The Value Of Social Enterprises
Our imaginative social enterprise approach is opening doors for disadvantaged young people.
In May 2008 we launched the Kennington Cross flower stall, a social enterprise that provides work placements and training for excluded young people as a way in to the jobs market.
Young people from our Working It Out programme in Southwark run the enterprise, and are fully involved in the management of the business. It helps them develop communication and customer service skills, financial management and marketing, while raising funds to run the wider young people's programme. As the business has matured, trainees have expanded the services they offer to include floral displays for church events and offices, and a Christmas tree dressing service.
We believe social enterprises that create training opportunities and raise funds are a model that could be successfully expanded to support many other clients and programmes. It is our long-term goal to have a social enterprise attached to each of our young people's Working it Out programmes around the UK.
