Case Studies

Giraffe Trading CIC provide employment opportunities to those facing barriers to employment through their cafes, shop and gallery and plant sales.  They were the the first Community Interest Company to establish in Perth and Kinross.  They are one of the founding members of the Perth and Kinross SEN. 

Ladywood Leisure Centre is a community run sport and leisure facility based in Penicuik, Midlothian. The local goup took it over from Midlthian Council in 2007 and now run the facility at a small profit with usage up from 22% to 60% and rising. 

Set up in 2006, Dumfries & Galloway Social Enterprise Network covers an extensive region in the South West of Scotland. Due to the large distances involved and the time it takes to travel around the Dumfries & Galloway SEN meets in the Town Hall in Castle Douglas, seen as the most central point for all.

Set up in May 2007, Clackmannanshire Social Enterprise Network was born out of Kilncraigs Incubator Unit in Alloa; a European funded project that provided start-up support and facilities for local social enterprises.  The group are actively involved with local partners and the Interface.  They are the third SEN to register as a Community Benefit Company with the Model Rules.

Fife Social Enterprise Network was the first Local Social Enterprise Network to start up. The first meeting took place in 2004 at Furniture Plus in Dysart. FSEN is one of the most active Networks, with around 18 members.

The Health SEN was set up in the early part of 2007, after the 1st Fit for Purpose event. Since then the group has been developing its remit and been the basis for a lot of developments which Senscot has successfully transferred to the other thematic Networks.

Set up in 2006, Moray Social Enterprise Network (MSEN) carries out networking, training, events and other support activities. MSEN is moving forward with the next steps in developing the group. Network member REAP won the tender to deliver admin support for the 2010-2011 and will aim to build on the success of previous Social Enterprise Awards Dinners and Community of Business events.

Fife Social Enterprise Network was the first Local Social Enterprise Network to start up. The first meeting took place in 2004 at Furniture Plus in Dysart.  Over the past 6 years FSEN has gone through some highs and lows but has never lost its identity as a hub of social enterprise across its membership. Many of the members who attended the very first meeting are still going well with some such as Recycle Fife now trading in the £ millions.

You Can Cook delivered a successful trial for NHS Borders Health Improvement Team, You Can Cook has now been given the green light to work in partnership with NHS Borders to deliver workshops on healthy living in Selkirk and Walkerburn from September 2010 onwards.

The Inverclyde SEN began 3 years ago.  Since then it has formed close relationships between the members and has been an invaluable source of peer support.  The SEN has a positive relationship with the CVS and the Chamber of Commerce.

The Edinburgh SEN began in November 2005.  Since then it has been involved in a range of activities including the Social Enterprise World Forum, the Fitness to Tender Programme, 2 Community of Business events and hosted many study visits.  They have recently appointed an administrator to help take the group forward.

The Tayside Social Enterprise Network split to meet local needs.  There is a Dundee, Angus and Perth SEN covering the Tayside area.  The Dundee SEN has actively engaged with 24 organisations since it began 3 years ago.  Members have a positive relationship with Dundee City Council and the Chamber of Commerce

The Dundee International Women’s Centre has successfully engaged women from many different social, religious, cultural or other excluded backgrounds for the past 40 years. They provide a truly multicultural service to all women.

Send-It, formally known as Printability has had a very successful year.  In response to consultancy support secured through the Aspire to Enterprise Programme they went through a re-branding exercise earlier this year to more accurately reflect the businesses activities.  To top this they have also just found out they were successful with their application to the Enterprise Fund securing £57,000 to for a Sales/Marketing Manager. 
 

East Lothian SEN met for the first time in February 2006 in Haddington.   With the help of funding from Communities Scotland, ‘Social Enterprise in East Lothian’ developed a website and directory of social enterprises in the area.  In March 2008 they ran their first conference which was opened and chaired by the Leader of East Lothian Council
 

Recycle Fife provide commercial and municipal kerbside recycling for a range of materials including cans, plastic bottles, glass, paper and cardboard.  Recycle Fife is one of the founding members of the Fife SEN and has recently become a Champion of the Social Enterprise Mark as one of the first 5 awardees in Scotland.

The Aberdeen Social Enterprise Network was the second network to establish itself 4 years ago due to interest in the first group in Fife. 

Caring Christmas Trees raises funds for Bethany’s Care Shelter, giving homeless people a hot meal, a safe place to sleep and much-needed advice over the winter months.

Caring Christmas Trees are fresh, needle-last, high quality and from sustainable tree farms. All the profit helps homeless people and they are around the same price as you’d pay elsewhere.



 

The Factory Skatepark is the first purpose built facility of this type in the country. The new purpose-built building has approximately 16,500 square feet of skating area. Boards, Blades and BMX's are all catered for and there are competitions for each of the disciplines throughout the year.  They play an active role developing the Tayside Social Enterprise Network. 

 

A series of case studies on Edinburgh based social enterprises produced by Edinburgh Council's Economic Development Department for the Social Enterprise World Forum.

Over the two years since it was formed, the Tayside Social Enterprise Network has engaged with 24 organisations. The majority of these have been from Dundee City area with a couple coming from Angus.

This conference report aims to provide a record of the event (\Fit For Purporse Health COnference) and identify the key recommendations/outcomes relating to the predefined conference goals.

'A Community of Business', a Coalition publication which showcases six social enterprises which have developed innovative relationships with the private sector