What works
On these pages you'll find examples of social enterprises within the
cultural sector that aren't just surviving, but thriving. Each of these
organisations have different objectives, different motivations, different
structures and different ways of being, but they all have one thing in common -
they've found what works for them. Perhaps one of their models will work for
you.
Click on the case study names to read more about them........
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Case Study
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What worked
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Bucks
Sport
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- Evolving into a social enterprise from
an unincorporated organisation.
- Setting up new enterprising
strands of work before deciding on legal structure.
- First venture – The Coach Agency
– is meeting a need for broker, support and career pathways.
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Chants
Enterprise
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- Taken seriously by the music
industry as a business.
- Engaging with young people and
improving job prospects.
- Changing young people’s attitudes
towards music and each other.
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Farnham
Maltings
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- A significant part of the local
economy and community.
- A confident ideas-led approach to
business opportunities.
- Creating a genuine sense of place
for the people of Farnham
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Fine
Cell Work
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- An innovative social enterprise
enabling prisoners to learn new creative skills.
- Income helps fund the charity and
creates a nest-egg on release.
- Connecting prisoners and the
outside world through high quality creative work.
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Real-Health Ventures
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- An
integrated approach to museum, gardens, visitor attraction and conference
venue
- A
living example of sustainability
- Helping
to transform a whole area through shared values and commercial success, in
partnership with parish and district councils.
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Revolutionary
Arts Group
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- “We are able to move and respond
quickly to events as they happen. There is no committee to answer to. We
are about delivering and doing, rather than talking!"
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Slough
Community Leisure
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- Collaborating with the health
service to improve people’s levels of physical activity.
- Offering innovative services to
different markets to increase income.
- Making the most of independence
and control over its budgets
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Sunlight
Enterprises
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- An example of how social
enterprises can evolve to reflect their local community.
- Creating a thriving internal
market that ensures money is used to maximum benefit.
- Using the freedom of surplus
profits to invest in local people.
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The
Freewheelers
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- Using the social enterprise model
to empower members of an integrated multi-media theatre company.
- Generating income through
film-making, performance and disability awareness training.
- Creating employment opportunities
and changing attitudes.
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The
Lightbox, Woking
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- From voluntary beginnings to
thriving cultural and commercial success.
- Celebrating the diversity of Woking and contributing to community cohesion.
- Café, gift shop and membership
revenue all enhance local authority funding.
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The
Living Rainforest
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- An environmental tourist
attraction and educational social enterprise.
- Adapting over time to find a
financial model that works.
- Demonstrating sustainability to
school children, visitors and conference delegates
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Wave
Graphic Design Co-operative
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- A creative co-operative helping
to regenerate Hastings
- Providing progression for local
graduates
- Contributing to the development
of the creative industry
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Weald
and Downland Open Air Museum
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- A self-financing museum and major
tourist attraction.
- Bringing education to life for
25,000 schoolchildren each year.
- Benefiting from the support of
500 volunteers as well as 40 paid staff.
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Wiltshire
Creativity Network
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- When creative people get together
the ideas inevitably flow– and the results include new projects and
partnerships.
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