A wide range of organisations exist to help you start and grow your social enterprise from national to local organisations, listed below are some of the networks operating across Cheshire and Warrington, click on the organisations name to see more information:
Cheshire and Warrington Social Enterprise Partnership is the leading provider of support to social enterprises in the Cheshire and Warrington area. They were set up by local social enterprises and their mission is to support the development of a thriving social enterprise sector in Cheshire and Warrington that delivers real social and environmental benefits to local communities.
Community Catalysts is a Social Enterprise and Community Interest Company established by and working in close partnership with the charity Shared Lives Plus. They are a small group of energetic people who believe passionately in the power of people to effect social change. Community Catalysts work hard to harness the talents and imaginations of people in communities and organisations to provide imaginative solutions to complex social issues.
Co-operatives North West is the regional network of co-operative enterprise in the North West of England. Co-operatives North West Limited aims to be transparent and accountable in the way that it acquires goods and services from suppliers. This policy aims to clarify this process and defines the way that Co-operatives North West Limited works and links to other policies such as membership benefits.
A central portal containing links to all the information you need about setting up a Social Enterprise business in the UK. Gov.uk's business section includes details about setting up a new venture, help if you're starting a Community Interest Company and full details of different types of Social Enterprises.
For more information visit the Gov.Uk website
Key Fund provides funding to Social Enterprises working in a wide variety of areas and sectors to enable them to develop and grow.
For more information visit the Key Fund website
Locality is the leading nationwide network of development trusts, community enterprises, settlements and social action centres.
For more information visit the Locality website
SKS Scotland provides quality driven "hands on” support to the third sector. SKS Scotland can tailor make a solution to deliver your objectives to a fixed budget and defined outputs, in conjunction with your organisation.
Social Enterprise UK are the national body for social enterprise. They represent their members and help grow the social enterprise movement. Members aren't just social enterprises. They also include private businesses, charities and public sector organisations who support the vision of a world where social enterprise is the usual way of doing business.
SIB Ltd. is the SIB Foundation’s social enterprise and a specialist fund manager, managing and investing more than £280m into charities and social enterprises through Government and other’s funds. SIB Ltd. supports civil society organisations through investment, strengthening the sector at both organisational and strategic level.
The Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund aims to address the funding gap often faced by fast growing social enterprises looking to scale. Seeded by the Bridges Charitable Trust in 2008, the fund was launched in August 2009 and has raised nearly £12m for investment in scalable social enterprises delivering high social impacts and operating sustainable business models.
This website contains information about the Third Sector Assembly in Cheshire West and Chester and how it works to represent the interests of the sector. It also contains useful information on consultations, new policies and initiatives (national and local) and opportunities to work collaboratively. The site also has links to a range of public and third sector bodies as well as to TSA representatives from the networks across West Cheshire.
UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and offers the largest such network in the world. UnLtd resources hundreds of individuals each year through its core Awards programme. UnLtd operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from Awards of funding, to on going advice, networking and practical support.
For more information visit the UnLtd website