Flagship projects
Events and Conferences
Jo has 17 years experience in managing and delivering events of all sizes and duration, including residential weekend retreats, major one day conferences, participative training, half day seminars, fundraising social evenings, and eight day study tours. Jo has an excellent track record of raising additional sponsorship for affordable events. Recent events delivered include a major conference for Social Enterprise Lancashire - a network of social enterprises and co-operatives; a schools enterprise conference for Development Education Project - held in Urbis, Manchester; and a re-launch plus AGM event for Co-operatives North West. See Client Testimonials.
Fundraising and income generation
Jo works in partnership with clients to generate income through trade, in-house loans schemes (£5 to £25,000), business loans (£90,000), group and individual donations (£30,000) and grants. Jo has a successful track record of writing funding applications to a variety of sources, including the Community Fund (4 x £1,000), C-Change (£2,500), the Co-operative Fund (£20,000 pending), the Co-operative Foundation (£12,000 pending), Awards for All (£5,000), Zochonis Trust (£15,000 pending), Network for Social Change (£3,000), CapacityBuilders (£20,000 pending) and Department for Education (£450,000).Zaytoun: fairly traded organic Palestinian olive oil
Jo Bird has been instrumental in making organic fairly traded Palestinian olive oil available across the UK, working with Zaytoun and others. We aim to supply a range of delicious fairly traded, organic Palestinian goods to individuals, groups, retailers and wholesalers. www.zaytoun.co.uk
Together Works CIC: Social Enterprise Manchester
Jo Bird wrote the business plan and member engagement documents for this Co-operative Community Investment Company, incorporated in May 2007. Jo also wrote successful fundraising bids through C-Change, CapacityBuilders and the Co-operative Fund www.co-operative.co.uk/en/fund/abouttheco-operativefund/. Together Works aim is to develop a strong, independent and cohesive social economy in Greater Manchester that delivers outstanding financial, social and environmental benefits to our communities. As a consortium of social enterprises, Together Works is uniquely placed to deliver effective services to and with the social enterprise sector. www.togetherworks.org.uk
Olive Co-operative: responsible tourism, fair trade and education in the Middle East
Travelling to Israel/Palestine changed my perspective on life - it helped me to see what is important and what is trivial. In turn, this inspired me to co-found a new workers co-operative, in the growing sector of responsible tourism. Jo led the development of all aspects of on-line sales of over 100 fairly traded Palestinian products. Jo led the development of 'Trees for Life', Olive Co-op's key partnership with Palestinian Fair Trade Association. In the first 9 months, this scheme raised £30,000 sponsorship from 400 donors to plant new olive trees in the West Bank. Olive Co-operative Review 2003-2007 www.olivecoop.com
