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On behalf of everyone at Selnet, congratulations to Stella Connell OBE, Mohammed Sidat MBE and Kay Johnson MBE, whose work in communities across Lancashire has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2020:
Chief Executive of the Birchwood Centre, Stella Connell OBE has been recognised for services to Homeless and Vulnerable People (based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire)
Birchwood were awarded the Most Effective Collaboration title at Selnet 2018 Enterprise in Society Awards, described as a Birchwood was described as “a leading light for how civil society organisations can embrace social enterprise and yet retain their values, services and character.”
Founder of the IMO Charity in Blackburn, and Director of Selnet, Mohammed Tayyab Sidat MBE has been recognised for charitable services to the community (based in Blackburn, Lancashire)
‘MTS’ founded this charity in 2006 to help support disadvantaged young people and their families in Blackburn and joined the charity as Director of Operations in 2018. Prior to joining the charity, he has worked in Local Government, Prison Services and the NHS. Join IMO on social media.
Founder of The Lancashire and Region Dietary and Educational Resource ‘The Larder’, Kay Johnson MBE was recognised for services to food nutrition and the community in Lancashire, particularly during Covid-19 (based in Preston, Lancashire)
The Larder were recognised as Lancashire’s Environmental Champion at Selnet’s 2019 Enterprise in Society Awards.
“The Larder is a small social enterprise with a big heart and even bigger ambition to achieve ‘food fairness for all’. We do this by providing education and access to good food and believe that everyone is entitled to a healthy, sustainable diet, regardless of income. We promote food that is good for people and for the environment.”
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Selnet believe that social enterprise can transform lives and change the world for social good. Now more than ever, the skills, passion and expertise of social enterprises are needed to support our vulnerable and marginalised communities who are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
We are seeing Lancashire’s phenomenal social enterprises step up, innovate and collaborate to respond to need; whether that’s getting good food out to disadvantaged communities and maintaining critical services for marginalised people, to manufacturing masks for the NHS and providing advice and support for entrepreneurs.
The Selnet team are working hard to continue delivery of the social enterprise partnerships we lead and helping our amazing sector in Lancashire stay connected, up to date and supported:
The Covid-19 pandemic is presenting uncertainty and challenges to our organisations, teams and the communities we support. As your social enterprise network, Selnet are here to help you navigate through this uncharted territory. We will do everything we can to support you now and as we adapt to ‘the new normal’… So keep in touch!
Liz and Team Selnet
Selnet Ltd – Business Continuation Plan (pdf) updated 14/05/20
Funding Updates
The National Lottery Community Fund
Lancashire COVID-19 Community Support Fund – As a result of the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, particularly for those most vulnerable people within our communities, the Community Foundation for Lancashire has launched the Lancashire COVID-19 Community Support Fund for community and voluntary organisations on the frontline.
DEFRA Covid-19 Food Charity Grant Scheme – The grant aims to provide immediate support for a limited period of time to help to feed those most vulnerable due to the economic impacts of Covid-19. This ensures that they can access a continual supply of food in a time of increased demand. This will feed numerous economically vulnerable groups including the homeless, the elderly and those in rehabilitation.
DCMS Loneliness Covid-19 Grant Fund – As part of the Government’s plan to tackle loneliness during the coronavirus lockdown, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched a £5 million to fund national organisations working to tackle loneliness and build social connections.
Good Finance – information, resources and tools designed to support charities and social enterprises navigating COVID-19
Charity Bank – If you would like to receive our regular updates and newsletters please sign up here. Information about Charity Bank’s response to COVID-19 can be found here.
Institute of Fundraising – Information for fundraisers to help everyone in the fundraising community have the right information to guide any action you might need to take
Charity Finance Group– Coronavirus and your charity – What can you do to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus?
Council and Government Guidance
Local Authorities
Social Enterprise Guidance
Employment Related Services Association (ERSA)
School for Social Entrepreneurs
Other resources:
National business and employer support
These links are external and are provided for information only.
Selnet is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained in these links.
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For the second consecutive year, Selnet has been ranked in the top 100 leading UK social enterprises at the NatWest SE100 Awards. This recognition comes after securing £5.5M extensions to 3 Building Better Opportunities projects we lead on behalf of 45 social enterprise partners in Lancashire, securing the Two/Zero social enterprise scale up project, delivering the Building for Sustainability Leadership programme, the success of our annual Enterprise in Society Awards and ensuring the continuation of Lancashire’s crisis support (furniture) service.
The UK’s most impressive start-up social enterprises have been growing at a staggering rate of 355% over the past year – but this was before the onset of the coronavirus crisis. The figure is revealed as part of a series of announcements around this year’s NatWest SE100 Index, the annual list of the UK’s leading 100 social enterprises, compiled by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital.
The top 100 list was released after a rigorous process to assess the best performers of the year from almost 300 applicants. Applicants to the NatWest SE100 were asked to complete a comprehensive survey exploring key aspects of their business performance: from turnover, growth, profit and how effectively they manage their impact, to leadership, resilience and storytelling.
Selnet CEO Liz Tapner said:
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The Sewing Rooms were also included in the Top 100 Index and joined Selnet in proudly representing Lancashire. Co-Founder of The Sewing Rooms, Paula Gamester, is Selnet’s reigning Social Enterprise Champion (Enterprise in Society Awards 2019).
Ben Carpenter, CEO of Social Value UK, which advises on the impact aspects of the SE100, commented:
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More detailed figures will be revealed later this month, in the NatWest SE100 Health & Fitness report – which uses data and insight from two of last year’s SE100 surveys to assess how social enterprises were performing and feeling about the future before the pandemic took hold.
Eddie Finch, partner in the charity and not-for-profit team at Buzzacott accountants, whose team did much of the due diligence for the SE100 judging, said:
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You can find the top 100 and top 25 newcomer lists here, to view and also to download (enterprises are listed in alphabetical order).
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We know that Social Enterprises are at the heart of the fight against coronavirus and that they will be vital for the social and economic recovery from this crisis, but too many are falling through the cracks in Government support.
Selnet are joining the calls of other sector bodies to urge Government to do more to support social enterprises and co-operatives and have signed this letter to the Chancellor containing a four-point plan to give social enterprises the support and recognition they deserve.
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If things remain unchanged half the sector could run out of money by June. The situation is urgent and we need as many organisations as possible to sign the letter. Social enterprises are too important to be ignored and a failure to support them will push back the fight against inequality, poverty and the climate emergency. They are the key to the recovery out of Covid-19 and must be given the support they need.
Add your signature to the form below to demonstrate to Government how important it is to #SaveOurSocents so we can #BuildBackBetter
Action:
Please complete this short form to add your support to our urgent call to the Government for a four-point plan to save the social enterprise sector. By doing this, you are backing our proposal for the below actions from Government:
You can view the full four-point plan here.
You can view the letter to the Chancellor here.
This campaign is a collaboration between Community Leisure UK, Co-operatives UK, Locality, Plunkett Foundation, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Social Enterprise Mark CIC, Social Enterprise UK, Social Value UK, and UnLtd.
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The event Selnet had been planning with Network For Europe on the 1st April was postponed due to Covid-19. We are committed to continuing to lobby in the best interests of our sector and keeping our members informed as the consultation progresses.
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Network for Europe have shared an update including a Briefing Paper that refers to the ERSA-NCVO letter sent last year to the Prime Minister. Click here for the latest update from Network For Europe.
Background and issues for consideration concerning the Government’s proposed Shared Prosperity Fund, which will replace EU structural funding now that the UK has left the EU:
Now that the UK has left the EU, this funding will cease. In order to replace it, the Government has pledged to set up a Shared Prosperity Fund to “reduce inequalities between communities”. There are several issues that will need to be considered when setting up the Fund. These include:
Although the Government has not yet published its consultation on the Fund, a number of organisations have already made comments about the possible design. Although these vary in their emphasis (for example, the Welsh Government is strongly opposed to the idea of administering the Fund from Westminster), most organisations seem to agree that the level of funding should be at least maintained at its current level, it should largely be allocated based on need, and local authorities and partners should be closely involved.
1st April event – postponed
The UK has left the EU, and so EU Structural Funds (ESIF) will start to taper off from 2020-21. The ‘UK Shared Prosperity Fund’ (UK SPF) has been proposed to replace ESIF funding but as yet there is no replacement prepared for when ESIF ends.
Selnet have facilitated EU programme-funded delivery partnerships for 13 years. We are currently managing 3 Building Better Opportunities projects for 50 partners, having secured £14.7M for our sector over 6 years.
Selnet are working to ensure funding is secured for the sector to continue delivering on their missions and building on the impacts being achieved in communities across Lancashire.
As the recognised lead for social enterprise in Lancashire, we are collaborating with Network For Europe to deliver “Beyond the EU Projects What next for Lancashire”; a Consultation Readiness Event to update and prepare our sector in advance of a national consultation on what will replace ESIF.
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New date TBA
Click here for more information and to book online
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Selnet Vice Chair Alistair Clarke has been awarded an MBE for his work with social enterprises across Lancashire. A former radio news editor, Alistair is a chartered business advisor and professional marketer as Director of Tick The Publicity Box CIC – a community interest company established in 2008 to aid social enterprises and charitable groups to raise awareness through marketing, PR and events.
Selnet members will recognise Alistair as one of our specialist Business Advisors, and as the host of our annual Enterprise in Society Awards, most recently held in November 2019 at the Villa in Wrea Green. He is also the Chair of Social Enterprise Solutions CIC in Blackpool.
Alistair said: “I’m delighted and honoured that my work with social enterprises in Lancashire has been recognised. I’m passionate about supporting people and social businesses that want to help others in their community.
“If you’ve ever bought a copy of the Big Issue, been shopping at the Coop, seen a show at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre, or you’re one of the volunteers at Integrate Preston, then you’re already helping social enterprises. It’s about selling goods and services and then using the profits to help others in the community.
“I work with so many people across Lancashire that do amazing work often with vulnerable people, in difficult circumstances and with limited funds and I want to see all of them considered for a national honour in the future.”
Selnet CEO Liz Tapner said “Huge congratulations to Alistair on this fantastic achievement! Alistair is an advocate for the sector in Blackpool and as part of the Selnet Business support team has supported many individuals and organisations across Lancashire to realise both their business and social ambitions. Alistair’s enthusiasm for our sector is huge and this is well deserved recognition”.
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Selnet have again drawn the UK’s social enterprise spotlight on Lancashire, with two members of the team receiving national Top 100 recognition in the UK’s Women in Social Enterprise WISE100 Awards.
The annual NatWest WISE100 recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business. Produced annually by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, the WISE100 – Women in Social Enterprise 100 – recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business.
Selnet CEO Liz was named in the Top 100 having been nominated in the ‘Social Business Leader of the Year’ category, which recognises a CEO or senior manager with more than three years of career experience building revenue and social impact success. This recognition reflects overall qualities as well as successes during the past year. This follows a string of high profile awards including the UK’s most influential Woman in Social Enterprise at the Social Enterprise UK Awards a year ago, and recognition as a Northern Power Woman in February.
Partnership Manager Donna Sadler was also named in the WISE100 as Selnet’s own Anchor-woman, recognising her as a woman who keeps things moving and gets things done, often behind the scenes, and may not necessarily be defined as a leader in social enterprise.
Earlier this year Selnet was recognised as one of the UK’s top Social Enterprises at the SE100 Awards.
‘Wonder Women of UK social enterprise’
Names were selected this year from almost 300 nominations submitted by the public, with the final 100 revealed at a special celebration event at NatWest’s conference centre in Bishopsgate, central London.
The awards event followed our very first WISEUP event – a day of learning and networking for women in the WISE100 network, delving into real-life business challenges and debating the role of women in social enterprise. Speakers on the day included Mursal Hedayat, co-founder and CEO of social enterprise Chatterbox and Sam Smethers, CEO of the gender equality campaigning organisation Fawcett Society. The evening celebration is to be opened by the campaigner against modern slavery and member of the House of Lords, Baroness Lola Young.
The WISE100 judges for this third annual celebration of female leadership were: Mary Rose Gunn, CEO at The Fore; Celia Hodson, founder and CEO at Hey Girls; Niamh Goggin, director at Small Change; Bayo Adelaja, ‘chief do-er’ at Do it Now Now; Parveen Bird, director at The Big Issue; and Jo Hand, founder of Giki. They were supported by a judging panel with representatives from both Pioneers Post and NatWest, including CEO of Social & Community Capital, Megan Peat.
Read more on who made the list in each of the six categories – and for more insight and inspiration from leading women in social enterprise, have a look at the WISE100 Collection.
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Selnet joins national campaign encouraging Lancashire businesses and public sector to use their spending power to build a better world.
Selnet, Lancashire’s Social Enterprise Network, is taking part in the Buy Social for a Better World Campaign urging commissioners and local businesses to spend their money with social enterprises and create a positive impact through their everyday spend.
Social enterprises are businesses set up to build a better world – trading for a social or environmental purpose and re-investing the majority of their profits back towards their social mission. There are over 100,000 of these businesses in the UK, contributing £60billion to the economy.
There are over 2500 social enterprises registered in Lancashire, whose goods and services direct investment into strengthening communities and changing lives; from providing childcare services, work readiness and training support, arts and culture, manufacturing, housing associations, community transport services or horticulture services.
Selnet specialise social enterprise development and growth. They have secured over £15m in contracts and project funding since 2007, to support the sector to achieve real change for disadvantaged people and deprived communities across the Lancashire area.
Selnet, this year ranked as one of the top 100 social enterprises in the NatWest SE100, is encouraging commissioners and companies across the Lancashire area to use their spending power to help address social challenges across the county.
Selnet CEO Liz Tapner, recognised as the UK’s most influential woman in social enterprise, said
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Selnet’s free online Trade Directory showcases the range of goods and services available from Selnet members, categorised into their specialist areas. It is intended to help new customers, commissioners and partners to engage more easily with individual organisations.
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The Buy Social for a Better World campaign is being supported by Hollywood star, Michael Sheen, author and activist Caitlin Moran, actor and comedian Chris Addison and writer Sali Hughes, who have released a series of films as part of an augmented reality experience tied into the broader campaign. Shoppers at The Co-op can scan the packaging of four social enterprise products available in-store and be greeted by one of the celebrities who will describe the social impact they are helping to create by buying them. It is all part of a nation-wide awareness raising drive, mobilising communities to support social enterprises and help transform how we do business.
Commenting on the campaign, Peter Holbrook, CEO of Social Enterprise UK (who are behind Buy Social for a Better World) said:
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Find Selnet’s Trade Directory at https://selnet-uk.com/trade-directory/ and follow #BuySocial for more about the campaign.
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Lancashire awards event showcases region’s top social enterprises, including Child Action North West, Preston Vocational Centre and Lancashire Women
Lancashire is a national hot spot for Social Enterprise; businesses that are changing the world for the better. Social enterprises create employment and reinvest their profits into our local communities; they tackle social problems, improve people’s life chances, provide training and opportunities for disadvantaged people and help the environment.
Each year Selnet, Lancashire’s social enterprise network, hosts the Enterprise in Society Awards to promote, celebrate and reward the achievements of social enterprises across the area.
On Friday, Lancashire’s top social enterprises joined together to celebrate their achievements over the past year. 250 representatives of the sector’s top organisations came together at The Villa in Wrea Green to celebrate excellence in categories including ‘Community Impact’, ‘Enabling Ability’ and the ‘Social Enterprise Champion’.
Having drawn over £12M investment into Lancashire, Selnet have gathered increasing notorieity as one of the UK’s Top 100 social enterprises (NatWest SE100 2019) and are using this platform to draw national attention to Lancashire.
New to the judging panel this year, Paul Halfpenny (Director at Northern Social Investment Group) said:
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Selnet CEO Liz Tapner, named the UK’s current ‘most influential woman in social enterprise’ and top 100 ‘Northern Power Woman’ said:
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All 25 shortlisted organisations were in line for the top award, the judges’ choice “Social Enterprise of the Year”, in what was described as an ‘inspirational but gruelling afternoon’ for the independent judging panel Paula Brown (First Ark), Margaret Porter (Unity Trust Bank) and Paul Halfpenny (Director at Northern Social Investment Group).
Speaking on behalf of headline sponsor First Ark Social Investment, Paula Brown said:
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Speaking on behalf of sponsor Unity Trust Bank, Margaret Porter said:
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The Enterprise in Society Awards 2019 was held in association with First Ark Social Investment. Selnet would like to thank First Ark, Unity Trust Bank, The Sewing Rooms, Connector Media CIC and Recycling Lives for supporting this wonderful event and celebrating Lancashire’s vibrant social enterprise sector. For more about Lancashire’s annual celebration of our social enterprise sector visit awards.selnet-uk.com.
And the winners are…
Start Up Social Enterprise of the Year
The Therapeutic Forest provides free therapeutic woodland sessions for children with additional challenges co-led by Forest School Leaders and a Multidisciplinary Therapy Team. We run programmes for children with complex needs and disabilities as well as projects for young carers in Rossendale.
Small Social Enterprise of the Year
Preston Vocational Centre’s aim is to deliver the highest quality vocational construction training and support to enable young people and adults to gain skills, qualifications and confidence that enhances their potential and builds a positive future.
Large Social Enterprise of the Year
Lancashire Women is a leading charity for Women, established since 1982 and has grown over the years to now support over 8,616 women in the past year (with 4,850 being new women to our service). Lancashire Women value its active volunteers who support delivery of their services. Their vision is where all women in Lancashire are valued and treated as equals. Lancashire Women empower women to be able to transform their lives by bringing them together to: find their voice, share experiences and understanding, develop their knowledge and skills and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about them, so that they can have choices in becoming the individuals they want to be.
Despite challenging circumstances in the sector today URPotential continues to provide and deliver services that demonstrate how we are making a difference to the lives of local people and their families. We continue to support young people and adults, improving their future prospects and life choices. We work with the community to enhance community cohesion and make a difference.
Enabling Ability Award
HIS Provision
Over 18 months, we have developed a number of services at The Grange in Blackpool for people from all backgrounds and with deep social issues. These include free family meals and subsidised breakfasts, a volunteer programme to gain time credits which can be spent on food and clothing, a commercial laundry service so that people can wash their clothes at the Grange, school uniforms, so no child has to go without, a variety of intergenerational projects to bring young and older together, older people have reported that their worries have reduced, incidences of vandalism have reduced, and a fragile sense of community is returning to the neighbourhood.
Environmental Champion
The Larder is a small social enterprise with a big heart and even bigger ambition to achieve ‘food fairness for all’. We do this by providing education and access to good food and believe that everyone is entitled to a healthy, sustainable diet, regardless of income. We promote food that is good for people and for the environment.
Volunteer of the Year
John Raper
Active Lancashire
John joined our project as a participant after having befriended one of our support workers. He attended and facilitated activities in the Hyndburn and Blackburn area until he was ready to go it alone as an independent volunteer. He is now changing people’s lives and giving them hope and a vision to go forward.
Employee of the Year
Rachael Gallagher
Child Action North West
Rachael is passionate, compassionate and builds a fantastic relationship with the young people she supports. In the last year she has supported a high number of young people to return to education and employment, helping them realise their goals and potential. She over achieves against all targets and goes above and beyond. She is an asset to all and makes an outstandingly positive impact on the communities in which she works.
Social Enterprise Champion 2019
Paula Gamester
The Sewing Rooms
A significant part of Paula’s career was forged in the private, public and third sector and possesses over 30 years’ experience of assisting business develop and grow. She has been a director of numerous successful SME’s businesses with some of her work international in nature. Paula is currently an Ambassador on the Government’s Well North Pathway Programme; West Lancs Borough Council’s Placeboard Initiative; Lancashire County Council’s Over 50 Platform and is a current board member of Selnet. She was awarded the High Sheriff of Lancashire Award 2019 in March in recognition for outstanding commitment to the people of the county and was invited to attend Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May.
Social Enterprise of the Year
CANW Solutions CIC was established in 2009 to provide services and opportunities for vulnerable young people and adults. We passionately believe that everyone has the right to achieve their potential, whatever challenges or barriers they face. We work across the Northwest, predominantly in Lancashire.
Congratulations to all!!!
Photos from the night available here
See the story from Twitter here
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