Seven Chinese social enterprises won RMB 500,000 award

The final winners and amounts of the RMB 500,000 award scheme were announced on the Skills for Social Entrepreneurs Award Ceremony in Beijing on 11 June. Prior to the ceremony, the British Council China also hosted a press conference to formally launch this global project which will roll out in six countries and last until 2012.

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The new round of Skills for Social Entrepreneurs training will be open for application soon

Following the successful pilot training in Beijing in March 2009, the British Council China will roll out Skills for Social Entrepreneurs training in four more cities in the autumn of 2009. The agenda will be:

Xi'an, 23 - 26 September
Shanghai, 19 - 22 October
Chengdu, 25 - 28 October
Shenzhen, 6 - 9 November

The online application will be open in early July, please keep your eyes closely on Discover Social Innovation.

NPOs in the UK published!

NPOs in the UK, a collaboration work between the British Council and the Ministry of Civil affairs of China, was published in June 2009. The book presents an overview on the history and the current development of NPOs in the UK, their legal and institutional framework, their operations, the UK's experience of governing and supporting the third sector, social enterprise in the UK and etc.

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Citizen Online Tree Planting Action

Initiated by China Green Foundation, China Population Welfare Foundation and Fujian Southeastern TV, "Citizen Online Tree Planting Action" is a project aiming at strengthening assistance to the west China and promoting reforestation and earth protection through the virtual online community www.wzjh.org.cn.

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The Big Lunch: strengthen the community

he Big Lunch is a simple yet ambitious social project, asking the people of Britain to come out onto their street and have lunch together on July 19 this year. The organisers from the Eden Project, including chief executive and Social Enterprise Ambassador Tim Smit, are hoping that on the day neighbours everywhere will sit down and share their food, music and company in a national celebration of community.

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Top auditor warns on third sector spending

The MP expenses scandal means third sector organisations will have to work harder to prove that they are not wasting public money, warns an expert from the Audit Commission.

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