Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Social Economy within a Rural Community – Wednesday 26th January Loughry College Cookstown

07 January 2011

'A one day conference to promote and increase understanding of the social economy sector in rural areas is being held at Loughry College, Cookstown on Wednesday 26th January 2011.

Aimed at the rural community and voluntary sector, the conference will feature contributions from representatives of rural social economy enterprises, who will provide an insight into their own experience of working within the sector. Government funders and training providers will also speak about the support they can provide to encourage social entrepreneurs and their new ventures. Hosted jointly by DARD, the Rural Community Network and the Social Economy Network, the conference will highlight the vital role that rural social economy enterprises can play in supplying goods and services, creating employment and ensuring the sustainability of the communities that they serve.'

The programme for the conference which is subject to change is attached with this invitation.

Please note that there is no charge to attend this conference.

Numbers are limited and early booking by email only is advisable. To confirm a place at this conference please contact Teresa McKernan Rural Community Network at

teresa@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

10.00 am	Registration and Coffee/Tea
10.30 am	Seminar Opening Rural Community Network
10.40 am	Ministerial Address
10.50 am	Setting the Seminar Theme – (Social Economy Network)
11.00 am	From There to Here – The Journey from a Community Association to Social Economy Delivery – Amanda McCloskey
11.20 am	Reflections from Participants (facilitated group discussion) – Possibly some key questions for afternoon session
12.10 pm	Lunch and Exhibitors Space
13.30 pm	Delivering in Partnership – Opportunities for Sharing to Maximise Benefit – Tiernach Mahon
13.50 pm	Reflections from Participants (facilitated group discussion) – Possibly some key questions for afternoon session
14.45 pm	Social Economy Network – Its Role in Supporting Social Economy Initiatives
15.00 pm	DARD - Enhancing the Rural Economy - Its Role in Supporting Social Economy Initiatives
15.10 pm	Invest NI – Its Role in Supporting Social Entrepreneurs
15.20 pm	DSD – Its Role in Supporting Social Economy Initiatives
15.30 pm	Seminar Panel (DARD, SEN, Amanda, Tiernach) – Addressing Key questions
15.55 pm	Closing Remarks RCN
16.00 pm	CLOSE