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Social Entrepreneurs: different side of the world, same passion and purpose for change
24.09.09
Two new franchises of the School for Social Entrepreneurs' network began delivering their first support programmes on March 25th 2009, in locations 10,000 miles apart. Cornwall SSE, based in Penwith, and SSE Australia, based in Sydney, are the two latest additions to the growing SSE network, providing tailored support and development to pre-start and start-up social entrepreneurs. SSE has a proven methodology and a unique decade-long track record of innovation and expertise in this field; over 400 Fellows have been through SSE programmes, a number set to at least double in the next three years.
As with all SSE programmes, the social entrepreneurs on each programme will benefit from:
- Expert Witnesses (social entrepreneurs with experience and knowledge)
- Project Visits (visiting social entrepreneur-led organisations)
- Action Learning Sets (group support and learning methodology)
- 1:1 tutoring (focussed business coaching)
- Residential (3 day learning event)
- SSE resources and networks (on- and offline)
In Australia, SSE is working in partnership with Social Ventures Australia and established social entrepreneur Steve Lawrence, currently Chief Executive of the Australian Social Innovation Exchange. Based in Auburn, the inaugural Sydney programme will provide the vehicle to support 18 inspiring local social entrepreneurs eager to turn their ideas for social change into reality.
These ideas include an organic community garden to provide income and skills development opportunities for disadvantaged local residents in Claymore, a network of Chai Tea stalls across Sydney to employ and empower women who have experienced domestic violence or abuse, and a driving school for young people living in ‘out-of-home' care.
SSE Australia's CEO Jackie Ruddock says that many of the students selected for the new SSE in Sydney are from the communities they seek to serve and have a personal experience of the need they are addressing: "We believe that the people who understand the problems in their community are often the best placed to author successful and sustainable solutions.”
Cornwall SSE is financially supported by investment from the Convergence European Social Fund (ESF) through Jobcentre Plus, and is working with a wide range of different partners in Cornwall. The first 20 Cornwall SSE students reflect a similar mix of age, background, gender and project.
SSE Cornwall's Development Manager Sally Heard says: "The Cornwall SSE students all have fantastic ideas or organisations to help make change in their local community; a number of our students are unemployed or not working, or have recently been made redundant, so this learning opportunity is the perfect time to set up or grow their social business.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, added: "I am delighted to welcome the launch of the two Schools of Social Entrepreneurs in the two places that are personally so important to me - my birthplace Sydney and Cornwall. Australia has for generations encouraged its young people to be the best that they can be and take pride in their community. These schools will assist aspiring young social entrepreneurs in transforming their talents and achieve real social change in their community.”
The Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs has received ESF Convergence investment through the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise Programme, part of the Jobcentre Plus /DWP co-financing.
For further information:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager for the Convergence Partnership Office
01872 223439 / 07973 813647
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
Nick Temple
Policy and Communications Director
07968 810716 / 020 8981 0300
nick.temple@sse.org.uk
Editors' notes:
- The Cornwall SSE is one of eight strands that will be delivered through the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise Programme which is led by Cornwall Council with a total investment of £4.2 million from the ESF Convergence Programme.
- Cornwall SSE: Cornwall's SSE is only the seventh franchise in the UK.
- The Cornwall SSE is run by a steering group of partners including Cornwall Council, Jobcentre Plus, West Cornwall Together, CUC, Penwith and Truro College, Business Link, the London SSE and SSE Cornwall Development Manager, Sally Heard.
