Twelve years ago, Community Housing Cymru set up an Award scheme to recognise housing innovation in memory of a special person - Pat Chown. Pat gave a big part of her life to helping others and spent much of her working life in helping to meet people's housing needs in Wales.
Gwynedd-based horticulture, catering and joinery social enterprise tells us what makes the business a success, and about its plans to grow the organisation further.
News Archive
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Capturing Creativity Pat Chown Award 2012
Twelve years ago, Community Housing Cymru set up an Award scheme to recognise housing innovation in memory of a special person - Pat Chown. Pat gave a big part of her life to helping others and spent much of her working life in helping to meet people's housing needs in Wales. -
Promote your social enterprise at the Cardiff Wales Mardi Gras
The annual Mardis Gras returns to Cardiff for a 13th consecutive year on Saturday 1st September 2012 and this year the organisers want more social enterprises to join in the celebrations and promote their services at the much-loved Mardi Gras market place. -
Consultation on proposals for a Sustainable Development Bill
The Welsh Government has launched its long-awaited consultation on plans to strengthen the duty on public bodies to deliver sustainable development -
Strength and diversity of Welsh social enterprise celebrated at Assembly reception
The Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition held its first reception at the National Assembly for Wales on Tuesday 24th April. Attended by over 90 people, including Cabinet Ministers and Shadow Ministers, the event was a real success. -
No time to ‘paws’ at Remploy
Their jobs may be under threat but workers at Bridgend’s Remploy factory have little time to “paws” for thought. -
Chief Executive’s Report & Policy Update - April 2012
At every Board meeting Welsh Social Enterprise Chief Executive, John Bennett, gives a report on the work we have been doing to represent our members. John's Report is available here, together with an update on recent policy developments, to keep members up to date. -
Energy, enthusiasm and enlightenment at Social Enterprise Exchange
The organisers of Social Enterprise Exchange promised the world's biggest social enterprise event. They did not disappoint. -
Community radio stations to receive funding to the tune of £100,000
Eight community radio stations across Wales are to be rewarded for the valuable role they play in their local areas. Each will receive a share of £100,000 from the Welsh Government to continue the work they do. -
Office Space Available
Looking for secure office space in Cardiff? We might have just what you're looking for -
Village SOS Roadshow to swing by Narberth
The Village SOS Roadshow is back, providing information, inspiration and advice to rural communities across England, Scotland and Wales for free. And on Tuesday 1st May, the Roadshow stops off in Narberth. -
How is 2012 shaping up? Three members fill us in
This might be the year that belts are tightening all around, but according to three WSEC members, business in 2012 is shaping up well. Here's what they said about the year so far, and their expectations for the future... -
Two Focus Groups in April
We are holding two focus groups in April as we continue to build the evidence we need to help social enterprises grow and flourish in Wales. -
Powys Glass Recycling Social Enterprise Forges Links with Czech counterparts
A group of eight people from Powys social enterprise, Ten Green Bottles, are off to the Czech capital Prague in April for a two week visit to the country famous for its Bohemian glass. -
Social Value Bill becomes law
A Bill requiring English and some Welsh public bodies to consider social, economic and environmental wellbeing in their procurement policies has received Royal Assent. -
The latest from the National Assembly on social enterprise
Despite the Spring recess, it has been a busy month at the National Assembly for Wales. Read the latest Assembly Update here. -
The World Tonight puts the spotlight on social enterprise
The BBC radio programme 'The World Tonight' is running a series of reports on social enterprise this week. Tune in or listen online. -
Credit Union TV campaign underway
Minister for Local Government and Communities Carl Sargeant has welcomed a television advertising campaign aimed at making people more aware of what credit unions do and the help they can offer. -
WSEC Focus Group in Wrexham, Monday 20th February, 1.00pm - 3.00pm
The Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition pitches up in Wrexham on the 20th February for the latest in a series of focus groups which give social enterprises an opportunity to raise issues with us and discuss developments within the sector. -
Social enterprises encouraged to bid for new Coastal Communities Fund
Details about the launch of a new £23.7 million programme supporting the prosperity and rejuvenation of coastal towns have been announced by the UK Government. -
Making Business Sense – Social Enterprise as a Model of Tenant Participation
A report by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Cymru has highlighted the "multiple regenerative benefits" that can be gained from the establishment of new social enterprises in the Welsh housing sector. -
Chief Executive’s Report - January 2012
At every Board meeting Welsh Social Enterprise Chief Executive, John Bennett, gives a report on the work we have been doing to represent our members. We post John's Report on our website after every meeting to keep members up to date. -
The latest from the National Assembly on social enterprise
Find out what Assembly Members have been saying about social enterprise in the New Year. -
Lis Burnett named new Chair of WSEC
The Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition (WSEC) has announced that former Vice-Chair, Lis Burnett, has been elected as its new Chair by the Board of Directors, succeeding Mal Williams. -
WSEC Focus Group in Welshpool, Monday 6th February, 12pm - 2pm
Our next focus group takes place at the offices of excellent Welsh social enterprise Cae Post in Welshpool on Monday 6th February. -
New Focus Group venues confirmed
We have confirmed the dates and times of our next three focus groups. Read on for more information. -
Take advantage of WSEC’s discounted rates at The Social Enterprise Exchange
The organisers of The Social Enterprise Exchange have created a package for the Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition and its members to come to Glasgow on Tuesday 27th March for what promises to be the biggest social enterprise event of 2012. -
Welsh Government: Social enterprises have to be “smart and efficient” when going for contracts
Government staff at the Social Enterprise Wales 2011 conference say being “smart and efficient” is a “big factor in awarding contracts” in the current economy. -
The latest from the Assembly on social enterprise
Assembly Members are heading back to their constituencies for the Christmas recess after a busy term where the Welsh economy has dominated proceedings. -
WSEC Board Elections 2011
The results of the WSEC Board Elections were announced at our Annual General Meeting yesterday (Tuesday 6th December) -
Welsh Government unveils new Economic Stimulus Package to boost economy and support business growth
The Welsh Government has announced details of a new Economic Stimulus Package designed to stimulate the economy, protect and promote jobs and support business growth in Wales. -
SEWales2011: Social entrepreneurs and experts offer tips for success
Brian Popsys, head of successful social enterprise candle company Beacons Creative, Lis Burnett, head of the social entrepreneurship hub at Glamorgan University and others offer their top tips from the Social Enterprise Wales 2011 conference in Swansea -
One Water founder feels guilty about not yet supporting UK projects
Duncan Goose, co-founder of the company behind One Water, which sells bottled water in the UK to support clean water projects in Africa, has said he gets “pangs of guilt” for not supporting deprived UK communities. But he said the company was looking at supporting UK projects in the future. -
£6m EU-backed funds for community enterprise
A £6m investment fund to help community organisations create local enterprise was announced yesterday (Tuesday) by Deputy Minister for European Programmes, Alun Davies. -
Deloitte Social Innovation Pioneers programme offers free business support to social enterprises
Deloitte have this week launched their Social Innovation Pioneers Programme which will showcase up to 50 socially innovative businesses from across the UK and provide them with a package of support to help them achieve their full potential. -
Liam Black: Jamie Oliver underestimated SE challenge
Speaking at Social Enterprise Wales 2011 conference, former head of Jamie Oliver’s chef academy and restaurant chain Fifteen, said that the TV cook and healthy eating in schools campaigner didn’t realise how difficult it would be to run a social enterprise. -
Enterprise Minister to review social enterprise support
Business & Enterprise Minister, Edwina Hart AM, told delegates at the Social Enterprise Wales 2011 event in Swansea last week that delivering the right kind of support for social enterprises would be a major focus as her department develops a new Micro-Business Strategy for Wales. -
EU bets on social business to boost growth
EurActiv reports that the European Commission has started a crucial dialogue with stakeholders to ensure that social enterprises are given the means and the recognition to grow, having been convinced that economic growth patters of the past will not be viable in the future. -
Focus Groups Update
We held our first two focus groups in Carmarthen on Monday 31st October and in Ferndale on Thursday 10th November which were a great success. Following interest from WSEC members across Wales we have confirmed another four focus groups over the next few months, with a view to confirming more in the near future. -
Elections to the Board of the Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition
WSEC Members will soon receive ballot forms to vote in elections to the WSEC Board. There are five places available on the Board with eight candidates to choose from. -
Chief Executive’s Report
At every Board meeting WSEC Chief Executive, John Bennett, gives a report to Board members on the work we, as an organisation, have been doing since the last meeting. We don't think we should keep it to ourselves so we will post John's report on the website soon after every Board meeting. Read the latest Chief Executive's Report below. -
Sector should mimic environment movement, says international support leader - ahead of big event
Social enterprises must make the social business movement as successful as the environmental movement, says David Le Page, speaking ahead of his presentation at the Social Enterprise Wales Conference in Swansea this month. -
Have your say on the issues that affect your social enterprise
When we lobby the Welsh Government, local authorities, support agencies and other institutions, we need the evidence to help improve the support they provide to social enterprises. And that's where you come in! -
The latest from the Assembly on social enterprise
The role of social enterprises and support for the sector has featured prominently in the National Assembly this term. -
Welsh social enterprises scoop CFAP cash
WSEC was pleased to see a number of social enterprises being given a pot of cash in the latest round of Communities and Facilities Activities Programme (CFAP) Welsh government funding. -
Enterprise Zones must embed social enterprise says WSEC Chief Executive
The Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition has welcomed the announcement that the Welsh Government is to create five Enterprise Zones across Wales. -
Message from WSEC chief executive John Bennett
I would like to let members and the wider public know that I have written to the chair of the recently renamed Social Enterprise UK (previously the Social Enterprise Coalition) asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the name change. -
WSEC welcomes new policy officer
WSEC is pleased to announce the appointment of its policy and communications officer Darren Griffiths. He joins having spent a number of years working in policy and research roles in both the UK Parliament and National Assembly for Wales. -
Moneyline Cymru nets £400,000 to enable growth
Affordable loan provider, Moneyline Cymru, is to get £100,000 in cash from the Social Business Trust, plus £300,000 of in-kind support from the Trust’s partners. -
Welsh social enterprise in the media - round-up
Check out the latest news and blogs featuring Welsh social entrepreneurs. From Sharon Rouse, CEO of Morphious in Merthyr being named one of Britain's female entrepreneurship ambassadors, to environmental social entrepreneur Andy Middleton speaking at Back to Business Week, this week, and more... -
CEOs of UK social enterprise coalitions meet
Heads of the social enterprise coaltions in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland met in Edinburgh recently to discuss working together to bring more benefits to members, writes John Bennett, CEO of Welsh SEC
