Community Enterprise Wales 
The Innovation Centre, Festival Drive, Victoris Business Park, Ebbw Vale, NP23 8XA   
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Coalfields Associate Fund (October 07 – March 08)
Community Enterprise Wales, in partnership with the Scarman Trust and Coalfields Regeneration Trust, piloted the ‘Coalfields Social Enterprise Development Scheme’ that successfully delivered £1.4m funding and development support to social enterprises throughout Coalfields/Objective One areas in Wales between May 05 and March 07.

To build on the success of this pilot and in recognition of a continued need for business development, further funding is now available from Community Enterprise Wales.

The Coalfields Associate fund will provide specialist associate business development support to emerging and existing social enterprises in the former coalfields areas of Wales.  Grants will average £1,000 to £5,000 although in some circumstances support may be available up to £10,000. The Associate appointed will be from our ‘approved pool’ with the requisite skills for the job.

Applications are considered once a month by an advisory grants panel and successful applicants are advised shortly after the panel meeting.

The overall aim of the fund is to promote the development of new social enterprises in the designated areas and encourage and support the growth of existing social enterprises; thus directly contributing to the social and economic regeneration of former coalfield communities.

Associates are likely to provide specialist support in the following areas:

  • Assistance in business planning and developing action plans
  • Feasibility studies
  • Impact studies
  • Assistance in marketing plans
  • Finance and HR systems
  • Technical advice – legal, architects
  • Operational reviews and health checks
  • Monitoring and Evaluation

We also expect the Associate to assist the Applicant in developing many of the skills that they bring to the work so that the Applicant is better placed to meet needs for similar help from its own resources in the future.

If you would like further information on this grant or an application pack please contact Hannah Price, Associate Support Co-ordinator.

www.coalfields-regen.org.uk

The GEO Project

BTCV, in partnership with Community Enterprise Wales is piloting ‘The Green Economic Opportunities’ or 'GEO' project. The GEO Project is targeted at the Community 1st areas of Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen. The GEO project is designed to revitalize and regenerate local communities by developing 'green' projects that can develop into sustainable Social Enterprises. Its aim is to engage, support and empower local people to under-take community led environmental activities;
One of the key elements of this project is to identify risk and also implement a framework, which will reduce risk of social enterprise development.
There is a lack of knowledge amongst communities that is a major barrier to them engaging in social enterprise development. The GEO Project aims to disseminate information to communities in a language that is appropriate and that allows any community member to participate in the process. Also funding and finance worries will be addressed in community-led workshops and training sessions with appropriate partners.

In addition to the development of Social Enterprise the 'GEO' project will engage community awareness of Social Enterprise, develop new and existing skills of the people within the communities enhancing employability, create new community amenities and resources, combating social exclusion by building up, and reinforcing community cohesion, and aiding community economic regeneration.

For further information on how you can work with or benefit from the GEO Project please see contact our Community Enterprise Officers.

www2.btcv.org.uk

RISE

Morrison’s

Carmarthenshire Loan Fund – The Carmarthenshire loan fund was set up in 1997 as a cash flow tool for Social Enterprises in Carmarthenshire. It offers loans of up to £20,000, interest free for up to 6 months to organisations in the Carmarthenshire County Council area. Applications are processed within 4 weeks.

Purpose of loan:
The purpose of the loan must be to –

  • Assist cash flow, pending receipt of grant funding on secured grant offers from bona fide grant aiding bodies that provide grant support on a retrospective basis.
  • In the setting up or expansion of an identified community business

Or

  • The creation or protection of employment with an identified community business.

Conditions of Borrower:

  • Is to be or is situated in or the undertaking appears to provide, create or increase the opportunities primarily or substantially for the employment of people living in the County of Carmarthenshire.
  • Is the nature of a community business defined as a business which:
    • Has both social and economic objectives and is addressed at meeting community needs;
    • Is non-profit distributing and has a voluntary board of directors steering group;
    • Has a membership clause in it’s Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association;
    • Is community led and employment generated.

For an application pack please contact Cynthia Seward 01495 356734

www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk