From April 2013 local Healthwatch replaced the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) as the "consumer voice" in health and social care. It is important that local Healthwatch learns from the experience of the LINks to ensure they become the best they can be, and to prevent "reinventing the wheel". The results of a project to capture this learning are now available
Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
29 June 2012
Two of the UK’s leading social investors, Big Issue Invest (BII) and The Social Enterprise Loan Fund(TSELF) have announced they have merged – the first merger in the sector between two Community Development Finance Institutions. Both
organisations have a strong track record of investing and making loans to social enterprises and charities. The merger
provides a platform for growth and allows for a combined total of £8m to be immediately available for investment as
individual loans or equity-like investment in amounts ranging from £50,000 to £1m.
To date, BII and TSELF have invested in 185 enterprises and disbursed over £18.5m in loans and investments. Nigel Kershaw, CEO, BII, said: “Both organisations have the same mission – to dismantle poverty and inequality, and we do this by investing in social enterprises and charities providing sustainable solutions to social and environmental challenges. We owe a debt of thanks to all those social enterprises that have come to us for finance. As TSELF and Big Issue Invest are social enterprises ourselves this has allowed us to reinvest even more into the sector rather than pay out dividends and bonuses.
TSELF will now operate as part of Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of The Big Issue.
For further information, visit the Big Issue Invest and The Social Enterprise Loan Fund websites.
Regional Voices, of which VSNW is a partner, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded funding from the Department of Health (Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund) to support voluntary and community sector influence on health and wellbeing boards
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills has published the findings of a research study on European Social Fund delivery with the aim of informing thinking around the next round of programmes
Healthwatch England was formed in April 2013 and is the independent consumer champion for health and social care in England. They have now published a list of local Healthwatch, including those for the North West
The Local Government Chronicle held a webinar to explore the essential elements to ensure local healthwatch organisations are effective in scrutinising local health services and provide a voice for communities. Regional Voices, of which VSNW are a part, are mentioned.
An analysis has been published by NAVCA of the 74 areas that received Transforming Local Infrastructure and provides a national perspective, and allows the sharing of information and ideas
