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Social enterprise
Social enterprises are organisations that are run along business lines, but where any profits are reinvested into the community or into service developments. Encouraging social enterprise in health and social care is a key part of the patient led reforms.
About social enterprises
How social enterprises can help put people in control of their healthcare, and offer patients and users a greater choice from a wider selection of convenient, innovative and responsive services.
Social enterprise pathfinders
The pathfinder programme provides financial support and access to wider support, for example business advice and training. The learning from the pathfinders will be shared across health and social care, so that others can benefit from their experience.
Social Enterprise Fund
Published: 6 May 2008
The Social Enterprise Investment Fund is now worth £100m over four years from 2007/08 to 2010/11 following Ivan Lewis MP's announcement on 27 February 2008 that an additional £27 million revenue would be made available to the fund.
In 2007/08 a number of social enterprise successfully applied for a share of £1.7 million revenue and £8.9 million capital funding. In 2008/09, we are making a further £11 million capital and £6 million revenue funding available to new and existing social enterprises.
Innovation for Life Challenge Fund
Published: 6 May 2008
The Department of Health is launching its Innovation for Life Challenge Fund, in parallel with the opening of the second round of the Social Enterprise Investment Fund.
Social Enterprise Unit
The Department of Health’s Social Enterprise Unit will be working with social enterprises to identify pathfinders that will lead the way in delivering innovative health and social care services. The learning from these pathfinders will be shared across the health and social care sector so that others can benefit from the pathfinders experience.
A Social Enterprise Fund will be established from April 2007, to help with set up costs.
The Social Enterprise Unit has developed a resource pack to signpost people to help and advice on social enterprise across the public sector. The resource pack is available in this section (regional resource packs added November 2007).
What are the advantages of social enterprise?
For patients and service users, health and social care organisations and the third sector.
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Additional links
Related links
Social Enterprise Network
The only national network for those with an interest in social enterprise and social entrepreneurship in health and care.
Social Enterprise Coalition
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