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The Selnet ‘Enterprise in Society’ Awards are open!

Social enterprises based or operating in Lancashire – highlight your work and celebrate your impacts at the 2021 Selnet awards!

Over the last 18 months, social enterprises across Lancashire have adapted and persevered in response to the Covid pandemic, supporting and empowering Lancashire communities. On 2nd December, our Enterprise in Society Awards will highlight and celebrate impacts made across our exceptional business community.

 

Hurry, the deadline for nominations is Monday 4th October at 5pm!

Judges are looking for examples of work over the last 18 months in Lancashire (includes any Lancashire districts, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen) to justify awarding the top prize in each category.

 

The Categories

Start-up Social Enterprise of the Year

For social enterprises that have formed since 1st January 2019. The judges will consider your social mission, why you started up and what you have achieved.

 

Small Social Enterprise of the Year

For social enterprises under 10 staff (but no limit on volunteers). The beating heart of Lancashire’s social enterprise sector may be small but achieve great results. So, don’t be shy, really impress the judges with details of your ethos, your team’s skills and experience and how you support society.

 

Large Social Enterprise of the Year 

For social enterprises with 11 or more staff. The powerhouses of social enterprises. Show the judges how you bring about big changes to people and the planet.

 

Covid Hero Award

A special category for 2021 celebrating an individual’s impacts. Nominate the person or team who achieved something out of the ordinary! It may be staff working on a new project, volunteers, or someone who has overcome adversity. This will be a tough category for the judges so give them lots of reasons why they should award it to your nominee.

 

Work or Training Social Enterprise of the Year

Given the amazing success of Building Better Opportunities and other support programmes in Lancashire, Selnet is blown away by the efforts that organisations go to in helping the most vulnerable in society move closer to the workplace. Within your application, give the judges a couple of real-life case studies to demonstrate how you have changed lives.

 

Employee of the Year

Tell the judges about your employee or your colleague who goes way beyond their job description. Give some examples of real differences they have made.

 

Striving for Equality

When equality, diversity and inclusion are present Social Enterprises reap the rewards. We are looking to highlight SE’s who have fantastic D & I initiatives and are able to demonstrate their impact when working on behalf of others to tackle inequalities. Tell us about how you are advancing equality for your target groups e.g. race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality, social mobility, disability, health including mental health or age.

 

Environmental Champion of the Year

Lancashire, our people and our companies are making huge strides to improve the environment. Some towns have declared a Climate Emergency, some businesses are reducing their environmental impacts, addressing the global issue. The judges will be looking at practical measures being taken by our sector to improve Lancashire and how it fits into a wider strategy.

 

Volunteer of the Year

We love this category! Tell the judges why that person volunteers, what they do, about their approach to helping others and highlighting the impacts they have achieved.

 

Social Enterprise Champion 2021

This is always a tough category, but the judges will consider individuals who are shining examples of social enterprise in action in Lancashire. Past winners have been exceptional leaders in their field who turned an idea into a social enterprise, enabled positive change and who carry the Social Enterprise banner with them in everything they do.

 

Nominate

Download a nomination form

Your nomination should focus on how the work you do benefits society and its wider impact for Lancashire.

We ask independent judges to form an opinion of all the nominees within each category. The judges may not know your organisation and the content within your application is all they have to assess the most worthy winner of an award.

Make sure you tell them everything you want them to know!

Tell them how you:

  • Reacted to the Covid pandemic and increased the social benefits delivered
  • Increased or have sought opportunity/s to increase turnover and secure future sustainability i.e., new services developed, or contracts awarded
  • Expanded or consolidated the business
  • Considered the environment
  • Have made an impact and achieved your goals

 

Sponsor an Award

 

The Big Night

The Selnet Enterprise in Society Awards 2021 will be staged at the luxurious 4* Crow Wood Hotel & Spa in Burnley.

Join us for an unforgettable evening that celebrates: hard work, huge social impact and the strength and resonance of businesses that operate for GOOD!

Thursday December 2nd 2021 at 7pm till Midnight

3 course meal, live entertainment, awards presentation and a great opportunity to network with other social enterprises in Lancashire

Tickets are £45.00 each or a table of 10 for £400. Book by phone on 01772 200690 or email awards@selnet-uk.com stating the number of tickets required for your organization.

 

We can’t wait to hear about your amazing achievements and celebrate with you on the night!

 

See photos from our past Awards Events

 

 

 

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Selnet Finalist in the UK Social Enterprise Awards

Selnet named a finalist in The Education, Training & Jobs category of prestigious national Awards, recognising businesses which are transforming society.

The Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, ‘Selnet’ has been shortlisted in the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising it as one of the leading social enterprises in the country.

Selnet based in Preston is a UK finalist in the ‘Education, Training & Jobs’ category. It is a business that exists to enable, secure and develop frontline social enterprises across Lancashire.

Since 2007 Selnet have been supporting social enterprises across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen to start-up, connect, develop and grow. By developing and managing projects like Building Better Opportunities, Selnet lead programmes so social enterprises can secure revenue through their specialism; all to deliver contracts that transform lives. Selnet CEO Liz Tapner MBE said:

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“Before Covid hit, we had just relocated to a social enterprise landlord. 3 months later the team were all working from home, maintaining existing contracts that support highly vulnerable people, securing new opportunities and maintaining communications across the network – all enabling the sector to survive, adapt and feel empowered.”

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As lockdown covered our communities, Selnet worked intensively to maintain delivery, working with 5 specialist social enterprise partnerships and commissioners so that essential services for disadvantaged people could continue.

While maintaining and supporting teams delivering projects across Lancashire, Selnet worked hard to enable sustainability, resilience and impact of social enterprises.

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We worked hard supporting frontline social enterprises whose services have never been more needed. We bid, secured and mobilised a high-level ERDF funded business start-up and growth support programme, ‘DR!VE’ – we and our 4 delivery partners have all invested our own reserves, to make this support possible; all specialising in social enterprises – and blimey its good timing!

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On hearing the news of being shortlisted, Selnet’s senior management team Liz Tapner MBE and Donna Marshall were delighted.

Selnet lead programmes creating opportunities for social enterprises to support our  communities, enabling social entrepreneurs to develop skills and achieve their ambitions, respond to challenges, tackle inequalities, and empower our communities.

Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. There are 100,000 social enterprises in the UK contributing £60bn to the UK economy, each one being set up to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face from homelessness to the climate emergency.

The UK Social Enterprise Awards run by Social Enterprise UK, the national membership body for social enterprises, recognise the nation’s most pioneering social enterprises.  Selnet will be joining other shortlisted organisations at the prestigious awards ceremony held at London’s iconic Guildhall on 8 December.

This year the Awards featured two new categories one recognising a Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice and the other for the Social Enterprise Team of the Year – a category specifically acknowledging those teams which have demonstrated the strength, passion and resilience so characteristic of the social enterprise sector over an extremely challenging year.

Previous winners have included a company set up to tackle furniture poverty, an IT consultancy employing people with autism and a community energy co-operative – demonstrating just how diverse the social enterprise sector is.

 

Commenting on the Awards, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said:

The UK Social Enterprise Awards are back, bigger and better than ever before. We have had a record number of applications this year, all of which have showcased the strength, dynamism and resilience of the social enterprise community through what’s been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period.

Over the course of the pandemic social enterprises have been going above and beyond the call of duty to support their teams, the individuals, and communities they work with, showing the grit, determination and innovation so inherent to this sector. They’ve been operating directly on the frontline of the crisis, launching new products and pivoting their business models to meet the needs of communities and society as a whole.

The Awards are all about celebrating the achievements of the UK’s social enterprise movement, which is showing us that another way of doing business is possible – one which has never been more important as we look to build back better and address the climate emergency.”

 

Are you a Lancashire social enterprise? Join Selnet!

If you are trading for a social or environmental purpose, we can support you to start-up, develop, connect and grow. Being part of Lancashire’s wider social enterprise community enables your access to additional services and resources, up-to-date sector news, funding information, networking events, training opportunities and a platform to promote your business.

For more information speak to our Membership Lead Officer Yvette Holden on yvette@selnet-uk.com or 01772 200 690 or visit www.selnet-uk.com/join-selnet

 

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Selnet in UK’s Top 100 Social Enterprises – for 3rd year!

The annual NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards recognise the most outstanding achievers in UK social enterprise, with top awards in six categories this year.

The NatWest SE100 celebrates the success of socially-driven ventures across the UK – by naming the most impressive 100 social enterprises of the year in a top 100 Index, and giving six SE100 Social Business Awards for the most outstanding achievers. It was created by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest more than 10 years ago and aims to support social enterprises not only through recognising their achievements but also by sharing their stories and expertise through articles, films and networking opportunities.

NatWest Social & Community Capital’s Megan Virrels said: “It’s always one of my highlights reviewing the SE100 entries and seeing how many examples of resilience, courage and perseverance there are in our sector. The winners have all shown incredible dedication and commitment to delivering a positive future for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged among us. I hope you all feel rightly proud in the difference that you are making to communities across the UK and beyond.”

 

Selnet recognised for 3rd consecutive year

Selnet exists to enable, develop and support the vital work across Lancashire’s frontline social enterprises. Since 2007 we have been supporting social enterprises across Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen to connect, develop and grow, through:

  • Our vibrant, impactful membership network
  • Specialist business start-up and growth advice and support
  • Securing opportunities for our members
  • Developing and leading partnerships
  • Promotion and representation on a local, regional and national basis.

Our impacts continue to increase from our support and training for members during Covid to our contract extensions – and our work towards securing opportunities for our social enterprises and their communities. We have now secured over £23.8M for our sector; securing opportunities, enabling partnerships, managing contracts and accessing funded business development services.

 

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We are thrilled and honoured to be recognised as one of the top 100 Social Enterprises in the UK for the 3rd year running!

It’s a testament to the dedicated and passionate team at Selnet, working hard on behalf of our members and for Lancashire residents.’

Donna Marshall, Partnership Manager

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The Sewing Rooms Leaders shortlisted for Leaders of the Year

Huge congratulations for Paula Gamester & Maureen Fazal who were shortlisted for Leader of the Year as Co-founders of The Sewing Rooms / Connector Media: “for social enterprise bosses demonstrating excellent leadership, effectiveness and inspiration in taking the team on a mission-driven journey to success”

 

Want to know more about Selnet? 

During Covid we have invested in a Membership Lead Officer to engage and support our sector. To find out more about becoming a Selnet member contact Yvette Holden

Read the full Pioneers Post article here

 

 

 

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Welcome to DR!VE

DR!VE is an ambitious plan to support more than 200 new-start and existing businesses to grow in Lancashire over the next two years.

The Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, Selnet, is heading the partnership of qualified business advisors that can turn good business plans into business for good.

We’re here to help get business moving in Lancashire.

How can we help?

A friendly and approachable advisor will spend up to two days supporting you and your team to increase the chances of your business thriving and surviving.

That could include explaining the basics of business if you’ve decided to work for yourself for the first time, perhaps linking you with potential partners or helping with market research so that an existing business can grow or advise on moving premises and taking on more staff.  Alternatively, you may need to consider changes to your products and services in the post-Covid world.

In addition, Selnet will be arranging a series of masterclasses with expert speakers to guide participants through common business hurdles such as finance, administration and marketing/social media.

The support is bespoke to your organisation and at no cost to you as it is funded by the European Regional Development Fund with support from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

For more information, call Nina Cowell at Selnet on 01772 200690 or email nina@selnet-uk.com

 

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Peer Networks

SHARING EXPERIENCES TO MEET THE CURRENT CHALLENGES

Whether it is business disruption, staffing issues, a change in customer needs or a host of other issues affecting your social enterprise, Selnet understands that you are facing some of the biggest business challenges.

In some cases, it’s a challenge just to make ends meet. We’re here to help.

Selnet was excited to be rolling out a national networking programme for social enterprise leaders in Lancashire that want to maintain and develop their organisation for future success.

 

Start Planning For The Future

Starting in early 2021, this intensive programme will took 18 hours over 8 weeks (government funded so no cost to the businesses). Together social enterprise leaders in Lancashire learnt from each other’s shared experiences as a Peer Network.

Each group consisted of 8-to-10 business leaders led by an experienced facilitator. In addition, there was bespoke business support for organisations and a series of masterclasses to learn new skills.

The Programme supported participants to:

  • Overcome business challenges and act on new opportunities
  • Build a trusted network of connections for support now and in the future
  • Improve long-term personal and business performance
  • Consider ways to increase turnover and social impact
  • Use the Peer Network to help overcome challenges or make changes in your social enterprise

Not placed in a group with any direct competitors, participants could openly share their expertise and benefit from others, without fear of compromising their competitive advantages.

This was not formal management or skills training it provided personal development focus with flexible topics worked though with the help of a professional facilitator and in small groups of likeminded social enterprise leaders in a similar situation.

 

Timetable

Group 1
Wednesday mornings starting Wednesday 10th February then 24th Feb and 3rd 17th and 24th March (Additional project activity will be planned around your schedule)

Group 2
Friday afternoons starting Friday 12th February then 26th Feb and 5th 19th and 26th March (Additional project activity will be planned around your schedule)

Who Is It For?
This support is for anyone working in the social enterprise sector in Lancashire. Leaders now – and leaders of the future.

The agenda is set by the group. The context is supporting each other to develop new ways of working and building knowledge and skills to expand your organisation’s impact.

 

Why Take Part?

Participating in a peer group can help participants gain fresh perspectives, inspire new ideas and change habits of thinking. It helped form new contacts, built networks and gained valuable professional and personal support from a team of like-minded peers. The group was a place to try out new ideas before they were fully formed, and to share difficulties as well as celebrate successes.

 

Participate in Peer Networks

Participating social enterprises should have a trading address within the Lancashire LEP area and have:

*SMEs that do not meet this criteria due to Covid-19, but did meet the criteria during the 12 months prior to March 2020 are also eligible

 

If you have any questions about this programme email Yvette Holden on yvette@selnet-uk.com.

 

 

The programme was jointly funded by BEIS and Lancashire County Council

 

 

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Kickstart Gateway

Selnet have been approved as a Gateway provider for the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, providing funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.

About the Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers:

Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.

Selnet as a Gateway Provider
Selnet recognise that social enterprises across Lancashire are in a unique position to offer excellent opportunities to young people however this is unlikely to be at scale. In becoming a Gateway provider, Selnet aim to make it easy for our members to get involved, whether you can provide just one placement or several.

What employers will receive
In addition to the wages cost, the Government are providing further on-boarding costs of £1,500 per job placement. This is to support the young person with training and to help them become ‘job ready’, as well as helping with any set-up costs. Selnet will be on-hand to advise employers how to make best use of this funding to ensure a positive outcome for all. 

Start date
Working with 11 Selnet members, we have our first 50 placements approved and are hoping to have the young people in post early in the New Year.

We are now able to vary our agreement with DWP and extend this offer to other businesses that can support a young person.

 

Interested?

If you have a placement to offer and would like to work with us, fill out this quick Expression of Interest (EoI). We need just a few details about your business and the type of roles you’re planning to offer.

Please complete and return your Expression of Interest to Yvette (Yvette@selnet-uk.com) who will be happy to help.

 

Further Information

Job Placement Criteria
The job placements created must be new jobs. The placements must not:

  • Replace existing or planned vacancies
  • Cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours

The job placements must:

  • Be a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months
  • Pay at least the national minimum wage or the national living wage for the employee’s age group
  • Only require basic training

What is a Gateway

Gateway Representatives have been selected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as credible organisations with experience in managing partnerships agreements and have a robust financial and governance process to manage Kickstart placement procedures.

The DWP has checked and approved Selnet as a Kickstart Gateway using the Cabinet Office Spotlight Tool.

If you’re creating fewer than 30 job placements, as a Kickstart gateway Selnet can apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant for you.

This does not guarantee that you will get Kickstart Scheme funding. Your application will be assessed against the Kickstart Scheme criteria by DWP.

 

 

 

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Office for Civil Society For Info – 27 November 2020
Office for Civil Society
For Info

27 November 2020
 Click here to subscribe

 

Contents:

  1. Charitable services exempt from all local restriction tiers
  2. Thousands of women and girls to benefit from £15m Tampon Tax Fund
  3. Spending Review 2020 announcements
  4. Survey: impact of Covid-19 on VCSE organisations
  5. Updated volunteering guidance
  6. ‘Something’s Not Right’ campaign
  7. #YouAreNotAlone domestic abuse campaign
  8. Community safeguarding leaflet
  9. EU Exit: Preparing for the end of the transition period

 

 

 

1. Charitable services exempt from all local restriction tiers

On Monday 23 November the Prime Minister announced the new tiering system to come into force in England from Wednesday 2 December. The announcement confirmed that in all tiers there is an exemption ‘for work or providing voluntary or charitable services, including in other people’s homes’. These must still be done so responsibly, and in line with current UK Government advice on Coronavirus and social distancing. 

The Prime Minister also announced that ‘essential and non-essential retail’ will be allowed to open from this date in all tiers – this includes charity shops.

There are three tiers in the new system – Tier one (medium alert); Tier Two (high alert); Tier Three (very high alert). Full details on each tier are available at Local Restriction Tiers: What you need to know. Posters setting out the rules in each tier are available here.

Across all tiers, you:

  • must wear a face covering in most indoor public settings, unless they have an exemption
  • should follow the rules on meeting others safely
  • should attend school or college as normal, unless they are self-isolating. Schools, universities, colleges and early years settings remain open in all tiers
  • should walk or cycle where possible, plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes when travelling
  • must follow the gathering limits at their tier except for in specific settings and circumstances. These exemptions are detailed in the guidance

There will be a temporary change in the rules over the Christmas period. On Tuesday the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations agreed an aligned approach allowing up to three households to form a ‘Christmas bubble’ from December 23 to 27. The advice on creating a Christmas bubble is available here.

2. Thousands of women and girls to benefit from £15m Tampon Tax Fund

Charities supporting disadvantaged women and girls through the coronavirus pandemic and recovery are to receive £15 million from the latest round of the Tampon Tax Fund.

Projects that help victims of domestic abuse, work with eating disorder sufferers, and provide mentoring for disadvantaged young women, are among those to receive grants of more than £1 million each over the next two years. The money will also be used to make grants to smaller organisations so they can deploy services that support vulnerable women and girls.

Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, said:

“Vulnerable women and girls need our support more than ever in this difficult year, and these grants will help keep vital services going.

From supporting victims of domestic abuse, to those suffering from mental health problems, this funding will help to directly tackle some of the most serious issues facing women and girls today.”

The Tampon Tax Fund uses the funds generated from the VAT on women’s sanitary products. While the UK was a member of the European Union, VAT on these products could not fall below 5 per cent. The Chancellor announced in March this year that the tax will end in January 2021, at the end of the transition period following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Find out more about the 12 projects receiving funding from this round here.

3. Spending Review 2020 announcements

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak presented the Spending Review 2020 to Parliament on Wednesday 25 November.

Since the start of the crisis the government has invested over £280 billion to mitigate against the impacts of Covid-19 and protect jobs and livelihoods across all areas of the UK.

The Spending Review builds on this action, confirming an additional £38 billion for public services to  continue to fight the pandemic this year, bringing total support to over £113 billion in  2020-21 It also provides a further £55 billion of support for the response to Covid-19 next year, targeted to control and suppress the virus, increase support to public services and support jobs and businesses. 

Included in the Chancellor’s announcements were:

  •  A new Levelling Up Fund worth £4 billion for England, plus £0.8 billion for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales through Barnett consequentials. The Fund will be open to all local areas in England and prioritise bids to drive growth and regeneration in places in need, those facing particular challenges, and areas that have received less government investment in recent years. The government will set out further details on how to support levelling up across the UK in the New Year. 
  • An additional £1 million for the Charity Commission, bringing their total budget to £28.3 million.
  • Almost £100 million to deliver the National Citizen Service (NCS) and invest in youth facilities. The government will review its programmes to support youth services including the NCS in the spring.

To read the Spending Review 2020 update in full and for supporting and related documents click here.

4. Survey: impact of Covid-19 on VCSE organisations

The latest round of the Barometer survey, which examines the impact of Covid-19 on voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, is now open. The research is led by Nottingham Trent University. 

The project aims to:

  • Provide real-time data and learning on how Covid-19 is impacting the whole sector and how this varies across different organisations by size, structure and services offered.
  • Present lessons-learned reports on the impacts and responses to Covid-19 from organisations..
  • Put forward insights to assist the long-term resilience of the VCSE sector.

Expected outputs from this project include a VCSE vulnerability barometer, providing real-time data of the impact Covid-19 on the sector, lessons-learned reports, enabling innovations to be scaled, a final project report and toolkit for resilience. 

For more information and to take part in this round of the survey click here. To read some recent insights from the study, via their ‘Respond, recover, reset: the voluntary sector and COVID-19 – November 2020’ report click here.

5. Updated volunteering guidance

New GOV.UK guidance aimed at organisations and groups helping them to understand how to involve volunteers safely and effectively in their work during COVID-19 has now been published. You can access it here.

This new guidance complements other GOV.UK guidance on volunteering and helping others safely during the pandemic, which are aimed at potential and existing volunteers.

6. ‘Something’s Not Right’ campaign

The Home Office has launched a new campaign, ‘Something’s Not Right‘, to help secondary school children in England who suffered a range of harms, such as sexual and physical abuse, during lockdown. We would greatly appreciate your support in amplifying it to as many children, and those working with children, as possible. 
 
The campaign focuses on the following: 

  • Social Media Advertising: Social media campaign adverts will be served to children aged 13 and over on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook, and will direct them to the campaign web page.
  • Campaign web page: this has been developed with Childline and is hosted on their website. The page helps children identify different forms of abuse, signposts a variety of online resources and provides guidance on how to seek support, either from a trusted adult or Childline’s services.
  • Lesson Plans: The Home Office has worked with the PSHE Association, Barnardo’s and the NSPCC to create lesson plans for Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students. The plans, resources and accompanying teacher guidance are all available to download on the PSHE Association website.

All of the campaign materials are available to download and share from the campaign portal.

7. #YouAreNotAlone domestic abuse campaign

In April, the Home Office worked with a number of key partners and charities to launch a new national campaign to raise awareness that if you are experiencing domestic abuse you can leave your home, if this is possible, and police and support services remain available. To continue to support victims of domestic abuse, the government has relaunched the #YouAreNotAlone campaign.
 
People that are affected by domestic abuse will be harder to reach at this time and we really need your help to promote the campaign and raise awareness of the advice and support available. The campaign assets were developed with key partners and charities. These are available for you to share with your staff and raise awareness of where people can get further advice and support.
 
You can download the campaign assets, including the Employer pack, posters, leaflets, animations, email signatures and social media assets, here and translated campaign assets, here. 

8. Community safeguarding leaflet

The current national restrictions mean that right now, vulnerable children and adults may be particularly isolated. This means that the family, community and professional networks they usually rely on may be unavailable or hard to access. However, safeguarding is everyone’s business.
 
The Home Office has produced information and guidance for those who are operating in communities and may not be trained to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect earlier this year, and we would like to re circulate this guidance. The guidance covers signs to spot and what to do if there is a concern. The guidance can be found on the Home Office Brandworkz portal. It includes references to the DCMS online safeguarding tool, which helps VCSE organisations in England to handle the reporting of safeguarding allegations about the behaviour or actions of a person in their charity. It also provides links to further safeguarding guidance and support for VCSE organisations. 

9. EU Exit: Preparing for the end of the transition period

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period comes to an end this year. Please check the new rules from January 2021 to ensure that you and your organisation are ready. 

Use our 4-point checklist to understand what you need to do before 1 January 2021 if you work in the civil society sectors (including charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations). Read the guidance here. 

Actions you can take now

i)  If your organisation employs EU staff 

Ask your employees to check if they need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. EU, EEA or Swiss citizens can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021.

Read the guidance: Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

ii)If your organisation receives EU funding

Under the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK will continue to participate in programmes funded under the current 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework until their closure.

Read the guidance: Getting EU funding.

iii) If your organisation receives any personal data from the EU

If the UK does not receive data adequacy decisions and your organisation receives personal data from the EU/EEA, you should review your contracts to ensure you can continue to do so legally after the transition period ends. You may not know if your data is hosted outside of the UK so it is worth checking.

Read the guidance: Using personal data in your business or other organisation during and after the transition period.

iv) If your organisation imports or exports goods with the EU

From 1 January 2021 the process for importing and exporting goods will change. Find out what you need to do to continue to:

For a more comprehensive overview visit the UK Transition page for guidance and updates.

 

 

 

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Covid, Brexit and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Selnet are members of Social Enterprise UK and the Employment and Related Services Association, ERSA, and work closely with Network for Europe; we keep a watchful eye on issues associated with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK-SPF) and will keep members up to date with the progress and implications of Brexit.

Now that the UK has left the EU, ESIF funding will cease. In order to replace it, the Government pledged to set up a Shared Prosperity Fund to “reduce inequalities between communities”.

At the beginning of 2020 we were organising a sector-wide event ‘Beyond the EU Projects: What Next for Lancashire?” bringing specialist speakers together with our VCSE sector for the most current picture on the UK-SPF and to help prepare for anticipated consultations. This event was postponed in response to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Our sector is deeply rooted within our communities and is at the forefront of solutions to the crisis; they are on the health and social care front line and providing crucial community support to the most vulnerable. 

– Selnet CEO Liz Tapner

UK-SPF Consultation

Although the budget is cancelled due to the uncertainty caused by Covid, the Comprehensive Spending Review seems to be going ahead before the end of this year.

This could include the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to replace the approximately €13bn (£11.7bn) we would have received from Europe over the next seven years for ESF and ERDF.

The open consultation that we had been promised does not appear to be taking place. Without the proper involvement of the Partners in discussions and the creation of the new fund, it will not be efficient or effective.

NCVO will shortly be publishing an updated paper on UK-SPF, calling for a fund designed around places and needs – we will keep members informed on this.

NCVO and ERSA

In July 2019, the national Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Employment-Related Services Association (ERSA), umbrella bodies representing charities, sent a letter to the new Prime Minister urging him to confirm that:

  • The Shared Prosperity Fund would provide support for disadvantaged groups and communities;
  • Funding for employment and skills support would not fall below the level provided by the European Social Fund; and
  • There would be no gap between the end of EU funding and the start of funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund. The letter was co-signed by 100 chief executives of charities and businesses in the UK.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

In October 2018, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (a social policy research charity focusing on poverty) published a report on Designing a Shared Prosperity Fund, which came to the following conclusions:

  • The Fund should match the current level of EU structural fund spending and be planned across multiple years;
  • It should be focused on ‘inclusive growth’ and “allocated according to the employment rate and earnings of the least well off”;
  • Funding should be allocated across the UK based on need rather than on the Barnett formula;
  • Revenue and capital streams should both come from a single ‘pot’ of funding.

 

VCSE, Covid and policy

Leaders of Manchester-based charities have shared their experiences of the Covid-19 crisis and their thoughts for the future in a new report produced by Macc, Manchester’s local voluntary and community sector support organisation.

 “Invest in a crucial sector or risk losing it”

No Going Back is from 22 Manchester third sector leaders on the response of VCSE organisations to Covid, and highlights the determination, passion and wealth of policy ideas from our sector.

 

‘Getting Brexit Done’

The UK left the European Union at the end of January, and we are in the Transition Period, so we do not influence EU policy, but are bound by the rules.

We still have funding – for example for ESF and ERDF. The UK failed to ask for an extension at end June, so the Transition Period ends on 31st December 2020.

The ninth and final round of the planned trade talks has finished with no agreement. Some further negotiations will take place over the next few weeks, so we will either have no deal, or have a thin deal.

“Third sector organisations should be preparing for some disruptions”

The agreement needs to be by late October/early November in order to be ratified by the Member States, and the European Parliament, so we are almost out of time. None of this has been helped by the UK saying it could break international law, which was met with disbelief across Europe.

The UK has some preparations for the extra bureaucracy and transport delays expected from January, and third sector organisations should be preparing for some disruptions.

 

Read more

 

[23/10/20]

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Selnet members recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

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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COVID-19 Selnet Statement & Resources

How Selnet are supporting Lancashire’s social enterprises through Covid-19: 

 

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

Boost Business Lancashire

  • Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub. The #AskForHelp service is available to all Lancashire business owners. Call 0800 488 0057 to discuss all business issues related to the coronavirus outbreak. Our team will advise where possible, as well as directing businesses to expert advisers across Lancashire.
  • We have also built a dedicated #AskForHelp hub with resilience guides, access to Government updates and partner advice as well information about webinars, virtual drop-in sessions and other support.
  • A Lancashire-wide relief efforthas been launched to support those in isolation by utilising the spare capacity of hospitality businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Coronavirus: Government advice for businesses

Local Authorities

  • Lancashire County Councilare continuing to work with colleagues in the NHS and Public Health England to do everything we can to delay the spread of coronavirus and ensure the people of Lancashire are protected.
  • Blackpool Council– Blackpool Council’s business support team is in the process of setting up a dedicated helpline to ensure that local businesses can access the support announced by the Chancellor. Details will be issued on this website shortly.
  • Blackburn with Darwen Council– includes guidance on building closures, prevention and business rates.

Government Guidance

 

Social Enterprise Guidance

Social Enterprise UK

NCVO

  • Information and guidance about coronavirus and what it means for voluntary organisations and volunteers.  This is to help you plan and access the latest up to date advice.
  • NCVO have also taken down all pay walls on the Knowhow website. This means that all online content is now free to all to use. So, whether it’s information about governance or online training for staff who are working from home unable to do their jobs, they hope this will provide that little bit of extra support.

Employment Related Services Association (ERSA)

School for Social Entrepreneurs

  • We want to do everything we can to help you, and the people you support, weather the storm. This blog shares links to resources you might find useful. We’ll update it as new resources become available or visible to us.

Pioneers Post 

  • The magazine and news source for social enterprises and the social-impact sector will be sharing news and updates specific to our sector on coronavirus (COVID-19)

Other resources:

  • ​Plunkett Foundation– Information about Community Business and Coronavirus
  • Charity Commission– Guidance for the charity sector
  • 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?
  • 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.
  • Co-operatives UK have put together a guide on HR issues answering questions such as ‘how do we treat employees who follow guidance to self-isolate?’ and ‘what about parents who are off work because their child’s school has closed?’.
  • Shelter: Coronavirus housing advice and resources to support for helping those who are homeless during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Groundswell: Resources to support people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. All developed together with people who have been homeless themselves. 

 

National business and employer support

  • Chamber of Commerce As the situation surrounding coronavirus / COVID-19 continues to unfold the Chamber is working hard to keep you informed. With advice constantly changing and new support becoming available the Chamber will be sending regular updates to give you the information businesses need.
  • This Federation for Small Business (FSB) guide includes sections on if you have to close your organisation, business insurance, advice for employers and measures for the workplace. It’s aimed at small businesses but the advice is also relevant to small charities, social enterprises, community businesses and impact organisations.
  • Enterprise Nation– Support for small businesses during Coronavirus
  • ​ACAS– Advice for employers and employees
  • CIPD– Understand how to support your business and workforce through this global health emergency
  • Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)– Advice and guidance for small businesses and the self-employed
  • Charity Comms offers a free crisis communications planning template. The same page includes links to online advice guides.

 

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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