|
Case Study 1 - Chailey Heritage Enterprise Centre \[SFSE\]
Case Study 2 - Hastings Trust \[DTA SE\]
Case Study 3 - Branching Out \[CAN\]
Case Study 4 - The Beneficial Foundation (SFSE)
Case Study 5 - Thames Valley Farmers Market Co-operative (CSE)
Chailey Heritage Enterprise Centre (CHEC) was established in 1995 to provide work experience and career opportunities for physically disabled young people.
It ran as a very successful department producing promotional products and gift items for seven years as part of the Chailey Heritage School. However, things had to change and they needed support and advice to secure their future separately from the parent organization.
As members of the Social Firms South East Network, CHEC
were able to apply for Business Support from the Network’s specialist support providers, that would enable them to become an independent trading company.
In September of 2002 they began trading as a charitable company in their own right. They are planning to develop into a fully-fledged social firm, relying less on fee income and charitable giving and more on trade income.
The Hastings Trust is an enterprise with social objectives, actively engaged in the long-term regeneration of Hastings & St Leonard’s in the widest sensesense – its economy, its environment, its facilities and services and the spirit of its communities. The Trust responds to local needs and is involved in a wide range of activities, including urban regeneration, environmental enhancement and improvement of local services and ameneties.
The Trust’s Resource Centre in Hastings town centre is a meeting place where people and ideas can come together, stimulating self-help and mutual aid. It aims to foster effective networks for change by informing and enabling community ‘doers’.
The Trust’s aims and objectives are:
-
To enable those who live, work in or visit Hastings to protect and enhance their environment.
-
To promote and assist the sustainable economic, environmental and cultural development of Hasting and its inhabitants.
-
To promote and disseminate good practice in conservation and community regeneration locally, regionally and globally.
Hastings Trust is a founder member of the Development Trusts Association.
Branching Out is a brand new co-operative. Based in Southampton, Branching Out provides a variety of gardening services. The Co-operative Assistance Network Ltd [CAN] is proud to have assisted in the development of this enterprise on behalf of Southampton Area Co-operative Development Agency. Clients and staff at Southampton day services have received specially tailored training and support from the CAN team.
This is to enable them to establish the enterprise. To ensure maximum participation and democracy in the business, a hand-book has been developed.
Members of this new company can be seen in the picture in front of the company van, proudly displaying their copies of the new handbook.
The Beneficial Foundation, a charity providing for the education, training and rehabilitation of disadvantaged and disabled people, found itself in 2003 facing a number of challenges and difficulties that could have led to its closure. However after 20 successful years, they were not about to give up, and so the new Chief Executive set about developing a strategic vision for the future of the charity.
Recognising the potential for the development of social firms within the charity’s existing sphere of operation contact was made with Social Firms South East.
Thanks to the support of Social Firms South East’s staff and the business support they brokered a new strategic vision was developed: As a result Beneficial Green-Works began in February 2004. As soon as new properties can be obtained the Beneficial Foundation will establish a further 4-8 Social Firms. Each will have an integrated workforce – with at least 60% of the staff having a disability or disadvantage in the labour market.
‘‘It is no exaggeration to say that without the hands-on support and encouragement provided by SFSE and their specialist support providers we would still be struggling to find a cohesive route forward."
Terry Osborn, Chief Executive, The Beneficial Foundation.
Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative Ltd started in 2000, to represent small producers and farmers selling direct to consumers at farmers' markets in the Thames Valley.
As with all co-operatives, we are based around the concepts of self-help, self-responsibility and self-organisation and our aims are to:
· Promote and manage farmers' markets
· Provide quality local food to local communities
· Enable farmers and small producers the opportunity to sell direct to the public
· Be a key player in the world of food by developing strong links with other organisations
Through SESEP support has been given to explore an appropriate legal structure, become incorporated and develop a business plan. For more information see
www.TVFM.org.uk
.
|
