Common Cents 2011 brings together speakers with a wealth of knowledge and experience in addressing social issues through community businesses and social enterprises.
Michael D. Higgins will deliver the Keynote address: ‘Community, Culture and Creativity’.
Participants will have the opportunity to network and to learn how communities can access funding through Social Finance and the Rural Development Programme (Leader).
‘Putting Policy in to Practise’ was chosen as this year’s theme because of two recent significant developments: The new Government committed to “developing a vibrant and effective social enterprise sector” and the Social Enterprise Task Force said that an additional 25,000 jobs would be created over the next 5 years, if Irish social enterprise development reached the EU average.
Jonathan Coburn, Director of Think! Research for Social Change, Scotland, will present the results of his examination of the new Programme for Government and the Task Force Report. He will point to Scottish policy initiatives that could assist in Ireland. Scotland is a country of similar population that has many years experience of using the social enterprise model in rural and urban situations.
Areas to be explored at Common Cents 2011:
- How can community businesses and social enterprises support the creation of badly needed jobs?
- How does a community with a business idea or a business to develop access financial supports?
- Can it access funding under the Leader programme?
- What types of project would Clann Credo – the Social Investment Fund finance?
Are you working to improve community services and amenities?
Come along to learn from others. A number of innovative community businesses and social enterprises will present their stories.
Hear how a community organisation with great ideas for creating jobs got accessible loan finance.
Who should attend?
Anyone interested or involved with community business, social enterprise, social finance, rural development or the community and voluntary sector.
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd 