There's plenty going on at Carbon Co-op, a new low carbon social enterprise developed by OpenSpace tenant Jonathan Atkinson working alongside URBED Co-op and Kindling Trust.

Poetry publishing company 'Puppywolf' is asking for submissions for 'Best of Manchester Poets Volume 2", their annual anthology which will be published in September 2011.

Anybody over 18 who calls themselves a Manchester poet can contribute. You can submit two poems and it’s free of charge to do so. The deadline for submissions is 30th June 2011.

Find out more here on their website.

Puppywolf is run by OpenSpace's very own Keir Thomas.

 

 

 

The Greater Manchester social enterprise sector came together in November for Together Works 2010, a business networking event held at MadLab, Manchester. Organised by OpenSpace member, lowwintersun, for Together Works, the social enterprise network for Greater Manchester, it was attended by social enterprises, support agencies and funders. Social businesses and co-operatives present include FC United, Victoria Baths and Co-op Group. The lively event included a panel discussion on the threats and opportunities for social enterprise in 2011.

Journalist Helen Clifton, has recently published an article in the Big Issue in the North, looking at the growth of co-operatives in the region. Helen was a member at OpenSpace and though new to the co-operative sector was won over by her experiences here. As well as featuring OpenSpace, Helen has talked to the Busy Bee toy co-operative from Chorlton, Manchester and the Nenthead Community Shop from Cumbria.

Today's Sunday Times features an article on co-operative consortia, people or businesses who come together to form mutual trading units. Consortia are particularly common in the agricultural sector but the benefits of sharing costs and overheads have seen the model growing in popularity.

Click here to view the article.

While setting up OpenSpace we received loads of help and support from the Co-operative Group. They provided advice and a grant which helped us establish ourselves, do some marketing and build our mezzanine.

If you are setting up a co-operative enterprise they offer a range of free services. You can find out more information here.

And of course we're always happy to provide hints and tips on setting up a co-working project like OpenSpace.

 A close friend of mine is moving down under later this year for a while and sent me this interesting link, check it out.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/6222210/Largest-dust-storms-in-70-years-cover-Sydney.html

 

OpenSpace is a co-operative for small organisations and freelancers working in the creative, environmental or social enterprise sectors.

At 6pm on Wednesday 9th September 2009, OpenSpace and film maker Damien Mahoney are launching a series of short films documenting how we set up and established our co-working space.

Come along after work to help us celebrate and make some links and contacts with other people working in social enterprise and co-operatives.

Financial Diversification Workshop 14 October 2009
Free to social enterprises in Greater Manchester

Following the extensive consultation that Social
Enterprise North West carried out towards the end of last year, Together
Works, in association with SELNET (Social Enterprise Lancashire
Network), is providing free workshops for Social Enterprises in Greater
Manchester designed to:

•Increase turnover through trading and funding
•Secure public sector contracts
•Collaborate on bids / opportunities

Funding is being provided by Capacity Builders.