First social enterprise dedicated to tackling human trafficking opens in Ukraine

Social enterprise diversifies in to a new realm of care in Ukraine, with a new venture opening to prevent human trafficking. The venture is based in Lviv, close to Ukraine's border with Poland, and is supported by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). It aims to offer experience and qualifications in handicrafts to help at-risk women become more employable in Ukraine's labour market.

In the last ten years, Ukraine has seen in excess of a hundred thousand citizens being forced into exploitative work in Europe, Russia and across the Middle East. To combat this problem the OSCE is supporting NGOs that offer training to vulnerable groups and create temporary employment opportunities for those at risk, as well as actual victims. 

Hollywood star Michael Sheen celebrates Welsh social enterprise Toogoodtowaste 

Welsh actor Michael Sheen visited social enterprise Toogoodtowaste last week as they celebrated 20 years of providing low-income families with furnishings for their homes. Last year the organisation prevented 450 tonnes of household items from ending up in landfill. 
The social enterprise was able to sell an abundance of recycled goods as well as providing 280 free furniture packages. Based in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, they've taken on in excess of 1,500 volunteers in the last ten years, providing them with the skills to gain full-time employment. 

UK social investment foundation seeks help to spend £60m

The Access Foundation for Social Investment has launched a consultation on the strategy of its ten-year capacity building programme, which promises to spend £60m on support for more charities and social enterprises. CEO Seb Elsworth said Access will “gather views from across the sector on what the priority areas for our work should be”. The consultation period will conclude in September 2015, with funding programmes beginning in Spring 2016. 

Access exist to invest money in voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises that struggle financially in the crucial start up stages. The foundation hopes that this will be the start of a longer conversation that can be held synonymously with the capacity building programme to help inform and support its 10-year lifespan.

Cheers! Pints promote good causes in the Scottish capital

Edinburgh’s innovative Southside Social pub opened its doors this week, allowing customers to enjoy a drink whilst helping to promote a good cause. The first social enterprise pub in Edinburgh (and only the second in Scotland) will train young staff for a career in hospitality and donate profits to good causes. 

‘Eat My Lunch’: New Zealand social enterprise boasts early success

Fresh New Zealand start-up Eat My Lunch, which donates one lunch for every one sold, saw amazing early growth success after opening its doors, going from one hundred lunches sold per day in its first week to four hundred bought lunches a day in its second week. 

Up to $20,000 is up for grabs to Singapore’s start-up social enterprises

The Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE) has announced new initiatives that will enable those with good ideas for social enterprises to receive up to $20,000 in grants. Ventures that address social needs will be eligible to receive the money from raiSE, which is joint-funded by government and revenues from gambling.

Header photo: Kiev, Ukraine

Photo credit: Central Niak