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Rise, the organisation providing a voice for social enterprises in the South West, is set to close.

On the 1 November 2011, an Extraordinary General Meeting was held with the Rise membership to discuss the dissolution of Rise. In light of the forthcoming closure of the South West RDA and the end of its contract with Rise, a number of different options were considered by the Rise Board of Directors, resulting in resolutions that were recommended to the membership.

The dissolution of Rise was approved with the required 75% majority, together with an agreement that the Rise Board has clear authority to conduct an orderly winding-up of the Company and such transfer of assets, within a timeline to be determined as they see fit.

Andrew North, Chair of the Board of Directors, stated:

“It is with great sadness that the Rise Board of Directors has been tasked with the closure of Rise, but with the demise of the South West RDA and a lack of Government support for social enterprises, there is no other alternative. We encourage social enterprises to seek support from each other, through the certification authority the Social Enterprise Mark, which Rise set up, and we hope that the network of South West social enterprises which Rise has been instrumental in growing, will continue to thrive.

The Rise Board will continue to give further consideration to the legacy and assets of Rise.”