Social Enterprise Works

Artivists (formerly trading as Ace Craftworks) are extending an open  invitation to anyone with an interest in launching a new  label (which promotes the use of recycled textiles) to come and join our fledgling new project. The aim is to generate income for participating artists and makers, through the sale of unique items (mainly clothes) sold via our new website which is in the process of being designed. The range will cover ready to wear,  a made to measure service, children’s items, bags, 3D cards, home accessories and soft toys. If you would like to get involved, e-mail Rita with your contact details and tell us a little bit about yourself.  We would be interested in viewing any samples of your work . If  photos are available, please send attachments.

info@acecraftworks.org.uk

Permanent Employment Available:

Are you a skilled woodworker who loves working with people?

If so… this might be the job for you.

We need a Wood Workshop Manager at Bristol Wood Recycling Project, as part of our small, busy and dedicated team, working with volunteers, recycling and reusing timber.

As someone appropriately experienced in using woodworking machinery, and managing the HSE procedures necessary, you will manage and maintain our developing furniture workshop. You will make simple products with volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, and ensure that products are completed on time for our lovely customers. Additionally, you will be responsible for inducting and supervising volunteers in the Workshop.

As part of our small team, you will need to play a part in cheerfully serving customers and selling wood.

The salary for this position is £16,000 per annum - pro rata of working a four day week. We hope to fill the position by March 22nd 2010.

If you think you might be suitable, please email us at info@bwrp.org.uk and we can send you our application form.

If you have any queries, please email us and we’ll get back to you- dropping in or phoning us is not convenient.

Deadline for Applications: 9:00am Monday, 8th March

Preferred start date: Monday, 22nd March

www.bwrp.org.uk

Life Cycle provides free cycle parking under their Take a Stand scheme. Voluntary sector groups, schools, small businesses, churches and surgeries, in fact almost any type of organisation, are welcome to apply! Good cycle parking tells the world that you’re an environmentally-friendly organisation and it’s a proven way of deterring cycle theft.

This offer is available in the following areas:

• Bath & North East Somerset
• Gloucestershire
• North Somerset
• Somerset
• Swindon
• Bristol
• South Gloucestershire

The number of stands on offer varies according to the local authority area in which you’re based.  You must install the stands on your own property (you can’t dig up the pavement!) in a location agreed with Life Cycle UK.

Click here to apply 

Skills – Third Sector is the new independent, sector-led organisation for the sector, which has been established to enable people in third sector organisation to develop their learning and skills, so they can make an ever growing contribution to their communities.

www.skills-thirdsector.org.uk

LawWorks is an independent charity and is the working name of the Solicitor’s Pro Bono Group. The charity exists to encourage and support solicitors to carry out pro bono work (for free), and runs several projects to encourage solicitors to do this, and to provide free legal support to individuals, communities and small voluntary organisations who are unable to afford or access legal advice. You can see more information on the charity itself on their website – www.lawworks.org.uk

Initial Electronic Advice is an automatic web-based system which provides brief legal information in response to straightforward legal queries. It is designed to assist not-for-profit organisations and individuals who cannot afford to pay for solicitors privately. Questions may ONLY be submitted by not for profit organisations and advice agencies providing advice to the general public.

We are very pleased to announce that the Deki website has now been launched www.deki.org.uk

Deki’s  mission is to connect people through person-to-person microloans, empowering specific people to lift themselves out of poverty.

The Deki website enables you to make a microloan to a specific person in the developing world.

The microloan helps to create a sustainable livelihood allowing borrowers to lift themselves out of poverty.

We provide microloans to our field partners interest free. Deki takes no commission out of the microloan.

As the loan is repaid you receive monthly updates and repayments.

For more information on how you can support someone living in poverty in Ghana and Nepal log onto www.deki.org.uk

CEU are on the move! CEU are a social enterprise and a worker co-operative based in Exeter, Devon. They offer business advice, training and support to those working primarily for the benefit of the social economy. Their own experience of running a social enterprise gives them the first-hand experience of the challenges social enterprises often face.

After 11 years of being based in smaller offices based on Sidwell Street (Exeter), CEU are celebrating their recent move to new premises at Dix’s Field’s beautiful historical Georgian terrace! Alongside this move CEU have embarked upon a new exciting venture FAIRSPACE - a training room designed to meet the needs of local social enterprises and support local businesses, especially for those who do not own space of their own or cannot afford to hire luxury meeting rooms!
For more information please contact:

CEU LTD, Garden Floor, Suite 1, 11-15 Dix’s Field, Exeter, EX1 1QA
Tel: 01392 666281
Fax: 01392 666288
Email: info@ceultd.co.uk
website: www.ceultd.co.uk

The Mall Bristol in Broadmead (formerly The Galleries) is encouraging local independent retailers and business start-ups to contact them to discuss current lettings possibilities within the city centre shopping centre.

Colin Lang, General Manager of The Mall Bristol said, “There are currently some great opportunities for local independent retailers within The Mall and many would be surprised at the flexibility we can offer both in terms of the length of the lease and the cost of our shop units. We are always looking for new retailers to come into the centre and add a fresh, local flavour to our list of existing big name tenants and we are happy to have an informal chat to anyone looking to explore all of their options within the city centre.”

The Mall Bristol has also announced a number of new lettings over the past few months, including three new food outlets, Rice, The Baguette Shop & Noodles, and has noted renewed interest in their Retail Merchandising Units (RMUs):

“A number of people who have been made redundant seem to have seen this as an opportunity to start afresh, and are finally making their dreams of launching a new business a reality.” Colin adds, “Our RMUs also offer an ideal launch pad for start-up businesses as these stands offer our shoppers a broad range of unique and usually local products. The opportunity is there for new local businesses to test their products in the market and get feedback direct from their customers without the commitment of a long-term lease or the investment in shop fitting, and we will support these traders all the way.”

For more information, please call Colin Lang or Simon Dix on 0117 9290569 or visit themall.co.uk

Criteria for the new £16.7m Hardship Fund announced.

This year’s Budget saw the announcement of a £16.7m Hardship Fund for the sector, building on the £42.5m Real Help for Communities action plan. The Hardship Fund will provide grant support to third sector organisations in England delivering front-line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society that have been affected by the recession.

Grants of between £50,000 and £250,000 will be available to organisations with a turnover of at least £200,000 that are in financial hardship which is impacting on their ability to deliver services in the following areas:

• Health and Social Care
• Housing Support
• Education and Training
• Information, Advice and Guidance.

Further details on how to apply to the fund will be available on the Office of the Third Sector website.

Whether a corporate function or a birthday party.
Why not book the Greenway Centre?

The Greenway Centre has a range of meeting rooms which can accommodate 25 – 400 people.

The centre has ample free parking on site has convenient rail and public transport links and is located just 10 minutes from the M5.

Is affordable without compromising on high quality service.

For more information call 0117 950 3335 or email reception@greenwaycentre.com

Greenway centre flyer

Free Stay and Play Sessions at Easton Community Centre

A chance for you and your child to get to know other families living in the area and tell us how we can support you.
Please ring Jacqui Stokes for more information or tell us you are coming on: 0117 9392550

Click here for further information

The NEST is an open plan office at the Greenway Centre in Southmead.

Totally Free
Successful applicants will get their own desk, telephone, new computer, access to meeting rooms, business advice and mail handling.

Job Seekers Allowance and Incapacity Benifit
There are 4 desks still available for recipients of Job Seekers Allowance or Incapacity Benefit (or those who have recently been on such benefits).

Postcode Eligibility
Individuals must have not been trading longer than 2 years and they must also have an eligible postcode from one of the following areas: Lawrence Weston, Lockleaze, Southmead, Henbury, Montpelier, St Agnes, St Pauls, Barton Hill, Bedminster, Easton, Lawrence Hill, Hartcliffe, Withywood, or Knowle West.

To arrange an interview, call Dave Shanley on 07976 133332.

• Are you worried about money?

• Are you on a low income?

• Rent/Mortgage arrears?

• Bailiffs?

• Loans/Credit card debts?

• Or any other types of debt?

Would free, confidential, face to face advice help?
If the answer is yes, let us help you! (more…)