Foresters Community Finance, Social Enterprise Solutions & Community Asset Building

Join us for an interactive and educational (and free) workshop designed to help you understand:

• recent shifts in community finance
• how a loan for asset purchase could help your social enterprise
• the barriers that exist to accessing finance for asset purchase and business development

Is your social enterprise considering:

• growth & expansion
• property purchase
• business development
• refurbishment
• new products
• new equipment

The Tasmanian Social Enterprise Network is pleased to offer you the opportunity to take advantage of one of three venues in Tasmania:

Hobart:           Tuesday May 1 9am-1pm
Launceston:     Wednesday May 2 9am-1pm
Burnie:            Wednesday May 2 3-6pm

Spaces are limited to 50, please register online today at www.foresters.org.au/knowledge-exchance/events.html

Working Groups

A core working group of passionate individuals is maintaining the momentum of social enterprise in Tasmania. These all head up the small working groups that are addressing the objectives identified at last years workshop. This is a true collaboration which includes business, government, the community sector and the arts working together to explore the possibilities. So sign up as a member of the blog, get onto the facebook page and become involved in the conversation.

Social Enterprise Network Objectives

Great outcomes from the social enterprise workshop that was held in December. 


The group identified 5 key objectives to focus on that included:

1. Raise awareness of social enterprise

2. Increase access to funds and financial products

3. Increase access to markets

4. Build trading capacity of social enterprises

5. Coordination of support for social enterprises

Social Enterprise Workshop

What a fantastic opportunity to gather to talk about social enterprise in Tasmania. Hosted by DEDTA, this two day workshop provided a vehicle for organisations and social enterprises to share their knowledge and experience to help develop a plan for social enterprise in Tasmania.
After much discussion and debate there were 5 key areas identified which aligned with the recommendations from the Tasmanian Social Enterprise Study.
Individuals and organisations identified the areas they were able to contribute to and a commitment was made to work in teams to develop plans.
For more information about the workshop please contact Rose Tegg at the Dept of Economic Development.

Funding Social Enterprise-an example...

Parramatta City Council’s Social Enterprise Grants program has been running for five years and now allocates $80 000 per annum. The current round closes on 2^nd December 2011 and is for funding that will commence in July 2012.
The program has recently been re-structured and two funding streams are now available through the category:

§  The ‘business planning’ stream provides funding of up to $2 500 to assist early stage social enterprises to develop the business plan for their model.

§  The ‘growing social enterprise in Parramatta’ stream provides two grants of $25 000 ($50 000 total pool) to assist successful social enterprises locate in the Parramatta LGA (from elsewhere), or for local social enterprises to take a significant growth step (ie. if already based in Parramatta).

The ‘growing social enterprise in Parramatta’ stream is part of a larger Social Enterprise Attraction Strategy, which is working towards establishing Parramatta as a location of choice for social enterprises. 

Campbell Town Forum

What a success this forum was with more than 75 attending to hear stories of Tasmanian social enterprises, along with information about resources and opportunities.
Check out the photos taken on the day

Tas Food Security Council symposium

A free full day at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens on Monday 21st November.
This event is an opportunity to have input into the Tasmanian Food Security Strategy and to learn more about current food security initiatives within Tasmania. 
There are four concurrent workshops, one of which is on Regional Development and Social Enterprise
Email sarah.connally@dhhs.tas.gov.au by Friday 28th October to register