Voluntary Sector Sustainability

What do we mean by Voluntary Sector Sustainability?

The Social Economy encompasses organisations existing between the private market and the public sector. It includes social enterprises, voluntary and community sector organisations, foundations, trade unions, religious bodies, housing associations, co-operatives and more. The key features that social economy organisations share are:

Participation in economic activity, whether through trading, employing staff or helping beneficiaries into work.

Clear social objectives which underpin the activities of the organisation.

Social ownership which sees surpluses reinvested in the organisation rather than distributed as dividends to private shareholders.

The Regional Forum works across the region to promote, develop and represent the social economy. We work with the Development Trusts Association, our partners in the Footsey social economy trade fair.

Together with partners the Forum has helped to establish SEYH (Social Enterprise Yorkshire and the Humber) a regional network of support agencies and practitioners with a remit to support social enterprise. SEYH is a member of the Social Enterprise Coalition that works closely with government on policy to support the development of social enterprise.

The Regional Forum's role is to promote the social economy, build links with regional Government and public bodies, highlight market opportunities and lobby for support of the social economy.

The Forum has recently secured support from Capacitybuilders for an initiative we are calling Footsey Plus. This initiative aims to provide practical opportunities to bring together enterprising third sector organisations and public purchasers, to build mutual understanding and relationships in the region.

If you have any queries regarding the social economy, please contact the Regional Forum on 0113 394 2300. Sign up to SEDnet, our email network on the social economy.

Latest News

Big Lottery Fund unveils new funding strategy
** Kaye Wiggins, Third Sector Online, 25 June 2009 ** The voluntary and community sector will receive at least 80 per cent of funds and an extra £45m for the recession The Big Lottery Fund is p...

Social Enterprise Yorkshire and the Humber Awards nominations
Social Enterprise Yorkshire & the Humber and Business Link Yorkshire are launching the annual search to find the region’s most dynamic and innovative social enterprises. Entries for the Social Ente...

Yorkshire Forward looks for new Board Members
Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward is looking for new members to join its Board. Tasked with driving economic development in Yorkshire and Humber – and in the current economic climate, s...

Upcoming Events

23/07/2009: "How the region works" - Regional Forum Information Session
Venue: Regional Forum, Leeds Time: 3.00pm - 5.00pm Do you understand how governance structures work at the regional level? Where does the voluntary and community sector fit in? What does the Re...

22/10/2009: FOOTSEY 2009
Venue: Doncaster Racecourse The key fixture of 2009 for the UK social economy and beyond The eighth annual Footsey trade fair is the key fixture for the social economy in Yorkshire and the Humbe...