Help at Hand for the Local Voluntary Sector
Tomorrow, the University of Hertfordshire is launching a ‘Social Enterprise Unit’ (SEU) aimed at assisting charitable and not for profit organisations in Hertfordshire with free advice and resources to boost support in the community.
The University’s Business School students and staff - who will be running the Unit - will work with some of the 3,000 plus third sector organisations in Hertfordshire to address their practical and strategic concerns and offer them a helping hand.
Jan Filosof, Director of the Social Enterprise Unit at the University says: “There are so many worthwhile causes in the area that are not aware of what their local University has to offer. And although they may benefit from the 300,000 volunteers in Hertfordshire, the University’s Business School has the expertise, resources and knowledge that can also add value.”
The SEU has committed to embed volunteering and fundraising for charities into the Business School curriculum, support and promote work placements in the sector and address specific concerns through project work. In addition, it will offer expertise in various disciplines including Marketing, Human Resources, Accounting, Finance and Management. Charities attending the launch include, Community Action Hertsmere, the Muscular Help Foundation and Save the Children. George Burroughs, the Community Fundraising Executive (East of England), Save the Children comments about working with students on an earlier project:
“The students were very professional, displayed great enthusiasm, and thoroughly researched the Save the Children cause. They displayed excellent organisational and networking skills and communicated well at all times and kept to deadlines. At all times they displayed a ‘spirit of fun’ alongside a serious business proposal and event.”
The University of Hertfordshire’s Business School has over 3,500 students - a fifth are postgraduates. The school also has more than 70 partner universities and business schools around the world, in most European countries, through the EU Erasmus programme, and in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia.