WIREDGOV

The Social Enterprise Action Plan sets out how the Welsh Assembly Government will work with partner organisations to promote social enterprises in Wales to create a thriving sector that will support community and economic regeneration and create local jobs.

The plan contains 20 key actions to help the sector expand, to grow existing ventures and help new social enterprises to become established.

The Deputy Minister said:

In the current economic climate social enterprises are more not less relevant. Social enterprise has been at the heart of communities in Wales since the nineteenth century.  From Robert Owen, the grandfather of co-operatives, through Aneurin Bevan’s NHS to Tower Colliery, Wales has been at the forefront of social enterprise.

This plan will build on our history to strengthen further our social enterprise culture to meet the challenges of the 21st century.  Strong social enterprises are a key element in regenerating our communities and will create local jobs that not only benefit the employees but also the community.

A new organisation to champion social enterprise and deliver key parts of the plan will be established. Social Enterprise Coalition Cymru will run a major awareness raising campaign, recruit pathfinder enterprises to help other organisations develop, encourage young social entrepreneurs and host key conferences on social enterprise.

The Coalition will work closely with the Wales Co-op Centre who have already been successful in securing European convergence funding and Welsh Assembly Government match funding worth a total on £7.1 million for the Social Enterprise Support Project.

A new group will also be created to advise Ministers on social enterprise.  The Ministerial Advisory Group will create a direct link between Ministers and social enterprise experts.  Appointments to the group will be made later in the year.

The plan also includes the development of the Community Asset Transfer Fund an £8 million pot to help third sector organisations and social enterprises renovate public buildings to offer services to the community.

Leighton Andrews continued:

Social Enterprise Coalition Cymru will be key to delivering the plan, raising the profile of social enterprises, encouraging more people to start them and celebrating the success of the sector in Wales. I look forward to seeing a close relationship developing between the Coalition and the Wales Co-Op Centre.

The new advisory group will help keep my finger on the pulse of the sector and I am looking forward to working with them.

The potential benefits of the Community Asset Transfer Fund through community ownership of buildings are many – social businesses may be started; community centred activity may develop; community groups who own assets may generate revenue, all leading to a stronger and more self confident community.

Related Links

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/regeneration/?lang=en