Success Stories
St. Luke’s Healthy Living Centre Community Interest Company (CIC)
Awarded £243,500 from the Department of Health Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF).
St. Luke's Healthy Living Centre CIC (the CIC), a social enterprise, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and create training, employment and social enterprise opportunities for residents in St. Luke’s and adjacent wards in Southend on Sea.
The money awarded today is revenue to cover the staffing and overhead costs for three years, to develop the CIC business and deliver services for the community that fulfil the aim of the CIC and are reflective of the needs of the local community.
The CIC already supports Health Improvement in St. Luke’s with a dedicated Health Improvement Community Worker, in partnership with Community Healthcare South East Essex.
There are CIC services which are being planned and / or are ready to go live in the coming months.
The CIC has worked in partnership with a number of local community groups, residents and other partners to develop these services. They will operate from a number of community based settings prior to the development of the Healthy Living Centre building.
- St. Luke’s Community Business & Enterprise Advice service
- St. Luke’s RE:Cycle project
- Health Walks
- Stepping Stones
- Dads Health Too
- St. Luke’s Community Allotments
- St. Luke’s Community Directory
Contact:
St. Luke’s Healthy Living Centre CIC
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Southend Christian Fellowship
It may be interesting and encouraging for the group to know that the reason for my absence at the event on 23 March is a positive one in respect of the project. Perhaps not strictly yet classified as a Social Enterprise, but from humble beginnings, the project is up and running as 'Gateways'.
There are two elements to it; one is Intervention work similar to Alternative Education for Cecil Jones and funded by them. This was approved from the three week trial period and is now approved up until the end of Easter on the same basis. Status as an Alternative Education provider has been suggested by the schools and is being looked into by SCF in terms of genuine feasibility.
The After School Club is due to launch on the 20th April and we have start up costs and 3 months' worth of predicted running costs provided by the local partnership of schools. The aim here is to develop a social enterprise business within the club to enable us to self-sustain.
Thanks go to all of you that have played a part in me getting this far; particularly to the S.E.E SUN provision team and Myles Cooper/Business Link.
Debbie Esther
Southend Christian Fellowship
Business Link Voucher Scheme
The voucher scheme for social enterprises is to change, (application form attached to SSUN email ) and see below. As it is brand new, we are in the process of developing marketing material for this, and don’t worry if you have used a voucher in the past, as you can still apply for the “balance”.
Social Enterprise Business Support Grant
The ‘Social Enterprise Business Support Grant’ is replacing the existing Business Link ‘Social Enterprise Voucher Scheme’. The new programme provides greater funding to those in need of business support and is easier to access than the previous scheme.
The grant is for up to £1,500 and covers the cost of business support consultancy and training (up to 100% of the cost). The grant must be used to pay for business support and cannot be used for:
• Capital expenditure
• Salaries of staff
• Cost of legal action
Who can apply?
• Social enterprises based in the East of England
• Social enterprises that are already trading - to enable them to improve business efficiency and grow.
What is the process?
All applicants will need to have a diagnostic session with a Business Link Adviser. As part of this diagnostic session the client and the Business Link Adviser will agree an action plan, where the action plan identifies the need for business support consultancy or training the client may apply for the grant to cover the cost (up to £1,500).
The Business Link Adviser will assist the client in completing a simple application form and if approved the client will be able to reclaim the cost of the required consultancy (up to £1,500). Costs can be reclaimed in up to three stages to reduce client outlay. Only consultants or training providers registered on the Business Link ‘Supplier Brokerage Service’ may be used under this scheme.
Myles Cooper
Business Adviser, Social Enterprise Specialist
Tel DDI 0845 600 9134
Mobile 07824464163
Fax 0845 6419802
83 Greenways Business Centre
Harlow, Essex CM19 5QE
Useful Addresses:
SEEE
Social Enterprise for the East of England
Business Link
Business Link offers support and advice to businesses - and can offer vouchers which can be exchanged for expert advice. Brochures available in reception at Southend Council and can be requested at SAVS
08457 17 16 15
Anglia Ruskin University
Courses and seminars
Futurebuilders England
Investing in the third sector Improving public services
Social Enterprise Coalition
The Coalition is working to raise the profile of social enterprise across the country through a number of different campaigns
Jill Poet who produces the magazine Healthy Life Essex
jill@healthylifeessex.co.uk is also happy to circulate appropriate social enterprise information so get in touch if you have a project that links with her.
