Useful Contacts & Links
Here you can find regional and UK sources of information and support for social enterprise.
For local information and contacts see the Information and Advice page within the WSSEN Support section.
Charities Commission
The Charities Commission is the regulator for charities in England and Wales. Its mission is to help charities maximise their impact; encourage innovation and effectiveness; ensure compliance with legal obligations and to champion the public’s interest in charity. For more information on the Charity Commission, visit http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk
CIC regulator
Community Interest Companies (CIC) are limited companies with special additional features, created for people who want to run a business or other activity for community benefit, and not purely for private advantage. The CIC Regulator is the body that approves the registration of a company as a CIC. The regulator also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role. For more information on CICs and the CIC regulator, visit www.cicregulator.gov.uk
Cultural Shift
Cultural Shift was established to encourage a culture of social entrepreneurship across the business sectors: public, private, voluntary and community. The Cultural Shift South East programme is a partnership of regional and local organisations that addresses the need to engage entrepreneurs, managers and investors from all three sectors so that long-term, sustainable solutions to social issues can be found. The programme is funded by the European programme EQUAL and by SEEDA. For further information on Cultural Shift, visit www.culturalshift.com
Department of Health Social Enterprise Policy
DH site on commissioning health care services for social enterprises. For further information, visit http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Organisationpolicy/Commissioning/Socialenterprise/index.htm
NHS Social Enterprise Network
A national network for people interested in social entrepreneurship in health and care. For further information, visit http://www.networks.nhs.uk/networks/page/155
Office of the Third Sector
Cabinet Office with responsibility for national policy on social enterprise. For more information, visit http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/social_enterprise.aspx
Plunkett Foundation
The Plunkett Foundation is an educational charity that supports the development of worldwide rural group enterprise. The Foundation, based near Oxford, draws on 80 years of practical experience working with partners from the private sector to promote and implement economic self-help solutions to rural problems. Its aim is to improve rural livelihoods through co-operation and social enterprise. For further information, visit www.plunkett.co.uk
SETAS (Social Enterprise Training And Support)
Website listing training events and support opportunities around the UK. For further information, visit http://www.setas.co.uk/index.asp
SE² Partnership
The SE² Partnership is the social enterprise support body for the South East. SE² Partnership’s mission is to provide a flexible, dynamic and sustainable infrastructure that will effectively enable the growth of social enterprise impact in the South East. Its values are mutuality, entrepreneurship and local delivery. The SE² Networks Co-ordinator works with WSSEN to improve the flow of information, resources and business opportunities between West Sussex and the region. For more information, visit http://se2partnership.co.uk
Social Enterprise Coalition
The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK's national body for social enterprise. The Coalition provides a national platform for showcasing the benefits of social enterprise. It shares best practice and is effective in creating a dynamic environment for social enterprise. The Coalition is committed to supporting all forms of social enterprise, and to making sure social enterprises can support and learn from each other. To find out more about the Social Enterprise Coalition, visit www.socialenterprise.org.uk
Social Enterprise London (SEL)
SEL is a customer focused development agency that works with individuals, enterprises, organisations and government to help make social enterprise happen. SEL also has its own Social Enterprise Directory, listing over 400 London-based social enterprises, support agencies and individuals. For more information on SEL, visit www.sel.org.uk
Sussex Enterprise
You may want to consider Chamber of Commerce membership to improve your networking opportunities, reduce costs and lobby on barriers to the growth of your activities. For more information visit www.sussexenterprise.co.uk/index.jsp
Third Sector Magazine
Online magazine with news, analysis and opinions for social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations. For more information, visit http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/Channels/SocialEnterprise/
West Sussex Sustainable Business Partnership
Helping you to cut costs and protect the environment. The West Sussex Sustainable Business Partnership offers FREE support to businesses within West Sussex to help them adopt sustainable business practices and cut costs through improving waste minimisation, energy and water efficiency. For more information visit www.westsussexsbp.org.uk