Trading on e-bay for the community

MARKET TOWNS AWARDS 2008

KIVETON PARKROTHERHAM

SOUTH YORKSHIRE

OLD COLLIERY OFFICES

How did it start?• In 2006 the Trust was looking to develop

enterprise with a view to becoming less funding dependent

• Internet trading presented an established international customer base of 50 million people

• We tested the idea by advertising in the community newsletter and found an immediate demand for the service which has not diminished

• The training element meets identified educational targets of increasing basic skills, confidence and employability

• A boost of £15,000 from the “dragon’s den” got us off to a great start

What is Kivo-ebiz?

• Provides a service selling goods on the internet for people in the community

• 80% of the sale price goes to the client and 20% goes to the charitable Trust for other community projects

• Managed entirely by volunteers• Training is provided in trading on e-bay – so

nurturing more volunteers• Requires minimal resources and transferable to any

community

“Launched in the UK in October 1999, eBay.co.uk is the UK's largest online marketplace with more than three million items in over 13,000 categories for sale on the

site at any one time. Every third internet user visits eBay.co.uk at least once a month (Nielsen / Netratings,

April 2005) and eBay.co.uk's audience reached more than 15 million.

eBay for Charity is an easy way to support charities while buying and selling on eBay. Buyers can bid on

eBay for Charity items knowing that they are helping a worthy cause and sellers can donate a percentage of their sales to verified charities. Charities can also sell

items directly in the eBay marketplace”.

MORE THAN JUST A TRADING ENTERPRISE

• Brings money into the rural economy• Profit benefits community projects via the Trust• Recycles unwanted goods• 95% recycled packaging materials• Provides volunteering opportunities• Training improves basic skills in IT, numeracy and

literacy leading to increased confidence and employability

• Acts as a “hook” to other IT learning• Volunteers can be “eyes & ears” signposting

clients to other services• Raises the profile of the Trust and increases

community cohesion• Securing local jobs

Our Partners• Adult Community Learning (ACL)

and Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) have funded 50 learners per year in level 1&2 internet trading

• The Development Trust Association are assisting us in “rolling out” the idea to other community groups around the country

• Kiveton Creative provide experienced tutors for the training

• KPWCDT provides the learning venue and publicity in the community newsletter

Innovation and Continuation• Kivo-ebiz Ltd has contracted with the DTA to

work on a consortium programme led by ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) and funded by Capacity Builders to develop trading in the third sector. Information is shared on the internet via the Elluminate technology platform

• Case study on the European epractice.eu website

Innovation and Continuation

• We have recently developed a unique, two-level, training package and sold our first copies to other community groups

• Our next step is to develop the first accredited course