LOCAL voluntary groups and people with not for profit businesses have a chance to get the latest information on funding opportunities, and how to run their groups in a more enterprising way, at a free event in the Boniface Centre, Crediton on Tuesday, October 7, from 10am to 3pm. The keynote speaker will be Julie Hawker, Chief Executive of Honiton-based IT consultancy and social enterprise Cosmic, and Board Member of Devon and Cornwall Business Council. The event is being organised by Involve, which supports voluntary and community groups throughout Mid Devon. Involve's Chief Officer Duncan Wood said: "Volunteers are being expected to do more and more with less and less, and we can't rely on things going on as they were. "So it's time for everyone to think outside the box. "While old-fashioned fund raising and grant applications are as important as ever, other, more enterprising ways of running not for profit organisations are getting more attention, and this will be an important focus for the event." As well as hearing about Cosmic, an exemplar of social enterprise in the county, attendees will also be able to get practical advice on how to build their own social businesses from Debbie Stewart, partner in The Fruit Tree for Business, and hear about more general funding opportunities for local groups. The event will include a free lunch. People wishing to go are asked to email [email protected]">[email protected] or call John Skrine on 07814 387090. John Skrine offers free support and advice to local voluntary and community organisations on behalf of Involve. John also holds a drop-in session at Crediton Library every Thursday from 12.30pm – 2pm.