SOCIAL ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT
- Project Summary
- Social Enterprise
- Case Studies
- Merthyr Tydfil Social Economy Network
- Other Related Projects
Project Summary
The Regeneration Department of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council now have a Social Economy Team, working to support the growth of the social economy sector in Merthyr Tydfil. The ‘Growing Social Enterprise Project’ provides business support, mentoring, advice services and financial assistance to groups looking to develop their trading activities. The scheme, which is funded by European Objective 1 funding through WEFO, can help organisations take that next step to becoming more sustainable in the long term.
The ‘Growing Social Enterprise’ Capital Grant Scheme
Our ‘Growing Social Enterprise’ Capital Asset Grant offers social economy organisations the opportunity to access up to £10,000 for the purchase of capital items and expenditure that will help increase the potential for earned income.
This might be to purchase necessary eligible equipment, meeting the costs of the refurbishment of premises or the installation of an IT or phone network to make the organisation more efficient. The Social Economy Team are happy to discuss all types of proposed activities. The deadline for applications to the grant is 31st December 2007, with all monies needing to be spent by 31st March 2008.
Application forms and more information on the grant are available from our Social Economy Development Officer, Adama Sesay, who can be contacted on (01685) 727021.
Business Support Services
The Social Economy Team also offers business support and advice on a range of topics including:-
- Business feasibility and business planning issues
- Stakeholder engagement in projects
- Advice and support for new social enterprises
- Identifying new opportunities for social enterprise activity
- Assistance with accessing grant finance and other forms of finance including social loans
- Support in the use of external consultants
- Referrals to specialist support agencies
The Social Economy Team
Senior Social Economy Officer – Rhian Edwards
Tel No – (01685) 725017
Social Economy Development Officer – Adama Sesay
Tel No – (01685) 707021
Email: - economicdevelopment@merthyr.gov.uk
Social Enterprises
Social Enterprises are businesses with primarily social purposes. They engage in some form of trading, primarily to support a social purpose. They provide vital services for their communities and can help tackle a wide range of social and environmental issues.
Like any business, social enterprises aim to generate surpluses, but will reinvest those surpluses back into the business or in the community to continue supporting their social objectives. Therefore they are not driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders or owners.
Social Enterprises operate over many different sectors such as childcare, recycling, health and social care, transport, sport and leisure, arts and tourism or even running your local shop or pub! They also come in many different forms such as development trusts, credit unions, community businesses, co-operatives, social firms, housing mutual’s, or ILM’s (intermediate labour markets).
Social enterprises can help us in Merthyr Tydfil create strong, sustainable communities. They give communities an opportunity to take ownership and control on how much needed local services are run, can help increase local wealth, and can provide training, education and employment opportunities for local people.
The Social Economy
The Social Economy is a wider concept and includes the many and varied organisations that work outside the private and public sectors. It includes voluntary organisations, community groups, self-help groups, community cooperatives and enterprises, religious organisations and other not for profit distribution organisations of benefit to communities and people in Wales.
Case Studies – Examples of Use of the Grant
- Merthyr Tydfil Crossroads
Merthyr Tydfil Crossroads provides a range of services to support family carers. Respite care if offered by using a team of trained Carer Support Workers, as well as additional support, information and signposting services. Crossroads used our grant to implement a new IT network to deliver in house Social Care related training.
- Sanctuary Counselling & Training Ltd
Sanctuary Counselling & Training Ltd provide generic counselling and training services to children, adults and families who are on the verge of becoming socially excluded or have gone through traumatic experiences. The capital grant was used to improve its facilities and equipment, and install a new IT network to provide in-house, on-line training for its staff and related organisations (in OCN & AQA Accredited).
- Canolfan A Menter Gymraeg
Canolfan A Menter Gymraeg promotes the Welsh language, education and social activities to both Welsh and non Welsh speaking people of Merthyr Tydfil. The organisation used the capital grant to replace the ceiling of the Mothers & Toddlers Group facility within their premises.
- Treharris Boys & Girls Club
Treharris Boys & Girls Club manages a community resource that local groups use to provide services to the community. Activities include an after school club, Play Scheme, Healthy Living Centre, Day Care Centre, Youth Outreach Team, Prince’s Trust, Welsh Youth Club, and Communities First. The grant was used to refurbish some dormitory facilities for groups to stay overnight whilst visiting the Boys & Girls Club and other similar organisations and attractions in the area.
One Accord is an emerging social enterprise looking to provide advocacy services and domestic support for Older People in Merthyr, allowing them to maintain a measure of independence in their homes. One Accord used the capital grant to refurbish a business office in a local church that allowed them to start trading.
Merthyr Tydfil Social Economy Network
The Social Economy Team provides secretariat to the Merthyr Tydfil Social Economy Network.
Merthyr Tydfil Social Economy Network is a forum for all forms of groups and organisations involved in the Social Economy in Merthyr Tydfil. The purpose of the Network is to create a successful and sustainable Social Economy sector in Merthyr Tydfil and to provide a strong, co-ordinated voice for the sector.
Membership to the Network is open to any groups from the social enterprise, community or voluntary sector in Merthyr Tydfil.
If you would like to become a member of MTSEN or would just like information about the MTSEN then please contact the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Social Economy Team on (01685) 725017 / 727021.
Green Horizons Merthyr Ltd
The Social Economy Team provides direct support to Green Horizons Merthyr Ltd, a Borough-wide community recycling Social Enterprise which delivers recycling services such as furniture and white goods re-use and collection.
Green Horizons Merthyr Ltd became operational in March 2006. As such it offers the following benefits:
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Diverts bulky waste from landfill.
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Enables people at most disadvantage to acquire essential household goods without acquiring unmanageable debt.
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Provides employment focused training.
On this foundation, Green Horizons Merthyr Ltd will develop to become an innovative and self sustaining social enterprise.
For more information please contact Gerwyn Williams on (01443) 693348.