Cultural social enterprises are very clear about their values and these are generally built into the way they work. So, they might have a clear commitment to training and working with local people. This is certainly the case at Sunlight Community Enterprises, where they have trained local people as community researchers. Volunteers and employees are drawn from the immediate vicinity, with the Centre providing a hub that draws people together.

When a cultural social enterprise has a building, as Sunlight does, this provides a real community focus, something that Real-health Ventures, Farnham Maltings and the Lightbox have all found.

Real-health Ventures has set up a facility that is the embodiment of sustainability – a living example of how to consider the needs of the whole person and the whole community.

Farnham Maltings draws hundreds of thousands of people together each year in a variety of ways – as members of audiences, as participants, and as casual visitors. The town has always looked to the facility – in the past for employment opportunities and today for the chance to explore ideas, enjoy events or to work creatively.

The Lightbox in Woking is in a culturally diverse community and has a commitment to working with and engaging people from all walks of life in its work. Exhibitions, outreach work and education have all helped to bring the community together at the venue.

Cultural and creative social enterprises make a big contribution to the region’s economy.

Weald and Downland Museum, for example, is a major tourist attraction and an important member of Visit Chichester. Every year 150,000 paying visitors come to the museum, spending money there and also in the surrounding area.

Farnham Maltings provides cost-effective space for new and established creative businesses. It’s also used alongside good schools by estate agents to attract people to move to the area.

Many social enterprises have a commitment to developing volunteers and employees through apprenticeships and training.

Wave Co-op, for example, is a co-operative design agency that has forged strong links with education and the arts in Hastings. They provide an apprenticeship each year and are heavily involved in local cultural organisations. Membership of the co-op has grown from three to 11, and they are providing a route for talented graduates in a major regeneration area.

Chants Community Enterprise teaches a range of skills connected with the music industry. However, it’s just as important to help young people gain confidence and self-esteem. This theme is common to many cultural social enterprises.

New skills are vital for enterprise Fine Cell Work which teaches needlework to prisoners. They use these skills to create pieces of work that are sold on their behalf – building up a financial nest egg to help them start a new life on their release. But as well as providing new skills, the work also makes a difference to their mental health and wellbeing.

Cultural social enterprises often make a major contribution towards people’s mental health and wellbeing – often through providing productive and enjoyable employment or voluntary activities.

The Freewheelers Theatre Company provides members with a sense of empowerment and independence. It also works directly with users of local mental health services, helping them to explore issues through film and performance.

Slough Community Leisure has agreed local authority targets on improving participation levels in physical activity. But it also has a wider commitment to boosting the health and wellbeing of local people, investing any surpluses in new facilities and projects to meet this aim.

Cultural social enterprises also make a major contribution towards regeneration. They can help to make a community feel good about itself, creating a bit of a “buzz” and a sense that people are moving forward together. This is clear at an organisation like Sunlight Development Centre and sister organisation Sunlight Community Enterprises. They nurture new community organisations and projects, provide genuine training and employment opportunities for local people and invest money in supporting local people and new initiatives.