Social Enterprise Schemes Discover Funding Allocations

Trailblazing local social enterprise schemes will tomorrow discover their share of £1.4 million of national funding, made available by Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis.

The 26 schemes from across England will receive Department of Health (DH) funding towards start up costs plus wider support, for example business advice and training, to help them lead the way in delivering innovative community services in health and social care. The lessons from the pathfinders will be shared across the health and social care sector so that others can benefit from their experience.

An example of a well known social enterprise scheme is The Big Issue, providing opportunities for people facing homelessness to help themselves. Likewise, the DH social enterprise trailblazers will provide an innovative range of health and social services, from tele-health services for rural communities to mobile drug and alcohol rehabilitation services.

Welcoming the pathfinders’ start up funding, Ivan Lewis said: “I am delighted that these excellent social enterprise pathfinders are being supported with this funding. This national programme will support the delivery of innovative services and, in line with our White Paper commitments, will help put people and patients at the heart of what we do.

“What we learn from this initiative will provide learning opportunities for health and social care professionals in general, and simultaneously create greater choice for patients through a wider selection of convenient, innovative and responsive services.”

Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition, said: “At the Social Enterprise Coalition we welcome the news of financial investment in these pathfinders, as it is vital that social enterprises get the capital needed to operate as sustainable businesses offering practical solutions to the issues faced by the health sector.

“This funding is a strong signal of the government’s commitment to encourage the public sector to tap into the vast potential of the social enterprise model; which promotes innovation and leads to improvements directly benefiting staff, patients and social care users.

“I believe it’s the ability of social enterprises to combine a public service ethos with commercial efficiency that sets them apart – and that’s precisely why health commissioners are taking notice.”