VAL and CASE collaborate to bring you social enterprise & investment support

VAL will also support the VCS to collaborate, develop new strategies, secure increased contracts and leverage social investment. The project activities include sending out regular news and information on social enterprise & investment, delivering investment readiness workshops, training and network development.

Why this project is important

It is important that VCS groups think about the direction they are going and where income will come from in the long term, and we advise groups to develop diverse income sources so that they are more resilient in the long term. Income from trading is one good source of funding because it is unrestricted and it can be used to not only develop the business side of the organisation but it can also be used to invest in social outcomes. This project is therefore important because it will provide the support and training that groups need to develop their funding plans so that can address local needs in the long term.

What has happened so far

The VAL sector support team has attended training in social enterprise and investment and is working with CASE to proactively identify and support local VCS organisations that want to develop and grow through trading and investment. VAL is also currently in discussion with Commissioners at the Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council about potential options and opportunities for collaboration and social investment.

CASE delivered a social enterprise and investment workshop in March – where groups learnt about investment readiness and social investment and received information, resources and tools for business planning.

CASE has also been working with VAL and other CVSs across the East Midlands to communicate information about social enterprise and social investment to the VCS including case studies, resources, good practice, and social enterprise news.

Future plans

If you are interested in accessing support to develop and grow through enterprise and investment then contact the VAL Sector Support Helpline – helpline@valonline.org.uk – 0116 257 5050 or CASE on T. 0116 222 5010, email enquiries@case.coop

We recommend that groups come along to our next event called ‘Let’s Talk Good Finance’ to find out more about social investment and to meet a social investor. It is being held at VAL on 18th June 2019. Further details can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-talk-good-finance-east-midlands-leicester-tickets-60752028954 We will also be running further workshops on social enterprise and investment, so watch this space.

To keep up to date, follow VAL and CASE on social media @CaseCooperative @valonline and regularly check your inboxes!

Quorn Mills Park Bowling Club

Following this, VAL helped draw up appropriate charitable objectives, adapting the model-governing document to incorporate the rules of Bowls England, helped with the committee’s decision making to agree to this change of structure, and supported the club to apply as a registered charity. This included reviewing policies and procedures relevant to the application questions.

Applications to the charity commission usually take at least 12 weeks to be approved, however due to VAL’s help and the work of the Club’s trustees, the application was approved by the charity commission within 7 days.

The club’s charitable objective is to provide opportunities for participation and healthy recreation for the inhabitants of their local area by providing facilities for playing bowls.

The club’s next step will be to contact their landlord with the news of their new status, which they hope will lead to an agreement of a long-term lease. As a previously unincorporated body, they were unable to sign such a lease in the club’s name.

The Quorn Mills Park Bowling Club chairman said:

“Our direction and potential development has really been enhanced by becoming a registered charity. VAL’s support along the way has been invaluable, as it will continue to be as we move into uncharted, but exciting, waters.”

They have some preliminary plans for expanding the club’s premises as they continue to grow; early season indications show a 25% increase in membership over the last 2 years. They are hoping their charitable status might help them to review potential sources of part funding.

Club Update

“I am pleased to say the lease arrangement has been working very satisfactorily. The fact that we are a charity and holders of a long lease has made a big difference to our position with regards to grants – we have managed to secure some very useful grants from Sport England and Charnwood Council which has really helped us get through Covid so far. We are in the process of organising Gift Aid on members subscriptions and are actively involving ourselves in “Easyfunding” (via Sport Leicester). Plans for clubhouse development have been a bit on hold due to Covid, but we are beginning to see the light again now and will be reviewing our plans over the next few months.”