Social enterprise shopping can help make the world a better place

Charities have diversified their revenue sources,

What motivates your shopping habits? It is a question that brings considerable stress to retail managers or indeed anyone trying to entice you and your pounds with their products and services. However, the way we choose to shop is now changing and charities are getting in on the act to help complement traditional fundraising methods. Whether it’s your morning coffee, your weekly shop or your annual travel insurance, we are now able to find ways of purchasing our regular goods and services but doing so in the knowledge that we are giving back to help a charitable cause.

This may not be news to you but for those that it is, social enterprises, as they are collectively know, are a dynamic way of doing business that can transform communities and drive profound and lasting social change, so says Social Enterprise Scotland. These businesses range in size and function from small community trusts to our very own Age Scotland Enterprise which arranges various financial services. What’s really exciting is the possibility, 42 per cent of social enterprises are less than ten years old so the potential for growth is huge. Such a burgeoning industry also provides a huge opportunity for employment with over 112,000 employed by social enterprises in Scotland. In addition, along with existing products and services, some social enterprises are sometimes meeting a market shortfall.

The third sector as a whole is waking up to the potential of social enterprises and the need to diversify revenue sources, becoming more innovative and self-reliant in difficult times; this action comes not a moment too soon. The issues surrounding charity fundraising have led to a drop in donations, yes it may have been only a few charities that were taking part in bad practice but the whole sector has suffered as a result. Many people also assume that charity shops provide strong funding but with the rise of discount retailers and greater competition on the high street, charity shops aren’t the reliable way to raise funds that they once were. Age Scotland Enterprise provides about 20 per cent of Age Scotland’s income that we use to support our work tackling loneliness and isolation, providing better financial stability for the charity so we can help those who need it the most. We are also seeking to provide income to the charity through our new venture Now & Next which is providing training to the over-50s to help them make a pur-

poseful step in to later life and better plan for their retirement. Now & Next is very much fitting with the idea of a social enterprise, all income goes back into the charity with the training going to make a huge difference in the lives of the people who attend. In not planning for their retirement, people are risking poor health outcomes and risking their finances, Now & Next training seeks to amend that to improve people’s life chances.

Another great example of how a social enterprise can support a community venture are men’s sheds. A men’s sheds is any venue where men can come together to be creative, whether that’s woodworking, fixing bikes or making bird-feeders as some of the activities you’ll find in sheds across Scotland. The movement has provided a brilliant way to tackle loneliness in older men and many attendees have reduced their risk of mental and physical health problems. What’s produced is then able to be sold for a profit to fund future work. The standard of this work is incredible and the prices are very reasonable, check out the Scottish Men’s Shed Association website, http://scottishmsa.org.uk/, for details on your local shed.

Returning to my initial question of what it is that motivates your shopping habits, is worth reflecting on now that I’ve told you about just a few social enterprises. We would hope that people choose Age Scotland Enterprise not just because of insurance products that are tailored for older people and great customer service but because in choosing us, you are helping vulnerable older people.

With stretched budgets and maybe not enough to go round, charitable giving may not always be possible, but certain expenditure is unavoidable, so have a shop around. You may find that you’re able to do so and make the world a better place at the same time. llogan Steele is general manager of Age Scotland Enterprise www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/