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Publications

See Magazines page for New Sector etc.

Understanding Social Enterprise was downloadable from Social Enterprise London - have a look under 'Social Enterprise?' section.

Co-operative Working 1, 2 and 3 is a part of a range of publications produced by Co-operatives Research Unit. A selection of learning materials covering different aspects and different stages in the development of worker co-ops. From CRU, Technology Faculty, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, phone 01908 653054, email: A.S.Walters@open.ac.uk

Radical Routes How to set up a workers' co-op and How to set up a housing co-op booklets. Contact Footprint Workers Co-op to check availablity, email: footprint@footprinters.co.uk

There is a Society for Co-operative Studies (international but based in UK) which publishes a regular Journal, but probably only for those really interested in all aspects of co-operative activity.

Networks and Educational

Academic providers, including School for Social Entrepreneurs, can be found on Professional Development page.

• Community Action Network - CAN-online. Links activists and social entrepreneurs.
  
  
• Co-operative College.
  
  
• Social Enterprise Academy, in Scotland, providing learning and development programmes for leaders and potential leaders of social enterprises.
  
  
• Social Enterprise Coalition aims to provide a voice for the sector. The web site now has a good links section. Also see Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition.
  
  
• Social Enterprise Institute at Heriot-Watt University.
  
  
• Social Enterprise East has an online discussion forum.
  
  
• Social Enterprise Network is the national network for those with an interest in social enterprise and social entrepreneurship in health and care. There is also an NHS social enterprise information section on the web.
  
  
• Social Enterprise and Waste Research Network web link now redirecting to BRASS (the ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society), so not sure if it still exists, to support practitioners and researchers in learning more about social enterprises and community organisations engaged in dealing with waste and resources.
  
  
• Social Firms UK works mainly through regional networks. They have some publications on mental health service users moving to work, asset transfer etc. (Social Firms are here defined as businesses set up to create employment for disabled people.)
  
  
• Social Enterprise Partnership has various of the other bodies mentioned here as partners/members. See their Register of Business Support for possible advisers etc.

By location

• Scotland: Senscot Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland; Community Business Scotland Network. Directory for the Highlands Buy into Highland.

• Social Economy Network is for the Northern Ireland social economy.

• Wales Co-operative Centre.

• Community Enterprise Wales#.

• Social Enterprise London. Has plenty of useful info. 1a Aberdeen Studios, 22-24 Highbury Grove, London, N5 2EA, phone 020 7704 7490, email: info@sel.org.uk

• Co-Enterprise Business development agency for social enterprises and Community Business in Birmingham. 138 Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DR, phone 0121 687 8790.

• Co-operative Futures supports development of social enterprises in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Swindon and Wiltshire.

• nearbuyou Eastern region trading network for community/social enterprises.

• Social Economy East Midlands.

• Social Enterprise West Midlands.

• Social Economy Bristol.

• Merseyside Social Enterprise Initiative.

• North East Social Enterprise Partnership.

• RISE - the voice for South West social enterprise.

Other web sites

• Assist Social Capital A Scottish project to promote the concept (and relevant action?).
  
  
• CDA Anywhere website disappeared spring 07. Had an online manual with useful material - the road to setting up a CDA (co-operative development agency). Some of this appears on other sites too.
  
  
• Community Development Foundation Social inclusion, regeneration, network society are some of the options.
  
  
• Community Enterprise Ltd Business Support, Training and Consultancy Services for the Social Economy, based in Edinburgh.
  
  
• Co-operative Assistance Network Trainers and consultants with various briefing sheets on the web site, including on housing, food and childcare co-ops.
  
  
• Co-operatives UK is the merged body of co-op 'trade associations' - worker, consumer, housing, community and other co-op types. Incorporates ICOM. Legal and other services and support, training. Holyoake House, Hanover St, Manchester, M60 0AS. Co-operative & Community Finance (was ICOF) is a sister organisation providing loan finance for co-operatives, employee owned businesses and social enterprises.
  
  
• EMES Research Network European social economy research network.
  
  
• Employee Ownership Options.
  
  
• Enterprising Communities Aims to be a showcase of what people can do, although at Mar 04 case studies still to come.
  
  
• Learning City Network Developing learning partnerships between cities, employers and communities.
  
  
• LetsLink Information on setting up and running Local Exchange Trading Systems or Schemes - trading locally without money (using 'complementary currencies'). In Scotland, check out the Community Exchange Network site.
  
  
• Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation Planning for Real community consultation tool, publications such as Building Design Pack, training in practical community development and planning skills, recent Jigsaw newsletter online. The Poplars, Lightmoor, Telford, TF4 3QN, phone 0870 7700339.
  
  
• Social Firms Run by Edinburgh Community Trust.
  
  
• The government's Social Enterprise support is now via the Office of the Third Sector.
  
  
• Time Banking A variation on Lets (not to be confused with Time Bank, a volunteering set up). Also see Fair Shares.
  
  
• Total Coverage has some pages about co-operatives, including a link to Co-opNet, the email discussion forum they manage, and co-op support bodies around the country.
  
  
• uk.coop is the online directory of co-operatives.
  
  
• For an international angle on Social Entrepreneurs, take a look at Ashoka or its online resource Changemakers.net.
  
  
• Institute for Social Entrepreneurs.