CIDA Funding

Business support, funding and training opportunities brought to you by CIDA. Register for CIDA’s monthly e-bulletin today at www.cida.co.uk, info@cida.co.uk or 020 7247 4710.

CIDA - the Cultural Industries Development Agency, is a specialist support organisation for the creative and cultural sector. We offer services to individuals, new and existing businesses and not-for-profit organisations. Our services are open to all and our free services are currently available to people based in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Business Support News
Create your own
Contracts & Policies

Business Link for London have developed Business Builder - an online tool you can use to create essential policies, contracts and documents specifically for your business, saving you time and money.
You can create documents in the following areas: business planning, employing staff, health & safety, HR and sales & marketing.
or more details visit www.businesslink4london.com.

Creative Upstarts
Finding your way in the Creative Industries

Do you have an innovative idea for a creative project or business and need to know how to turn it into a business plan? Do you want to find out more about how to be a creative entrepreneur? If your answer is yes you cannot afford to miss Creative Upstarts on the 22nd September at the University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS from 9.30am-7.00pm.

Creative Upstarts is available free of charge to new entrants and start-up businesses. This one-day event is part of a long-term business support, networking and development programme.

To find out more visit www.gre.ac.uk/upstart

Fashion Clinics

The fashion team at UK Trade & Investment now offer FREE regular fashion clinics which provide a platform for discussions on overseas markets, the major international shows that are likely to be of interest, the strategy for moving forward and how the services of UKTI can help you.

To arrange a meeting people need to contact Amanda Hall on 020 7010 1308 or Emma Hill on 020 7010 1532.

Designersblock London 2005

Designersblock is a platform for designers to communicate with an audience of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, architects,

journalists, curators from galleries, institutions and trade shows; designers, stylists, interior designers, public relations companies, branding & communications agencies, promoters, all of whom regard designersblock as a Class A source for creatively driven products.

This year’s show takes place between 22-25 September 2005 at the Nicholls & Clarke Buildings, 3-10 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6TE.
For more information, please contact Rory Dodd on 020 7613 0134. Alternatively visit www.designersblock.org.uk.

Finance/Funding News
Abbey Charitable Trust

Abbey prefer to fund complete projects and funding requests must be for something that is suitable for one-off funding. Only organisations with charitable status will be considered. They have a particular interest in the following areas: Camden, Glasgow, Bradford, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Northern Ireland, Teeside, Norfolk, and East London. The trust does not fund, salaries or core costs. There is up to £20,000 funding available.

No deadlines. For more information visit www.abbeynational.com/home/comm_inv-trust.htm.

Community Champions Fund

The Community Champions Fund was set up to help people who can inspire others to get more involved in renewing their neighbourhoods through participation in community groups. The fund is worth £3m per year with grants to individuals usually up to £2000 and averaging £1250. The fund is only available in England.

No deadlines. For more information visit www.dfes.gov.uk/communitychampions/index.cfm

CobraVision Film Competition

Do you own a video camera? Do you fancy making a short film? Do you want to have your work seen by millions of people?

From 31st January 2005, Cobra Beer is running a competition to showcase short films made by both the British public and filmmakers worldwide. Winning entries will be aired on national television during sponsorship of ITV2 and ITV3 Movies.

Deadline: 1st November 2005. For more information visit www.cobrabeer.com/cobravision/intro.htm

Training/Education News
CIDA Autumn 05 Training Programme!

CIDA's Autumn 05 Training Programme offers high quality professional development workshops at a range of levels; Do you dare? for those who are just starting out, Are you managing? for those who have been trading for longer and Got the potential? for those working in the not-for-profit sector. Workshops run between 6th September-1st December 2005.

For a copy of CIDA's Autumn 05 Training Programme visit www.cida.co.uk or contact Emma Derrick, CIDA's Marketing & Events Assistant at emma@cida.co.uk or 020 7247 4710.

Photoshop Course for Fashion & Textile Designers

This is an 8-week course aimed at fashion & textile designers who wish to develop Photoshop skills to support their own career development.

The next course commences on the 29th September 2005. For more information please contact Stephanie McLaren on 020 7729 5129.

Introduction to Lectra CAD/CAM

The course is designed for people who have little or no experience of using LECTRA basic software applications for producing fashion and textile designs, or for production planning.

The next course starts on the 26th September 2005. For more information please contact Kris Barber on 020 8802 5555.

Awards for All

Awards for All can fund projects that enable people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, as well as projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. If you are planning a project and you need between £500 and £5,000 then Awards for All may be able to help you.

No deadlines. For more information visit www.awardsforall.org.uk.

Submit your events and news items for inclusion on CIDA’s website and monthly e-bulletin at www.cida.co.uk or in CEN magazine at editor@cenuk.com