Although services across the country have suffered from funding cuts, a scheme in Hertfordshire is bucking the trend. Now they're getting a helping hand in combatting loneliness and enabling people to live independent lives.
From wakeboarding in Scotland to browsing the arts and crafts stalls at The Open Market CIC in Brighton, here's our pick of the top social enterprise days out in time for the bank holiday.
Unity Trust Bank is on track to hit its three-year lending target of £100m by the end of 2015, according to its new Social Impact report, and aims "to become the go to bank for the civil society" in the UK.
The Arts Impact Fund will offer loans from a pot of money backed by public, private and philanthropic investors for 'artistically excellent work' that also delivers social benefit.
RBS breaks social enterprise targets in the UK, a Ugandan-Dutch mobile phone social enterprise receives US$1 boost and one of the US's most prestigious Ivy League business schools opens specialised social enterprise hub.
“There will never be enough investment, so it’s our task to get as much as possible from the investment that is available and make it go further than ever before,” explains the CEO of UK-based First Ark Group.
Cameron may have once described it as his "greatest passion" but mentions of the Big Society are likely to be few and far between in his election campaign. Rodney Schwartz reflects on the initiative – the good, the bad and the controversial.
Following up the news that, after three years, Streetbank's founders eventually celebrated being recognised as a registered charity at the end of 2014, Pioneers Post has received responses from both the Charity Commission and the CIC regulator.
