Funding for social entrepreneurs

Two Perthshire entrepreneurs received more than £8,000 to help them progress with their business ideas.

Fran Loots, of Aye Can Change in Comrie, was granted £4,500 from Firstport, while Karen Todd, who runs WalklN’Café in Spittalfield, secured £3,550 to pilot her project.

Firstport is a social enterprise development agency which helps budding businesses deliver their plans.

Fifteen social entrepreneurs from across Scotland were awarded a total of £62,289 from the social entrepreneurs fund in the first quarter of 2017. The budding social entrepreneurs are trying to address what are regarded as important social issues in Scotland.

Ms Loots set up Aye Can Change to tackle the promotion of wellbeing and long-term sustainable weight management. She aims to achieve this with a 12-step non-diet programme.

Ms Todd wants her WalklN’Cafe to be the main hub of activity in the village of Spittalfield, build community spirit, reduce social isolation particularly among its older population, and promote healthy physical activity.

Karen McGregor, chief executive of Firstport, said: “The variety of ideas shows that social enterprise can be applied to any sector and tackle a range of issues in innovative ways.”

The awards are part of Firstport’s Start It programme, where entrepreneurs can apply for up to £5,000.