It’s time to re-open Barnet’s Big Society Innovation Bank.  Round One of the Innovation Bank has already funded eight projects which you will see up and running this year.

In Round Two, we continue to seek local solutions to local challenges and will be working even harder to find new ways of doing things.   We will be focusing on three areas, further details of which will be published soon:

• enabling residents who need that extra bit of support to become more resilient and take control of their lives
• finding local solutions to emerging community problems (which may be social, economic or environmental)
• skills and employment.

We are looking for people who can contribute both to re-thinking some of the local challenges we face and to designing and implementing the solutions. We will be pre-selecting people to take part (see Round Two timetable) and will provide expert help with the innovation process, as well as other technical backup.  Full details will be posted here by 11 June 2012.  If you are enthusiastic about finding new ways to tackle social issues, watch here for further details of how you can take part!

Low cost event from Red Ochre, experts in social enterprise. Central London, £50 for the day.

http://ctt-news.org/79B-KWVA-D4308OY5A0/cr.aspx

When we set up the Innovation Bank, we were keen that representatives of the communities to be served by the projects we fund would have a hand in selecting those projects.

We are now recruiting representatives from the community to form a Community Assessment Panel to select the winning bids and approve the amount of money awarded in each case. The panel will be chaired by Councillor Robert Rams, the Cabinet Member overseeing the Big Society Innovation Bank.

We are looking for wide representation from all of Barnet’s diverse communities, including young people, the over-55s, and people with disabilities. We are also looking for people who have a background in business and entrepreneurship.

As a Panel member, you will serve for one year, that is one or two panel meetings. The first Panel meeting is expected to be in December 2011.  You will need to have time to read through applications beforehand and to attend the panel meetings which will last about half a day. All those who have lived in Barnet for at least a year are welcome to apply to join the Panel.

The Panel is being set up on the Council’s behalf by Community Barnet . To apply, you will be asked to complete a simple form and attend a meeting to discuss your application.  Please contact Anahied.Hatamian@CommUNITYBarnet.org.uk for more information and an application form. The closing date for this is Monday, 7 November.

Family Mosaic has a community centre to let on the Compton Estate,  Fallowfields Drive, off Summers Lane, N12.

The existing lease has come to an end and they are seeking expressions of interest to rent the building to a local community group for a nominal rent.  It has a good size main activity room; small kitchen; storage cupboard and outdoor space. The occupant would take on the management and be responsible for running costs such as day to day repairs and utilities.  Family Mosaic would remain responsible for any major works including cyclicals. Viewing can be arranged.

Contact: Jason Houston, Regional Housing Manager, telephone 0300 123 3456, e-mail jason.houston@family mosaic.co.uk

That says it all! 

We have received 79 applications totalling around £1.87 million. We are currently evaluating all of these and intend to let you know who will be asked to go forward to Stage Two by 19 August (as advertised).   We expect there to be around 30-35 of these.

Such has been the level of interest that we are already thinking how to capture some of the great applications that will not get through to Stage 2. Watch this space!

Local creativity in abundance. That was the verdict on the Ideas Festival held in  Barnet last Friday, designed and delivered by thinkpublic.com with over 80 local people coming along to get encouragement and support to apply for funds from the Innovation Bank.  At the Festival, a range of experts offered advice and support on everything from help with completing application forms to testing business ideas to finding more innovative ways to help their local community.

To pick up on just one activity you can see on thinkpublic’s write-up of the event, highly popular was the  ‘Innovator 2000’. With the help of Engagement Designer, Alice, the Innovator 2000 turned people’s initial ideas into a simple set of statements and principles, which people could use to reflect upon and improve their project. By the end of the afternoon,  people asked about their idea were referring to the green slip produced by the Innovator to sum up what they were trying to achieve.  Simple concept, cheap to build and highly effective.  There has to be a lesson there for all us trying to find new ways to help the people around us!

Our thanks go to thinkpublic for their unflagging effort and inspiration and to the experts who supported us throughout the afternoon: CommUNITY Barnet, Red Ochre, UnLtd, Involve, Social Enterprise Coalition, Social Enterprise London and Cephas Akuklu all of whom gave generously of their time and creativity.

There are still three weeks left to fill in the Innovation Bank’s easy-to-complete Idea form. Everything you will need is on our downloads page – including how to get hold of us if you need help or have a question. The best ideas will go forward to a second stage, where projects have the chance to win between £500 and £50,000 to help turn their ideas into a reality.

We are delighted to confirm that as well as Community Barnet, our principle partner in building capacity around the Innovation Bank, we will have another six organisations available to offer you expert help with developing your idea and application.

Already included in the support pack on our downloads page are: Red Ochre, Involve, Social Enterprise Coalition and Social Enterprise London.

We are delighted to have also representatives from thinkpublic, the leading social design agency, which also brings you the Ideas Festival; and from UnLtd, a charity without doubt at the forefront of supporting social entrepreneurs.

Equally exciting is support from Steve Neil, local community entrepreneur, project co-ordinator and driving force behind the already successful Barnet Community Projects.

The event will offer creative support, inspiration and constructive feedback to further develop your idea and help you to build the confidence and connections you need. The Council will also be at hand to answer any questions about the Innovation Bank itself.

There is still time to reserve a place at Friday’s Ideas Festival. The event will take place from 3 pm to 5.30 pm this Friday, 8 July, in Building 2 at North London Business Park. E-mail us at innovation.bank@barnet.gov.uk or telephone Ken Argent on 020 8359 2020.