Support opportunity for local community groups

A special event – the ‘Social Enterprise Awareness Event’- on 27th January will include speakers from successful social enterprises and representatives from social economy support organisations who can offer help. A team of advisors will be available after the presentations to spend some one to one time with groups to discuss potential business ideas.

Ballymoney Community Resource Centre is supporting the event and encouraging Ballymoney groups to attend. Zoe Morgan of Ballymoney Community Resource Centre said; “In an increasingly difficult funding environment, this is an excellent opportunity for local groups to look at new ideas for the future”

Larne Enterprise Development Company Ltd. (LEDCOM) manages Invest NI’s Social Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) in the North East and will have staff in attendance to highlight the assistance available. Ballymena Business Centre – which works with LEDCOM on the delivery of the SEP in the Ballymena area – will also have representatives available to assist groups attending.

Jointly organised by Ballymena Borough Council and LEDCOM, the event will take place at the ECOS Centre on Wednesday 27th January at 5:30pm, with refreshments available from 5:00pm.

Groups interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance by contacting Zoe Morgan, Ballymoney Community Resource Centre. Tel: 028 2766 5068 Email: [email protected]

SEP support will be available over the next two years giving the potential opportunity for groups to position themselves for the future and consider their long term sustainability.

“All local groups are encouraged to come along. They don’t need to have specific business ideas at this stage as the event will encourage those present to explore possibilities for new projects,” said Ken Nelson of LEDCOM.