A model on capacity building work with ethnic minority (EM) voluntary sector organisations (including refugees) and enhancement of existing capacity in the social enterprise / social economy areas. (Presentation delivered at the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO) in 2009.)

1. Social EnterprisesSocial Enterprises
andand
Ethnic MinoritiesEthnic Minorities
Paulo Quadros

2. What are Social EnterprisesWhat are Social Enterprises
Businesses set up to generate profits to tackle a
social or environmental need.
Co-operatives
Limited (usually by guarantee) etc
CIC
• The Big IssueThe Big Issue
• CafCafédirectédirect
• Co-operative GroupCo-operative Group
• Divine ChocolateDivine Chocolate
• Eden ProjectEden Project
• John Lewis PartnershipJohn Lewis Partnership (employee-owned company)(employee-owned company)
• KibbleKibble
• McSenceMcSence (services & workspace)(services & workspace)
• Fifteen Foundation (Fifteen Foundation (Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain for disadvantaged young people)for disadvantaged young people)
General definition:
Legal forms:
Can be largeCan be large

3. What are Social EnterprisesWhat are Social Enterprises
Social Enterprises are also opportunities to empower
individuals and groups of people to meet their community
wellbeing needs without depending on external interventions
(such as grants).
They are a kind of self-sufficient charities.
Quit&Save
(Created by Neil McLean – now at the Social Enterprise Academy)
Man in Govan who sells organic food from his bike!
Can be smallCan be small
Sari (UK) Ltd: recycling old saris into designer clothes
Somali Development Service: for Leicester’s Somali community,
providing childcare, courses and advice
Wester Hailes Health Agency (Edinburgh): Health support inc organic
market (also explicitly provide support for Black and Minority Ethnic
Communities)

4. Specific issues to be consideredSpecific issues to be considered
– LanguageLanguage (e.g. communication)(e.g. communication)
– Cultural differencesCultural differences (different ways of doing things – can be an advantage)(different ways of doing things – can be an advantage)
– IntegrationIntegration (e.g. unique ideas into mainstream)(e.g. unique ideas into mainstream)
– Social exclusionSocial exclusion (many people within EM communities can be isolated making it(many people within EM communities can be isolated making it
difficult for needs assessment / enterprise support)difficult for needs assessment / enterprise support)
– Asylum seekers (special issues)Asylum seekers (special issues): psychological issues, isolation,: psychological issues, isolation,
uncertainty but also sometimes highly skilleduncertainty but also sometimes highly skilled
Ethnic MinoritiesEthnic Minorities
(Overview)(Overview)

5. 
Existing
(just needing
practical support)
Building Social EnterpriseBuilding Social Enterprise
Capacity for EM GroupsCapacity for EM Groups
e.g.
• Charities already wanting to become more self- sufficient
• Other volunteer organisations
• People or organisations already actively trying to create a
business
Two prong approachTwo prong approach
Each situation needing different type of supportEach situation needing different type of support

Potential
(don’t know what’s
available to fulfil
their needs)
e.g.
• Charities not included above
• Other volunteer organisations not included above
• People or organisation who would benefit from forming a
social enterprise but don’t know

6. Building Social EnterpriseBuilding Social Enterprise
Capacity for EM GroupsCapacity for EM Groups
Two prong approachTwo prong approach
Each situation needing different type of supportEach situation needing different type of support
Both types of groups would need to go through the same initialBoth types of groups would need to go through the same initial
process and be allocated appropriate support:process and be allocated appropriate support:
• Identification of suitable candidates
• Needs assessment
• Information about different types of social enterprises (inc pros and cons of
each)
• Identification of most appropriate type of legal entity
• Business plan and all other usual company formation activities
It would also be advisable to make use of Communities Scotland’s resources and publications
such as their general advice about engaging with communities in an effective way (‘National
Standards for Community Engagement’) and their list of resources which provide advice on
engaging with minority ethnic communities.

7. • Ethnic Minority organisations databaseEthnic Minority organisations database (such as the one held by(such as the one held by
Communities Scotland in Edinburgh)Communities Scotland in Edinburgh)
• Marketing partnership with existing EM (and other) organisations:Marketing partnership with existing EM (and other) organisations: partnerpartner
organisations (such as Ethnic Enableorganisations (such as Ethnic Enable11
, Chinese Community Development Partnership,, Chinese Community Development Partnership,
Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS), etc) would be expected toBlack and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS), etc) would be expected to
have easy access to their membershave easy access to their members
• Word of mouthWord of mouth (within communities): perhaps initiated by CEMVO volunteers(within communities): perhaps initiated by CEMVO volunteers
• Publications read by EM communities:Publications read by EM communities: local newspapers and other publications,local newspapers and other publications,
leafleting (perhaps left in local libraries, organisations and meeting premises), local ethnicleafleting (perhaps left in local libraries, organisations and meeting premises), local ethnic
radio (when available), and so onradio (when available), and so on
Marketing
(finding potential entrepreneurs)(finding potential entrepreneurs)
1
Help minority ethnic (ME) disabled people and their carersHelp minority ethnic (ME) disabled people and their carers
• ECEMVO staff / users:ECEMVO staff / users: As CEMVO staff has such an ethnicAs CEMVO staff has such an ethnic
diversitydiversity, they would also be able to become involved.
All of the above, of course, do not take into consideration what has
already been developed by CEMVO and assumes that language
processes are in place.

8. Questions and End
Social EnterprisesSocial Enterprises
andand
Ethnic MinoritiesEthnic Minorities