In January/February 2005 we delivered a 12 Module training workshop on social enterprise start-up on behalf of the Centre for African Development (CfAD). The beneficiaries were 30 BME women who were unemployed but were eager to start their own individual businesses in their communities. The training lasted for 6 weeks. We produced a training manual, which was distributed to all participants. The participants received individual certificates, which were presented by the Mayor of Sutton on completion.
Most of the participants have since started managing their own businesses in their communities.

Social Enterprise start-up training for people from BME communities in East London

In May 2005, we conducted another training session on Social Enterprise start-up for BME communities in Hackney and Tower Hamlets. The training comprised a 16 module course comprising of:

• Overview of social enterprise
• Introduction to social enterprise
• Vision and mission building
• Community needs assessment
• Business planning
• Assertiveness and confidence building
• Management and management structures
• Legal structures
• Accessing funding for your projects
• Developing a fundraising strategy
• Marketing your business
• Financial and sustainable planning and controls
• Health and safety
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Networking and working in partnership
• Project report writing

There were 20 participants comprising 11 women and 9 men from Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Barking and Dagenham and Newham boroughs over 12 weeks. Most participants applied to various funders for grants.