatives
Support a range of initiatives and events generated over the year, information for these will be sent out prior to events in conjunction with partners.

Books and Toolkits etc
We hold a range of books e.g. Good Trustee Guide, Fabulous Beasts, and Social Enterprise Toolkit and other items, for further details please contact:
Enterprise Manager
Tel: 01582 546444 or 547383

Ad-hoc Support to Organisations

A range of support is given to local Trust organisations including:

general and specific information, comments on fund applications;
grant and Funder Finder services;
attending Board meetings;
comments on proposatls, networking contacts, best practice information etc.

For more information please contact:
Enterprise Manager
Luton Borough Council
Regeneration Service 01582 546444 or 547383.

Information Mail Out
Recipients receive a mail out of a range of information provided to inform and encourage organisations and individuals particularly within the Trusts/similar organisations in Luton. If you/your organisation would like to receive email copies please contact:
Enterprise Manager
Luton Borough Council
Regeneration Service
Tel: 01582 546444 or 547383.

ESF Capacity Building Projects
Following on from the success of the first Capacity Building Bid 1 Luton, the Council was successful in getting two bids for the benefit of the local community.

The two ESF projects in 2007-2008 were:-
a) Capacity Building 2 Luton - provided access to a range of activities for eligible trust organisations and their representatives (board, members, volunteers and staff) in particular, and
b) Sundon Park Enterprise Project Luton - providing access to a range of activities for eligible trust organisations and their representatives (board, members, volunteers and staff) and additionally for the local community and local business benefit too. Partners in this bid are the Council, The Chamber and the Sundon Park Centre Trust.

The ESF project cessation date was 30th June 2008 and 31 July 2008 respectively.