West of England Rural Programme
Social Enterprise Works and Avon Co-operative Agency (CDA) are delighted to announce the launch of a new co-operative and social enterprise development service. This project will improve the reach of both support organisations in to rural areas and small towns across Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It will provide free co-operative and social enterprise advice, which has previously been unavailable outside of Bristol.
Across the country groups and communities are developing enterprises in areas such as: providing childcare, saving local village shops, establishing homecare services for the elderly, improving local rural transport, helping local producers market their goods, even saving local pubs. Many of these may not be sustainable as a private business or when grants finish, but have proven to work as social enterprises or co-operatives as they can call on volunteers as well as paid staff, and plough profits back into the enterprise or local community,
We can help you develop these as part of a tailored programme of support for prospective, new start and existing social enterprises and co-operatives by offering such areas as: information and case research, group training, peer learning and mentoring, advice sessions and practical support, including: business planning, choosing a legal structure and access to legal advice, governance support, team working, market research, promotion and marketing, performance improvement, and registration for incorporation.
Initiatives such as Parish Plans that get people together to think what should happen locally can often start a process that leads to a much-needed local business, providing services, jobs and volunteering opportunities, and ensuring resources remain in the community.
An excellent example of this is Bathford Village Shop where this community co-operative celebrated its first year of successful trading in May. It has 200 members who came together when the previous owner decided to call it a day. Faced with no village shop they decided to take on the enterprise and develop it as a ‘hub’ where a range of services and local goods.
Social Enterprise Works and the Co-operative Development Agency have over 15 years experience advising community businesses, co-operatives, development trusts, social firms, credit unions, and more recently Community Interest Companies. Assisting them to become stronger, more accessible, increase trade and achieve their goals.
To discuss your enterprise idea contact please contact us:
Co-operative Development Agency (BRAVE Ltd)
Tel: 0117 989 2536
Email: kate@avoncda.coop or shereene@avoncda.coop
Social Enterprise Works
Tel: 0117 907 0080
Email: richard@socialenterpriseworks.org
