Social Enterprise and Mental Health Conference
A Complementary Approach to Employment
As representatives of Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW, Kris Havron and Anne Stedman attended the Social Enterprise Conference auspiced by the MHCC on the 21st and 22nd of November 2011. We found it an exciting and inspiring event, which provided information on social enterprise and the principles behind it, showcased some existing models and explored the impacts on consumers of partaking in such enterprises- both from skills development and engagement in the community as part of the recovery process.
The conference was held in the grounds of Callum Park, and one of the highlights of the event was a tour of the grounds, with reflections on the history of the facility supplied by Jenna Bateman, who had worked there as a young mental health nurse in the 1980s. Many of the buildings are vacant and in a state of disrepair,. Leichardt Council has recently designated the area to be set aside for Mental Health enterprises to follow on the history of the area.
The concept of a social enterprise is one in which a business is run, not only to make money but also to add social value to a community. Service organizations are encouraged to follow this model for a number of reasons. Firstly, it provides a supported strengths-based opportunity for consumers to begin to participate in the workforce as part of the recovery process. This provides opportunities for those who have previously been excluded from the workforce to build confidence and skills and to earn award wage money. We heard many heart-lifting stories from consumers about the successful businesses they were involved in and the difference this had made to their lives and their feelings about themselves.
Secondly, by getting involved in sustainable enterprises, service organizations can move away from reliance on funding and grants. This provides a level of security and tenure of programmes to assist in raising the capacity of consumers to be functioning members of their communities. Of course, this will require a mind shift on the part of organizations and may involve up-skilling staff or employing new staff members with business skills training.
Sustainability of the ventures is crucial and requires detailed planning, good governance and business modelling. From our understanding organizations would use grants or funding in the initial phases of the enterprise with the aim of producing a profit within a few years that would then be reinvested in the enterprise. For those businesses that may require a longer growth period the state and federal governments are working with some branches of the banking community to encourage the concept of social venture capital. Research is being undertaken to support the notion that in the case of social enterprise, the dollar is not necessarily the bottom line, but that there is also a social value-add to be factored in. The social enterprise lending institution will offer support with business plans and ongoing business practice advice to assist in the viability of the enterprise.
And thirdly, by encouraging and supporting consumers to be active members of a community these ventures help raise awareness of mental illness and a positive attitude towards the recovery process both for consumers as well as the wider society. They work towards de-stigmatising mental illness by embracing difference, celebrating the creativity of many sufferers of mental illness and help to ameliorate their exclusion from mainstream society and the ensuing poverty and sense of hopelessness.
Some examples of Social Enterprises you may be interested in:
Curb Collective, http://www.bower.org.au/curb-collective.html
Hobo Gro, http://hobogro.blogspot.com/
Good Food for Good Mood, Rosie Brown
Talking Teatowels, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Talking-Tea-Towels/169571243057170?v=info
Curious Works, http://www.curiousworks.com.au/projects/
Also, other useful websites for information and training in social enterprise ventures:
Social Traders, http://www.socialtraders.com.au/
Social Firms Australia (SoFA), http://www.socialfirms.org.au/
Central Coast Business College, http://www.ccbusinesscollege.com/twenty-first-century-social-enterprise-program.html
Funding and investment sources:
Federal Government and banking community:
· Innovative Fund and Jobs Fund, http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/innovationfund.aspx
· Social Enterprise Development and Investment Fund (SEDIF) – offering longer term support http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/Programs/SocialInnovation/SocialEnterprise/Pages/SEDIF.aspx
· Social Enterprise Finance Australia( SEFA) http://www.sefa.com.au/
· And Social Enterprise Solutions http://www.foresters.org.au/socialenterprisesolutions/social-enterprise-solutions.html
NSW Government:
· Community Builders Fund http://www2.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/cb_program_guidelines_20_october_2010.pdf
At local level:
· Local Councils
· Social Enterprises Sydney http://www.socialenterprises.com.au/
· Social Procurement Action Group- addressed legal issues surrounding social enterprises http://www.socialenterprises.com.au/collaborations-partnerships