‘Do your best to support area’s social businesses’
SOCIAL Saturday, a day to celebrate social enterprises, is returning to Bridgend on Saturday, October 15.
People are urged to use their buying power in support of businesses that reinvest or donate their profits to support social and environmental issues, from creating job opportunities to helping reduce poverty.
Bryngarw Park, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is just one of the 68 social enterprises in Bridgend using their profits for a purpose.
Ceri Evans, from Bryngarw, said: “We use our profits to invest in our facilities and activities so that we can enable more people to enjoy vibrant cultural experiences that enhance their life in some way.
“Whether that be at a nature event in a local park, participating in a youth theatre workshop in one of our theatres, enjoying a family celebration at our community centre or learning new digital skills in one of our libraries.
“Every penny we make is ploughed back into the business to deliver these types of activities and much, much more.”
Social Saturday was started in Wales by the Wales Co-operative Centre in 2013. It is now run by the Centre through the Social Business Wales project, with funding from Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
Rhian Edwards, from Social Business Wales, said: “There are over 1,600 social businesses in Wales, from cafes and leisure centres to pubs and wildlife sanctuaries.
“The sector in Wales is worth £1.7bn and employs 38,000 people with the help of 38,500 volunteers.
“But that’s just the beginning. Their profits go back into improving lives and tackling environmental issues. A cake bought from a community cafe could go back into helping a person with a disability gain employability skills.
“When you shop, dine out or go on a day trip to a social enterprise on Social Saturday, you will contribute to something much bigger. So I encourage everyone to go out and support their local social enterprises doing great things in the community.”