News and Events

A wide range of local organisations, including charities, community groups and an animator attended the recent Social Enterprise training day organised by the City Council's Local Economy and Community Development Teams on 5 March at Hall Place, as part of its Business Month programme.

The event, organised in partnership with Business Link Kent and the Canterbury District Community Alliance, aimed to encourage the 25 organisations that attended to be self-sustaining, plan growth, and explore new ways of sourcing revenue and capital funding.

Chris Inwood, Economic Development Projects Officer for Canterbury City Council, said: "Government grants for charities and other community groups are being reduced or totally eliminated in some cases. Canterbury City Council and the Canterbury District Community Alliance are keen to work with these groups under the new agenda of Social Enterprise. It's important that they think of themselves as money-making organisations in terms of sourcing continued funding for their work."

Business Link Kent provided a free, full day business workshop. The workshop, the first of its kind in Kent, focused on finance, performance, planning, human resources, sustainability, marketing and sales. It included a session using Business Link Kent's new 'Taxtics' board game, which offered delegates an innovative way of learning about the highs and lows of running a social enterprise or new business start up, in a fun but competitive environment.

Chris Inwood said: "Social Enterprise is a really important sector to Canterbury City Council, which is why is was great to work in partnership with the Community Alliance, our own Community Development Team and Business Link Kent to provide what was an informative but fun way of learning how to run a social enterprise. The 'Taxtics' game, in particular, really bought out the entrepreneurial spirit of attendees. Each organisation has been allocated a BLK business advisor, so relationships established at the training day will continue."