LAUNCH OF SPARK 2010
5 JULY 2010
Social entrepreneurs with bright ideas that will provide training, skills development, employment and independent living opportunities to tackle homelessness are being challenged to bid for a share of a £1.6 million investment fund.
The Spark 2010 Challenge - building on the success of 2008 and 2009 - was launched today (5th July) by founders John Montague, CEO of The TREES Group, and Nigel Kershaw, Chair of Big Issue Invest, with the continued support of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
"Spark is much more than a competition or a grant application. It is a cross-sector collaboration that brings together leading organisations and social enterprises from the public, private and third sector to work together to build sustainable solutions to homelessness" said John Montague.
"For the third year we are immensely pleased to announce the involvement of Spark partners PricewaterhouseCoopers, Places for People and BT and welcome Willmott Dixon to the partnership.
Bringing together these partners brings value to their businesses, employees and the communities in which they work.
It also shows how social enterprise can transform the lives of homeless people by providing training and employment and a route out of street and hostel life" said Nigel Kershaw.
Entrants for Spark 2010 need to submit their business case via www.sparkchallenge.org.uk by 5pm on 13th August.
BADGE OF EXCELLENCE
9 JUNE 2010
TREES Group, the jobs-to-wealth-creation social enterprise based in the East Midlands, has achieved a major feather in its cap.
TREES and its group companies Newlife Regeneration & Construction and conference centre Highpoint, join just 150 organisations nationwide to be awarded the right to display the coveted Social Enterprise Mark.
Other enterprises entitled to use the badge of excellence on letterheads and websites include the Eden Project in Cornwall, social business Big Issue, Hill Holt Wood, a highly-regarded environmental social enterprise on the Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire border, and the Bristol Wood Recycling Project.
TREES - Training, Regeneration, Education, Employment, Sustainability - is the largest social enterprise in the East Midlands and was established in 1995 to stimulate community regeneration.
Chief Executive John Montague said: "Our right to display this mark on all our stationery, as well as our website, demonstrates to the world that we have the highest possible standards in working with the community, and the relevant authorities, to improve the lives of those whose best interests we have at heart."
According to government figures there are some 62,000 social enterprises in the UK, and they contribute £24 billion to the economy. In addition they employ around 800,000 people.
Despite this, their work is relatively unknown and little understood.
Lucy Findlay from the Social Enterprise Mark Company commented: "The Mark identifies businesses which meet defined criteria, enabling consumers to recognise those that are trading to benefit people and planet."
"It also helps those businesses promote their business ethics and values."