25.01.09 Calling all social entrepreneurs…
23.6.2008
Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs (Cornwall Council)
The Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), based in Penwith, provides tailored support and learning to people who have innovative ideas for community benefit. As part of a national network of Schools for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall SSE is only the seventh in the UK and the first in the South West.
Jane Yeomans of Little Steps
“Supporting the participants is just the first step, the wider benefits for both local communities and the economy of Cornwall means the Cornwall School has huge potential to make a real difference to people lives and I am so pleased that we have been able to support the development of such an innovative and prestigious programme through our Convergence ESF activity.”Carolyn Webster, European Programmes Manager, Jobcentre Plus
The aim of Cornwall SSE is to support disadvantaged people in a variety of ways. Nationally, the SSE programme is open to entrepreneurial individuals who are serving communities and addressing issues, including innovative projects for young people and children; people disadvantaged by social or economic circumstances; health and education projects; neighbourhood renewal projects; refugees and asylum seekers; minority ethnic groups; people with disabilities; environmental projects and crime and community safety projects.
Courses at the School for Social Entrepreneurs are open to people of any age and background and formal qualifications are not needed. Over the next three years the Cornwall SSE will help120 potential entrepreneurs to realise their goals through an innovative “action learning” based programme that includes expert witness sessions, coaching and mentoring, motivation and confidence building and a range of other support. The first course began in February 2009.
SSE event at Eden 2010
Cornwall SSE will be run by a steering group of partners including Cornwall Development Company (Enterprise Services Division), Jobcentre Plus, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Cornwall Council, Business Link, the South West Regional Development Agency, Truro and Penwith College, the Combined Universities in Cornwall and the Skills Funding Agency.
ESF Convergence investment in the Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs comes through Jobcentre Plus’ Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise scheme which aims to help people into employment by working with social enterprises.
The SSE Evaluation (1998 – 2010) found that: 70% of SSE Fellows are working in the 20% most deprived areas of the country; 93% said the SSE programme makes them more effective social entrepreneurs; SSE Fellows lever in an average of £19,767 in volunteer time per year; each Fellow recruits on average 11 volunteers per year who work on an average of 6 hours per week; the organisations set up by Fellows are 40% more likely to survive for five years than the average UK business; SSE Fellows created an estimated £13m in staff salaries through jobs in the last year alone; Fellows’ organisations tend to expand their workforce after graduation, on average, they have taken on 1 full-time & 2 part-time members of staff.
Cornwall SSE is also working in conjunction with another Convergence investment – Intensive Start Up Support – which supports under represented entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.
Related Links
31.10.11 Make tracks for Little Steps.
10.11.10 Third group of Cornwall SSE social entrepreneurs at Eden
04.08.10 Autumn Sessions
For Further Information
