eBulletin
Welcome to the Social Enterprise Edinburgh eBulletin - providing you with information, events and news from the world of social enterprise in Edinburgh.
Events
Social Audit Network (SAN) Annual Conference - Edinburgh - 7th November 2008
Celebrating social innovation in Scotland - Edinburgh - 12th November 2008
Growing Business Workshops - Edinburgh - until December 2008
Start Up Workshops - Edinburgh - until December 2008
Getting Investor Ready - Edinburgh - 9th December 2008
News
Free Membership offer for social enterprises
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce is offering free membership to Edinburgh-based social enterprises for one year. New and existing social enterprises can take advantage of a wide range of benefits, including the opportunity to build links with the private sector, free HR support, a free 24 hour legal helpline, and a free business mentoring service. To find out more please contact Maureen Munro on 0131 221 3198, e-mail maureen.munro@edinburghchamber.co.uk or visit http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/
Caring Christmas Trees in Edinburgh
Buy a real Christmas tree from a social enterprise, here in Edinburgh. Bethany Christian Trust is selling quality Christmas trees grown in Scotland in sustainable tree farms. Caring Christmas Trees raises funds for Bethany's Care Shelter giving homeless people a hot meal and a safe place to sleep over the winter months. Find out more or buy your tree at http://www.caringchristmastrees.com/edinburgh
Aspire to Enterprise - Seminar Series
Aspire to Enterprise is offering a series of FREE half day seminars on crucial aspects of social enterprise activity. Workshop topics include strategic business planning, costing your services and marketing for social enterprises. To register for any of these seminars contact aspire to enterprise on 0141 425 2939 or e-mail info@aspiretoenterprise.org.uk or apply online at http://www.aspiretoenterprise.org.uk/seminars.
Social Enterprise in Schools Initiative
The Social Enterprise Academy and Determined to Succeed are looking for ambassadors who are actively involved in social enterprise and who would be prepared to go into a school and share their experience with pupils and staff. To find out more e-mail schools@theacademy-ssea.org , call 0131 243 2670 or visit http://www.sesscotland.org.uk/index.html
Funding
Funding Futures
If you missed the SEE Funding Futures event on 30 September organised by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and would like to view presentations from the event, please visit the SEE website. Discover where to go for new funding, find out about a bank that is interested in social enterprise, and learn about a potential new source of investment capital. Please visit http://www.go4see.info/pages/Resources.html
Third Sector Enterprise Fund
Scottish Government will be offering funding of up to £100,000 to third sector organisations that want to build their capacity to operate in an enterprising way. The £12 million enterprise fund will be open for applications from January A total of £2.7 million will be invested in 2008-09, with £5 million in 2009-10 and £4.3 million in 2010-11. To find out more please visit http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/15300/Actionplan
Case Study
Spotlight on Community Cafes in Edinburgh by Ruari Wilson
(Ruari has been working for Forth Sector for 10 years and is currently involved in supporting social enterprises in Edinburgh under SEE)
As a cake eating cyclist and home baking aficionado I take a keen interest in Edinburgh community cafe culture. It's a great way to cheer ourselves up in this time of economic gloom and support a good cause at the same time. I've listed as many cafes as I can think of here and given my personal opinion on those I've patronized. A key factor to be aware of is the limited opening hours all these establishments operate. It's very disappointing to find a place shut having worked up an appetite! Please bear in mind that I'm a tea drinker that likes it served in a pot - so no opinions on coffee.
Pretty much the Holy Grail for me. The first thing you notice out on the street is the aroma of home baking. This cafe serves quality organic food at very reasonable prices in homely surroundings. I like to work up some steam cycling round Arthur's Seat before eating my fill here. Also I'm amazed how few people know about it, maybe because it's a bit off the beaten track. Very family friendly.
In a perfect location for the St James' shopping centre, this stylish cafe sports contemporary architecture, white furniture and lots of daylight. I played a gig here at the Edinburgh Festival - we enjoyed baked potatoes from a standard cafe menu.
This church building containing the cafe is another social enterprise/charity hub in Edinburgh - I was surprised by how many organisations have office space within it. I can recommend the home baked scones - and there's plenty of room to hold an informal meeting using the cafe tables.
(open Monday and Friday lunchtime only)
If you are a curry lover like me, then you will savour the fruits of this enterprise with delight. I can recommend the fish curry - it's absolutely fresh and full of flavour with a good kick in it...and the sweets require about ten miles of hard cycling to burn off. All at very reasonable prices served by staff with charm and elegance. But watch the extremely limited opening hours!
(open Tuesday and Thursday, 11am-2pm only)
A funky atmosphere often surrounded by an arts exhibition - great quality of light created by the glass roof, however this means it's freezing in winter and boiling in summer (sorry we didn't get any this year). Limited to a couple of hot dishes and one or two cakes but more than made up by the quality of the home cooked grub and its price. There's a real continental atmosphere created on the second Saturday of the month with live music and DJs - our band played at the last one. Redolent for me of Amsterdam in the 60's - without the wacky backy and drugs although they do sell large bottles of imported German Pilsner.
A cosy establishment in the West End situated down the steps under St John's Church - it's a bit of a haven from the bustle of the city centre and a long established social enterprise. The food is good and wholesome - somewhere along the lines of The Engine Shed, however higher prices reflect its central location. Why not stroll along the row and buy some presents in the One World Shop afterwards - it has a unique selection of Fair Trade gifts.
I ate some superb tiffin cake the last time I called in - full of dark chocolate and biscuit - this cafe offers a healthy food approach. It does have a slight institutional feel because of the age of the building and its access. However the space itself has plently of light and offers access to a garden in the summer
Fight your way in here with the students to savour freshly made curries (choice of around three) served in generous portions at prices that are a fraction of local restaurants. However it's communal eating on benches with disposable cutlery. For me it's a great stop off to fill up before a 7.30 show at the Festival Theatre as you can be served quickly and eat well for an astonishingly good price.
These are my own quirky opinions - I encourage you to try them for yourself!
Ruari Wilson
Contact Us
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Social Enterprise Edinburgh, c/o Forth Sector, SPACE, 11 Harewood Road,
Edinburgh EH16 4NT.
Tel: 0131 659 4740 Fax: 0131 659 4760