Tag: social enterprise

Scotcash heading east

Award-winning Community Development Finance Institution Scotcash to expand into Edinburgh

Glasgow based social enterprise Scotcash are to make their award-winning inclusive and ethical financial services available to people in Edinburgh for the first time.

With support from Oak Foundation and The Virgin Money Foundation, Scotcash will open a new branch in Edinburgh later this year. 

Since opening in 2007, Scotcash has been tackling financial and social exclusion in Glasgow by targeting and working with people who face barriers to mainstream financial services.

As well as offering affordable loans, Scotcash helps their customers to set up basic bank accounts, connect with local credit unions to begin savings accounts, and referrals for vital money advice. 

Nancy Doyle, Executive Director of Virgin Money Foundation said: “Tackling the root causes of disadvantage is key to regenerating communities across the UK. Our new fund aims to enable activity that can have a positive ripple effect beyond its immediate context and help community hubs to flourish, learn from one another and export best practice.” 

Sharon MacPherson, Chief Executive, Scotcash said: “We are delighted to be awarded funding. This will go a long way towards helping financially excluded citizens in Edinburgh access the financial products and services they need. We know that many people with low incomes pay much more than better off families because they can’t access banking, affordable credit or savings. This award will allow Scotcash to expand our already successful services to Edinburgh and promote financial inclusion across local areas where these services are needed most.” 

A further expansion of Scotcash services is also planned for Inverclyde in the future as part of a separate project. 

Since its launch 10 years ago, Scotcash has retained over £5m in the community through like for like customers savings on interest and has been recognised with accolades from the Guardian, COSLA, and the Giordano Dell’Amore Microfinance Good Practices Europe Award.

Social Enterprise: going global

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Communities Secretary Angela Constance hailed the ongoing success of Scotland’s social enterprises at the Social Enterprise Policy and Practice Conference yesterday. Ms Constance also announced a new international strategy to help build on the £1.68 billion contribution our social enterprises already make to Scotland’s economy.
Continue reading Social Enterprise: going global

No stress: new role for June

EVOC’s June Dickson supported the local voluntary sector’s participation in community planning through the Neighbourhood Partnerships. She recently moved on to an exciting new role and explains what it’s all about:

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Continue reading No stress: new role for June

Read all about it – Doogie sells The Big Issue!

CEO Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network selling The Big Issue on Princes Street 130716 (1)

Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network’s (ESEN’s) mascot Doogie Goodstuff, who promotes great social enterprise products and services across the city with his Buy The Good Stuff campaign, took to the streets of Edinburgh yesterday  to sell The Big Issue. Continue reading Read all about it – Doogie sells The Big Issue!

Social kickabout at Easter Road

Mascots meet at Easter Road

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Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network’s mascot Doogie Goodstuff, who promotes all great social enterprise products and service across the city with the Buy The Good Stuff campaign – lined up for a fun penalty shoot-out with fellow social enterprise mascots at Hibs’ Easter Road stadium yesterday. Continue reading Social kickabout at Easter Road

City social enterprises strive for success

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Twelve guest social entrepreneurs from Edinburgh Social Enterprise’s (ESEN) citywide network shared their expertise with businesses who were successful in winning a place on the Social Innovation Incubation Award programme at an event at The Melting Pot last week. Continue reading City social enterprises strive for success

Doogie doodles at WHALE Arts

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EDINBURGH Social Enterprise Network (ESEN) decided to sprinkle some social enterprise sparkle with its Live the Good Stuff campaign yesterday – ESEN’s mascot Doogie Goodstuff supervised a mega doodle colouring-in session at Whale Arts to help tackle the Blue Monday blues!

Mondays in January are a time in the calendar seen as difficult for people to find that extra sparkle, so a number of Edinburgh’s social enterprises are gearing up to focus on health and wellbeing activities to re-invigorate this seasonal lull – as Christmas cheer is over, time and money may be tight and motivation low.

Live the Good Stuff is a campaign to promote Edinburgh’s many health and wellbeing social enterprises, one of which is MHScot Workplace Wellbeing which focuses on stress prevention and early mental health intervention in the workplace.

Commenting on the return to work and routine after a long festive break, Catherine Eadie, workplace Wellbeing consultant, said: “There are many combined factors that make those January Mondays a difficult prospect – everything from health issues, work and financial stress, childcare and caring concerns whilst fitting in some time to keep fit.

“Finding some tranquil time in the mix is very often the last thing to think about and applies to everyone whether they are working or not.”

Catherine added: “It takes time to work out the best plan of action but an easy step is to find a pastime that is simple to set up and a welcome distraction which can make all the difference whether it is walking, bird-watching, reading or creative colouring.

Linsay Chalmers, network coordinator at Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network, added: “We have a growing number of social enterprises in Edinburgh supporting people in the city to improve their physical and mental wellbeing, from pregnancy care through to stress management and healthy eating.”

There are over 200 social enterprises trading in Edinburgh, from cafes and retail, to creative industries and leisure – generating income and reinvesting their profits into the community for social or environmental benefits.