RenSEN Newsletter - 08 September

• RenSEN Meeting - We’re looking forward to seeing you at the RenSEN meeting on Thursday 10 September! Come along and meet with other social enterprises.  Session starts at 6:30pm with a beverage and biscuits!  Venue: Start-up Street Paisley, 65 George Street, Paisley. PA1 2JY
• Scotland’s Climate Week starts 28 September to 04 October – For ideas on how to get involved and resources you can download visit Net Zero Scotland
• Upcoming workshops - Here's a selection...Governance MOT (17.09),  Exploring community bonds (23.09), Leases and lease agreements (24.09),  Introducing AI in your social enterprise (24.09),  Roles and responsibilities of directors and trustees (28.09), Introduction to tendering (29.09).
• Funding: Changing Places Toilets - Funding for organisations to 'develop and build fully accessible toilet facilities for people with complex disabilities'. 
• Free evaluation resources - Evaluation Support Scotland is running a series of online Resource Sessions, designed to help organisations make the most of their free evaluation forms and templates.  Find out more here  
• Funding opportunities – Business Development Grant (Renfrewshire Council), Social Enterprise Grant Fund (Renfrewshire Council), Business Restart Loan (Renfrewshire Council).

Social Enterprise Learning Webinars (for social enterprises at all stages)

 All courses are free unless stated otherwise

Enhancing Digital Skills
15 September - Social media essentials: Facebook (online / Business Gateway)
16 September - How to develop engaging content (online / Business Gateway)
24 September - Introducing AI in your social enterprise (online / Just Enterprise)
25 September - Introduction to Canva (online / Business Gateway)
21 December - Introduction AI in your social enterprise (online / Just Enterprise)



Governance & Leadership
Starting 22 September (evening) - Trustees for impact: Practical governance in action (online / SCVO) Fees apply
28 September - Roles and responsibilities of directors and trustees (online / Just Enterprise)
Starting 28 September - Step into management: Voluntary sector essentials (online / SCVO) Fees apply
29 September - Aspiring or New Leaders (hybrid (Glasgow) / Just Enterprise)
26 October - Recruiting new board members (online / Just Enterprise)



Facilities Management
29 September - (Development Trusts) Facilities Management: Insurance overview (online / DTAS)
13 and 19 November - Facilities Management Training 2026 A 2 day course for DTAS members (online / DTAS/COSS) Waiting list in operation



Social Enterprise Essentials
09 September - Bookkeeping essentials (online / Business Gateway) 
23 September - Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
23 September - Renfrewshire Women in business network meeting (in-person / Business Gateway Renfrewshire) 
23 September - Low cost high impact marketing (online / Business Gateway)
29 September – Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
29 September - Introduction to data protection and the GDPR (online / SCVO) Fees apply
06 October - Meet the funder: Easyfundraising (online / SCVO)
13 October - Winning grants from trusts and foundations (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
22 October – In-house fundraising training (online / SCVO) join waiting list
28 October and 4 November - Neurodiversity: from awareness to action (online / SCVO) Fees apply
29 October - Risk Management (online / Just Enterprise)
03 November - Meet the funder: Cora Foundation (online / SCVO)
11 and 18 November - Introduction to project management (online / SCVO) Fees apply
19 November - Funding Fundamentals: Thinking like a funder (online / SCVO) Fees apply
24 November - Funding Fundamentals: Writing strong progress reports (online / SCVO) Fees apply
01 December - Meet the funder: Aviva Foundation (online / SCVO)
02 December - Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply


Volunteering
Engage Renfrewshire – Volunteering Service
Volunteer Scotland - Find links to online training here


Business Planning
16 September – Building your business plan step by step (online / Business Gateway)
18 September - Understanding accounts (if you're not an accountant) (online / Business Gateway)
22 September - Introduction to business strategy (online / Business Gateway)
14 December - Strategic planning for social enterprises (online / Just Enterprise)


Monitoring and Evaluation
08 September - Let's Evaluate! Getting started (online / Evaluation Support Scotland)  Fees apply
15 September - Let's Evaluate! Make to measure (online / Evaluation Support Scotland) Fees apply
22 September - Let's Evaluate! Telling my story (online / Evaluation Support Scotland) Fees apply
23 September - Resource Session: Evaluation Checklist (online / Evaluation Support Scotland) 
29 October - Resource Session: Gathering and analysing secondary evidence (online / Evaluation Support Scotland)



Income Generation / Procurement
14 September - Funding business growth (online / Just Enterprise)
16 and 23 September - How to win contracts and service level agreements (online / SCVO) Fees apply
21 September - Know your numbers (online / Just Enterprise)
23 September - Exploring community bonds (online / Democratic Finance)
24 September - Bookkeeping essentials (online / Business Gateway)
29 September - Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
29 September - Introduction to tendering (online / Just Enterprise)
07 October - Managing finances (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
08 October - Creating effective corporate partnerships (online / SCVO) Fees apply
14 October - Unlocking social investment (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
22 October - Interpreting financial statements (online / Just Enterprise)
23 November - Know your numbers (online / Just Enterprise)
30 November – Establishing a trading subsidiary (online / Just Enterprise)