Strengthening the social economy
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Theme D summary
Strengthening the social economy (the third sector), in particular the services of interest to the community, with a focus on improving the quality of jobs.
Strategic objectives
- To develop a common understanding of the way in which the social economy can encourage labour market integration
Equal priority
Entrepreneurship
Development Partnerships
There were 7 DPs working within Theme D in Round 1, and there are now 8 DPs in Round 2.
Resources for Theme D DPs
Theme D diary
The Equal diary lists details of current events and activities being organised by Equal Development Partnerships and the Equal Support Unit.
There are no entries in the diary at this time.
Theme D documentation
| Description | Date | Download |
|---|---|---|
| All Equal resources… | ||
| Footsteps2Equality: An eclectic look at the Social Economy project in Equal Programme | ||
| This A4-publication, featuring a foreword by Ed Milliband MP and Minister for Third Sector, provides detailed case studies of all DPs on Theme D in both Rounds of Equal. Hard copies of the document are also available; please contact the Support Unit if you would like to receive a copy. | 20th Oct '06 |  735kb |
| Thematic update paper | ||
| This policy context update gives an overview of policy developments in relation to Theme D of Equal which have occurred since the publication of the initial Community Initiative Policy (CIP) Guidance in May 2001. | 22 May ’06 | 113kb |
| DP/TNG meeting notes (15 Oct 2003) | ||
| Notes from Theme D DP/TNG meeting | 1 Dec ’03 |  56kb |
| Mainstreaming | ||
Theme D Mainstreaming StrategyThematic Mainstreaming Strategies summarise the proposed outcomes of Equal DPs in a particular theme and show how these are targeted at policy-makers. The strategies underpin the dissemination and mainstreaming work of the individual DPs as well as their Thematic Networking Group (TNG). The strategies are presented as ‘living documents’ to be revised and updated at TNG meetings. |
23 May ’05 | 72kb |
| Theme D Mainstreaming Strategy Framework | 7 Apr ’03 | 62kb |
| Notes from mainstreaming meeting held at the Department of Trade and Industry, 9 Jan 2003. | 11 Feb ’03 | 36kb |
| Workshop notes from Action 3 seminar (Nov 2002) | ||
| Theme D workshop notes | 20 Nov ’02 | 34kb |
| DP/TNG meeting notes (Jan-Feb 2002) | ||
| Notes of the Theme D DP/TNG meeting | 14 Mar ’02 | 30kb |
Key activities and mainstreaming potential
At the last meeting of the Thematic Networking Group for Theme D, the DPs agreed to complete a short proforma which captured the key activity and mainstreaming potential of their DPs. The aim of this exercise was to help DPs understand what other DPs in the theme were doing, and provide an overview of the activity and mainstreaming potential across the theme. These are the completed proformas from the Theme D DPs that have been received so far.
| DP | Date | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance of Communities in Enterprise (ACE) | 13 Dec ’02 | 36kb |
| EQUIPE | 13 Dec ’02 | 31kb |
| Social Enterprise Partnership GB Limited | 13 Dec ’02 | 37kb |
| Strengthening the Social Economy | 13 Dec ’02 | 52kb |
| Supporting the Social Economy in the Eastern Region (SSEER) | 13 Dec ’02 | 40kb |
| Thames Gateway DP | 13 Dec ’02 | 38kb |
Thematic Networking Group
Chair: Steve Wallace, Assistant Director, Small Business Service.
European Thematic Groups
European Thematic Groups are the mechanism by which outcomes from Equal DPs are shared across all the participating countries. ETGs have been set up for each pillar of Equal, covering each GB theme as follows:
| ETG | Covers GB themes |
|---|---|
| 1. Employability | A and B |
| 2. Entrepreneurship | C and D |
| 3. Adaptability | E and F |
| 4. Equal Opportunities | G* and H |
| 5. Asylum Seekers | I |
* The UK is not participating in theme G (which focuses on work-life balance issues), although a number of DPs from other themes cover this area.
Key documents on the work undertaken by each ETG so far are available for download.
