Social enterprise projects join forces at same hub
EMERGING social enterprises that train homeless people to become tour guides, support food banks and teach digital skills to disadvantaged young people will join an innovative tech and social entrepreneur hub in Manchester city centre this month.
A total of seven organisations have been supported to move into the coworking space at Co-op’s digital and community hub The Federation, near Shudehill.
In addition to up to four free desk spaces each for the next 12 months, new residents will also benefit from building relationships with other local teams committed to using technology and innovation to create positive change in communities.
Support is also provided by The Federation and Co-op Foundation, thanks to a grant from Luminate, part of The Omidyar Group. The new residents include: Bounceback Food CIC: Fights food poverty by teaching people how to cook and donating to foodbanks.
COIN (Cohesion and Integration Network): A national professional network of individuals and organisations that will champion integration and cohesion locally, nationally and internationally, especially via a digital platform.
Digital Advantage CIC: Provides industry-led digital training and work experience to young people in Greater Manchester and beyond. They have a dedicated programme for special educational needs and disability schools and students in Greater Manchester, linking talented students with progressive employers in the region. Fluidkeys: Builds software to help developers, journalists and activists protect sensitive information with simple, strong encryption. ■Invisible Manchester: Works with people who have been affected by homelessness and trains them to become walking tour guides. Noisy Cricket: Builds people-powered movements to achieve social impact, through bringing diverse groups –including businesses, charities and the public sector – together with impacted people to develop and deliver innovative solutions for equality. Matt Atkinson, chief membership officer at the Co-Op
PIE (Pursuing Individual Excellence): Supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their communication and digital skills through coaching sessions and workshops.
Matt Atkinson, chief membership officer at the Co-op, said: “The Co-op is centred around people coming together to create shared value, which benefits themselves and the wider community.
“This fantastic initiative is modern day co-operation in action, where all the participants can actively contribute towards increasing the digital and social impact arising out of Federation in an unrivalled and truly distinctive manner.”
Jim Cooke, head of the Co-op Foundation, said: “The Federation’s social entrepreneur hub is bringing together some of Manchester’s most exciting start-ups and emerging social enterprises, helping them share ideas and support each other.”