It’s a first for Callander

Town is named the country’s first ever social enterprise town

Callander has been named as Scotland’s first ever social enterprise town.

It was awarded the accolade for being a hotspot for social enterprise activity.

Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose, reinvesting profits to increase their impact.

They are forming an ever–increasing part of the economy of the Trossachs town and help tackle issues including social mobility, access to affordable housing, health and wellbeing, social isolation and access to the surrounding countryside.

Callander received the award under a programme run by Social Enterprise UK which supports businesses with a social or environmental goal

The town social enterprises include a community-owned scheme which generates an operating surplus of £200,000 a year, the McLaren Community Leisure Centre and Callander Youth Project which runs Callander Hostel.

Word of the award came at a ceremony at Callander Hostel this week, the day before the opening of the Social Enterprise World Forum in Edinburgh.

Chris Martin, from CYP, which was one of the prime movers behind the award bid said: “Callander Hostel is a prime example of how a business can be set up in such a way as to generate income but also to make a significant social impact in our community.

“Over the years Callander Youth Project Trust has made a huge difference to the life chances of young people in the area helping to develop local talent and encourage entrepreneurship.”

To mark the achievement, actor and comedian, Chris Addison visited the town.

The TV funnyman, who has starred in The Thick of It and Mock The Week, is a social enterprise UK Patron. He said: “Callander is a beautiful little town with beautiful big ideas, showing us what’s possible when communities come together to take on local issues and make change happen. Scotland’s bristling with brilliant social enterprise so it’s quite the achievement for this fantastic town to have been named the country’s first social enterprise place.

Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell said: “There are more than 140 social enterprises in Stirling, and Callander’s Youth Project Trust, which seeks to improve the quality of life for young people in Callander and the surrounding area, is an excellent example of how this innovative way of doing business is delivering positive change.”

Stirling MSP, Bruce Crawford, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is recognition of the hard work which has been done by people in the community and I commend them on their fantastic efforts.”

Trossachs and Teith councillor Evelyn Tweed said: “The celebrations to mark the launch of Callander as Scotland’s first Social Enterprise Town were fantastic. Great to meet Chris Addison who was very enthusiastic about Callander and all the brilliant work that is going on locally. A huge thanks to Chris Martin who organised the event and to all the others involved in pulling this together. Wonderful for Callander and my ward.”

Councillor Jeremy McDonald added: “It was an excellent event and Callander should be proud to be named as Scotland’s first Social Enterprise Town. That award is well deserved as there are so many examples of a community delivering socially enterprising projects. The hydro fund , the youth project and creative in Callander being just three.”