Date:     Thursday 23^rd February 2012

Time:     Registration: 6pm

 Presentations: 6.15 – 8pm

 Networking (including drinks and nibbles): 8pm – 9pm

Venue:   The Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University (http://tinyurl.com/6s3toty)

Cost:      Free 

Social enterprises are a growing, worldwide movement of businesses that look to tackle social problems, improve communities and enhance people's life changes.  The Coalition Government has committed itself to creating a greater role for Social Enterprises and the 'Big Society' vision hinges on this.

Doing it for our Community, hosted by Northumbria University Law School, in conjunction with Fast Forward Now Ltd., will bring together individuals and organisations that are actively making the North East a better place.  Speakers from a wide variety of local social enterprises will share their experiences, achievements and aims for the future as well as some revealing insights into the challenges of setting up and running a social enterprise.

The event will include presentations from:

Nationally acclaimed and multi-award winning Social Enterprise, Tyne Gateway Trust, which was established to support communities and employers to work together to address family and child poverty.  Tyne Gateway's social and economic mission is: 'To unlock the potential of local communities to build their own enterprising and innovative pathways out of poverty that raise aspiration and transform lives'.  Hear from Jill Baker and the Community Entrepreneurs delivering this mission.

Cross-cultural, community music project Crossings, a project that brings together asylum seekers, refugees, local and international musicians to collaborate on the development and performance of their music.  Its aims are to promote integration and community cohesion by providing a platform for refugees, asylum seekers and the local community to collaborate through the arts.  Hear from Lucy Fairley and some of the Crossings members.

Jam Jar Cinema CIC, winner of the Social Entrepreneurship category of the 2011 Blueprint Awards.  This innovative and modern social enterprise has the aim of improving access to arts provision in the North East outside of the City Centre.  The business is due to open its first venue in April 2012 with a further three venues scheduled to open over the next two years.  Dan Ellis will update you on his journey so far.

Students working in Northumbria University School of Law's award winning Student Law Office.  Several students will be giving real-life examples of case studies they are working on.  Delegates will have the opportunity to hear about the free legal service available to members of the public including a number of local and national businesses, social enterprises and charities. 

For further information please contact Elaine Campbell at Northumbria University on 0191 227 7548 or elaine.campbell@northumbria.ac.uk.

Come along and join the conversation!