Links
The following websites may be able to help with specific and more general information.
- Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) – www.acre.org.uk
- A charity which supports sustainable rural community development.
- Advertising and marketing advice – www.adbriefing.com
- Business Link – www.businesslink.gov.uk
- Government site offering practical advice to all small businesses, including a search for local Business Link operators in your area.
- Business in the Community (BiTC) – www.bitc.org.uk
- An organisation of UK companies which offers services that may be of use, including ProHelp a national network of over 1,000 professional firms who offer work pro bono to local community groups and voluntary organisations; Rural Action, a campaign for companies to make a positive impact in rural areas; and Volunteering Plus a service to accredit volunteering, so that the learning and development that results from volunteering can be directly linked back to the workplace.
- Co–operative & Community Finance – www.co-opandcommunityfinance.coop
- Provides loan finance to social enterprises.
- Co–operatives UK – www.co-opunion.coop
- The organisation for UK co–operative enterprise, promoting co–operative and mutual solutions, working in partnership with members to grow a stronger and more successful co–operative movement.
- The Carbon Trust – www.carbontrust.co.uk
- The Carbon Trust helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, and supports the development of low carbon technologies. This site provides advice and interest free loans.
- Countryside Agency – www.countryside.gov.uk
- This site brings together different countryside dimensions – economic, environmental, community and enjoyment into a single national body to achieve sustainable development in the countryside. It co–ordinates the Community Renewables Initiative (CRI).
- The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – www.defra.gov.uk
- Defra works for the pursuit of sustainable development – weaving together economic, social and environmental concerns.
- The Department for Trade and Industry – www.dti.gov.uk/er
- For employer/employee matters and relations.
- Direct Gov – www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople
- Includes details about Disability Discrimination Act.
- The Disability Rights Commission – www.drc.org.uk
- Energy Saving Trust – www.est.org.ik
- Set up after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit by the government and private sector, it is a non–profit organisation committed to encouraging sustained use of energy and the cutting of CO2 emissions. Offers advice and some funding.
- The Food Standards Agency – www.food.gov.uk
- Advice including food hygiene legislation.
- Financial Services Authority – www.fsa.gov.uk
- Regulator of all providers of financial services in the UK.
- Government Funding – www.governmentfunding.org.uk
- Information about all the government grants available to the voluntary and community sector.
- The Health & Safety Executive – www.hse.gov.uk
- Advice on all health and safety issues.
- Health and Safety Publications – www.hsebooks.co.uk
- Publications on Health and Safety issues.
- The Independent Retailer – www.indretailer.co.uk
- Downloadable magazine which offers retail advice.
- Independent Retailers Network – www.irn-talkingshop.co.uk
- Set up for independent retailers, but may also be of help to community shops, particularly under Business Support.
- Local Works – www.localworks.org
- Website of the campaign behind the proposed Sustainable Communities Bill – legislation to help empower local people improve their local communities.
- Oultwood – www.oultwood.com/localgov
- Directory and locator of all local government websites.
- Plunkett Foundation – www.plunkett.co.uk
- The Plunkett Foundation is an educational charity which supports the development of rural group enterprise world–wide. It promotes and implements economic self help solutions to rural problems.
- Regional Development Agencies – www.englandsrdas.com
- Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were set up by Government to promote sustainable economic development in England.
- RISE – www.rise-sw.co.uk
- RISE aims to support the development of a sustainable social enterprise sector in the South West of England. Good selection of national and local weblinks.
- Ruralfocus – www.ruralcity.co.uk
- Rural Revival – www.ruralrevival.org.uk
- Rural Revival provides packages of assistance to fledgling rural self–help enterprise initiative groups in the form of seed–corn grants combined with advisory support.
- Scottish Power Green Energy Trust – www.scottishpower.co.uk/green
- The trust funds new community projects which use renewable energy sources.
- Triodos Bank – www.triodos.co.uk
- Finances companies, institutions and projects that add cultural value and benefit people and the environment.
- Unity Trust Bank – www.unity.uk.com
- Provides banking and membership services to the trade union, charity, voluntary, credit union and membership organisation sectors.
- Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA) – www.virsa.org
- Provides advisory support to villages either wishing to establish a community–owned shop or to improve an existing shop.