Social Economy, Trading & Finance Feed

The Building Change Trust has launched two new awards programmes - ‘Exploring Change’ and ‘Deliver Change’ to help the Northern Ireland community and voluntary sector deal with changing times. ‘Exploring Change’ will make 60 awards of up to £20,000 for exploratory work within the sector - to view the programme criteria and application forms - click here (http://www.buildingchangetrust.org/download/1/Exploring%20Change%20final%20200510.pdf)‘Deliver Change’ will make 20 awards of around £50,000 for work to implement change - to view the programme criteria and application forms - click here (http://www.buildingchangetrust.org/download/1/Deliver%20Change%20final%20200510.pdf)For further details - Visit the BCT website - click here (http://www.buildingchangetrust.org/news/default.asp?ID=32 itemId=5 va=0)Further information is also available from the Trust Administrator, T: 028 90 408 726 or E: info@buildingchangetrust.org (mailto:info@buildingchangetrust.org)

If you can you answer yes to the following questions then you may be eligible for help from the Tender Alerting Service provided by Invest NI. (Previous experience of the tendering process is preferable but it is not a requirement): Has your social enterprise the capacity to deliver on supplies/services/tenders worth between £20k -£100k?Has your social enterprise been established at least 3 years?Can you produce audited accounts for the past 2 years?The Tender Alerting Service will develop a profile of your business and assist in matching you with relevant tender opportunities.

The Social Economy Network is delighted to announce the launch of the Social Economy Network Photographic Competition 2010. Applications are invited from social enterprises across Northern who are members of the Social Economy Network. This is an opportunity to have your social enterprise photographed and to be professionally exhibited. We are planning on showcasing the photographic exhibition to a range of stakeholders across Northern Ireland. We are aiming on exhibiting up to thirty photographs that are a representative cross section of social enterprises drawn from different business categories. Every attempt will be made to ensure that all of the six counties are represented. To enter - Contact Thelma - E: thelma@socialeconomynetwork.org (mailto:thelma@socialeconomynetwork.org) or T: 028 90 770 502 by no later than 4 June 2010. For details on the benefits of Membership of the Social Economy Network or to join - click...

Pictured Above - John McMullan, CEO Bryson Charitable Group with Anne Graham, Director (SEN)The SEN is proud to have sponsored the Best Social Economy Enterprise Award in this year’s Belfast Business Awards. Congratulations!' - to Bryson Charitable Group who were announced as the winners of the Best Social Economy Enterprise at a Gala Ceremony on 29 April in the City Hall, Belfast. And 'Well Done!' to Ashton Community Trust and Praxis Care who where highly commended for their work and their contributions to the community.