Social Enterprise Stories

Lofty Heights – supporting Suffolk

Lofty Heights – supporting Suffolk

14th January 2020

Lofty Heights CIC completed a pilot project with Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG last summer that saw their Homeward Bound Project commissioned for a further year. The service carries out practical tasks within the home that may prevent patients from leaving hospital in a timely manner. These tasks can be anything from moving furniture to … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Herts Urgent Care

Social Enterprise Stories: Herts Urgent Care

10th December 2019

Herts Urgent Care was set up in 2007 as a small out of hours service for local GPs but has grown rapidly to its present position of providing a wide range of healthcare services to the five Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Hertfordshire and beyond.  Nowadays it trades as ‘HUC’ to reflect this wider geographic … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Herts for Learning

Social Enterprise Stories: Herts for Learning

27th November 2019

Herts for Learning Ltd is a School Company.  This is a specific vehicle that can be used by local authorities to spin out services previously provided by the education department into an independent social enterprise.  Herts for Learning is jointly owned by schools in Hertfordshire (80.5%) and the County Council (19.5%).  The social purpose of … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Watford Workshop

Social Enterprise Stories: Watford Workshop

27th November 2019

Watford Workshop is a charity that was set up in 1964.  It provides employment, work experience and skills training for adults with disabilities.  Its aim is to support people with functional and life skills training, helping them to live as independently as possible. Watford Workshop operates by winning commercial contracts mainly for packing but they … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Herts Independent Living

Social Enterprise Stories: Herts Independent Living

27th November 2019

Herts Independent Living (HILS) is a social enterprise set up with the help of Hertfordshire County Council and some district and borough councils to run services that were previously run by some councils. HILS was set up in 2007 and now has 4.58ml turnover and employs around 270 people.  HILS is a Community Benefit Society … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Sunnyside Rural Trust

Social Enterprise Stories: Sunnyside Rural Trust

27th November 2019

Sunnyside Rural Trust is based in Dacorum and its primary aim is supporting young people and young adults with learning disabilities through skills development and helping them into employment.  A significant part of their income is received directly and indirectly from Hertfordshire County Council’s social care budget.  Many individual beneficiaries pay to attend Sunnyside from … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Aerende

Social Enterprise Stories: Aerende

27th November 2019

Aerende is an award-winning social enterprise online shop that sells beautiful products and gifts for the home, all of them made in the UK by people facing social challenges and who struggle to access or maintain conventional employment. It commissions and co-designs products with charities and social enterprises that support individuals who are facing these barriers.  … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: CHEXS

Social Enterprise Stories: CHEXS

27th November 2019

CHEXS stands for the organisation’s values: Community, Homes, Enrichment, X-tra mile, Support.  It was set up in 2011 to provide support to some of the most disadvantaged children and young people and their families in Hertfordshire. CHEXS vision is of a community of strong families working together to reach their goals. Our whole-family approach builds … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Story: Sarratt Post Office Stores

Social Enterprise Story: Sarratt Post Office Stores

27th November 2019

Sarratt Post Office Stores is a community owned business that sells a range of food such as bread baked on the premises, hot pastries, drink and general grocery products, as well as a range of stationery and greetings cards. It provides a dry-cleaning service, prescription collection from the local surgery, phone and energy top-ups, and a … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Recover

Social Enterprise Stories: Recover

18th November 2019

Recover Ian Block founder and CEO of Recover had previously volunteered and then worked as a Practitioner in a drug rehabilitation setting.  During this time he saw people supported and doing well in treatment but he also saw that for many people this was only part of their recovery journey.  Once their drug and alcohol … Read More

Read More
Social Enterprise Stories: Ace Music Therapy CIC

Social Enterprise Stories: Ace Music Therapy CIC

26th September 2019

What products or services do your company sell? We provide individual and group music therapy services to children and adults of all ages and abilities. Music therapy is a psychological therapy which involves the use of music to achieve therapeutic aims such as developing communication skills, providing an outlet for emotional expression, developing social interaction, … Read More

Read More