Member Article

Northumbria Law School Hosts Social Enterprise Event

North East businesses are being invited to listen and be inspired by amazing stories from local Social Enterprises and to learn from their experience of start-up as well as being given an opportunity to hear advice from the Student Law Office at Northumbria University Law School on the legalities of setting up a social enterprise.

Social enterprises are a growing, worldwide movement of businesses that look to tackle social problems, improve communities and enhance people’s lives. Doing It for our Community, hosted by the Student Law Office at Northumbria University Law School and North East business Fast Forward Now Ltd, are bringing together individuals and organisations that are actively making the North-East a better place.

The event, Doing It for our Community – Conversations in Social Enterprise, will take place on Thursday the 23rd of February 6pm-9pm at the Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from the Nationally acclaimed and multi-award winning Social Enterprise,Tyne Gateway Trust, who will be speaking about the work they do supporting communities and employers, helping them work together to address family and child poverty issues.

Cross-cultural, community music projectCrossings, a project that brings together asylum seekers, refugees, local and international musicians to collaborate on the development and performance of their music, which promotes integration and cohesion in communities. There will be an opportunity to hear the Women’s Choir sing and then listen to them speak.

And Jam Jar Cinema CIC, winner of the Social Entrepreneurship category of the 2011 Blueprint Awards, an innovative and modern Social Enterprise with the aim of improving access to arts provision in the North East. Jam Jar is due to open their first venue in April 2012 with a further three venues scheduled over the next two years.

Angela McLean, Managing Director of Fast Forward Ltd, who is organising the event in collaboration with the Student Law Office said “We need to inspire more people to set up social enterprises and listening to the stories of others is motivational – we want to demystify the process of setting up a social enterprise and this is why we have joined with the Student Law Office at Northumbria Law School.”

Elaine Campbell, Solicitor Tutor in the Student Law Office added “our award winning pro bono legal clinic, the Student Law Office, is increasingly providing free legal advice to social enterprises and charity groups. We are delighted to join with Angela and her to team to help social enterprises share their experiences at this fantastic event”.

The three very different social enterprises will illustrate the work that they are doing and the fantastic results and impact they are having on north east communities. Funding and understanding the legalities are just two of the topics that will be under discussion.

Come and be inspired by their determination and success so far and stay for our question and answer session with the speakers. The evening is also an opportunity to network.

Thursday the 23rd of February 6pm-9pm at the Great Hall Sutherland Building Northumbria University.

Places are FOC but limited. To book visit www.doingitforourcommunity.eventbrite.com, or contact Elaine Campbell at Northumbria University on 0191 227 7548 or Elaine.campbell@northumbria.ac.uk for more information.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anelise Siddle .