Social Enterprise

What is social enterprise?

If you have ever bought the Big Issue, a bar of Divine chocolate ,visited the Eden Project or shopped at the Co-op: then you have supported a social enterprise.

These are businesses that are changing the world for the better. Social enterprises are in our communities and on our high streets – from coffee shops and cinemas, to pubs and leisure centres, banks and bus companies.

Social enterprise is running a business, not for financial gain, as the profits are reinvested back into the charitable organisation for the benefit of the people we support. It is all about empowering and enabling people to reach their potential and improving people’s life chances.

To best illustrate this let us share our Vine Dining “recipe” with you

• Take 6 brand new employees (all of whom would find it hardest to access the workplace)
• Add a large amount of training, support & encouragement
• Mix well until all ingredients are combined
• Season with new found self-worth & enthusiasm
• Place in a warm oven until all have risen to their level of achievement
• Serve with success

You can read some of our positive outcomes here:

N, a gentleman aged 64 who had been out of work for the past 13 years due to injury. He had lost all confidence in himself and his abilities when we hired him as our very first delivery driver. He proved a quick learner, took the lead when required and within 2 weeks had regained his confidence and self-worth to the extent that he applied for and secured a permanent full time job.

B, who is deaf/mute and with English as her 2nd language. We quickly had all our information and instructions translated into Mongolian for her and contacted Access to Work for a deaf interpreter. We provided her with an Ipad and translation app to aid communication with other staff. She has flourished, completed My Catering Career and is now a part time kitchen assistant. Amazingly she now acts as a peer mentor for another deaf volunteer (referred to us by Deaf Plus) this has further developed her learning and self-confidence.