Social Enterprise Awareness Day

Midwest Rural Enterprise CIC suggest the following activity to run during Social Enterprise Day (Thursday 19 November):

Organise a drop-in event to celebrate existing social enterprises in your area and to raise awareness of the third sector within your community. Social enterprises could have stands and invite guests to find out what their social enterprise does and how it benefits the community/environment. Invite local people as well as members of larger organisations.

You could get students or apprentices studying hospitality and catering to take part in the event by providing lunch for invited guests. They could source local produce thereby supporting the local economy and reducing the carbon footprint.

Top Tips from Clare Foster at Midwest Rural Enterprise CIC
- Plan early and advertise the event well.
- Invite your target audience and members of the community who would also be interested in your event.
- Talk to the local papers to get editorial about the event in papers before the event.
- Speak to your local radio station and see if they will interview you and get it logged into the local events programme.
- Make sure you communicate well with all parties involved with the event. If possible get students from local schools involved.

Midwest Rural Enterprise CIC ran their Enterprise Week 2007 event with Aylestone Business & Enterprise College. Justine McNeillie the Business & Enterprise Manager at Aylestone said, “It is very important that both teachers and students understand what a social enterprise is. There is an opportunity for all schools to set up their own Social Enterprise, which will not only help young people understand how to run a business, but will also instil good social and ethical values”.