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Eden founder hears Cornwall social entrepreneurs tell their stories of success
12.02.10
Tim Smit will recognise the achievements of 15 of Cornwall’s social entrepreneurs today, at a celebration at the iconic social enterprise he founded: the Eden Project. As patron of the Cornwall SSE, Smit will be part of an audience that will hear about the journeys of the first 15 to be supported by the Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs, and about the organisations they have established: changing Cornwall for the better through their purpose, passion and commitment.
Each of the 15 completes the inaugural programme at the Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs today (Friday February 11th), a year of tailored support and development for them and the organisation they are establishing. The Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs is a partner in Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise, which is supported by ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence investment via Job Centre Plus (DWP) and led by Cornwall Council. Cornwall SSE is managed through Cornwall Development Company.
Tim Smit, Eden Project founder, said, "Social enterprise is, in my view, possibly the most important development in business over the last century. Its recognition of the wider needs of the community and environmental impacts of business as well as the responsible social role business should play give it great relevance in the emerging post recession world.
“The school is a vital addition to the capacity of Cornwall and we at Eden are proud to be supporters and are delighted to welcome them here for this their first graduation ceremony."
The social entrepreneurs come from diverse backgrounds and work on a wide range of different projects. Those graduating today include:
1. Caroline Driver – established and runs Llamarama, a fair trade business, reducing poverty through bringing talented artisans’ products to profitable international markets;
see www.llarmarama.org.uk
2. Jane Yeoman - currently setting up ZOOP, a dynamic social enterprise promoting sustainable living to families with children under 5 years of age; see www.zoop.org.uk
3. Jane Opie – has set up and leads Smart Savings, a locally-managed social enterprise providing professional and ethical financial services, particularly to disadvantaged communities, and with a specific focus on claims management; see www.smartsavings.org.uk
SSE Chief Executive Alastair Wilson said: “I am delighted to welcome these first Cornwall social entrepreneurs into the SSE Fellowship. They are true social entrepreneurs: driven by a social mission, which they pair with the entrepreneurial spirit and skills that allows them to change the lives of the people they work with and for. Congratulations to them all, and to all those who’ve made Cornwall SSE happen.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “I warmly congratulate the first graduates from the Cornwall SSE, It has been very exciting to witness their individual journeys in turning their ideas into reality and working to make a positive change in their communities that they know so well.”
SSE has been delivering support to individual social entrepreneurs since 1997, and has grown to a networked franchise of 9 UK centres. The first international franchise has been established in Australia, with the first programme in Sydney launching simultaneously with Cornwall SSE in March 2009.
The SSE Fellowship of social entrepreneurs now numbers over 430, with a further 200+ currently on programmes. The most recent independent evaluation of SSE’s work1 found that each SSE Fellow creates 3 jobs and 7 volunteering positions on average, whilst 90% experience a growth in confidence and skills to lead their organisation; as a result, 85% of those organisations are still in existence.
Cornwall SSE is currently seeking budding social entrepreneurs for its next programme. People who are looking to follow in the footsteps of those telling their stories today. See www.sse.org.uk for more.
For further information contact:
Sally Heard
Development Manager
Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs (CSSE)
01726 223376 / 07866 239098
www.sse.org.uk
Clare Morgan
Media relations manager
Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
07973 813647
Editor's notes:
Evaluation of the School for Social Entrepreneurs 1997-2007 by the New Economics Foundation (available from www.sse.org.uk as pdf or in hard copy on request); or see www.sse.org.uk for more information.
For more information on Cornwall SSE, including photos and interviews, please contact: Sally Heard on Sally.heard@cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk ; or Nick Temple (07968 810716; nick.temple@sse.org.uk). A graduation booklet of the entire cohort of Cornwall SSE social entrepreneurs is also available on request.
The ESF Convergence Programme is targeted at tackling barriers to work, improving workforce skills and research and graduate activity.
