Renfrewshire Council has dedicated £100k to its Social Enterprise Fund, offering grants to help local social enterprises to grow, deliver more products and services, and bring even more benefits to their communities.
Social enterprises are businesses that reinvest any profits back into their communities. They face similar challenges to any other business but they are not driven by the need to deliver profits to owners or shareholders.
Last year the council announced its intention to commit £500,000 of its Invest in Renfrewshire budget to the social economy. On Thursday, the council kept its promise and announced that £100,000 would be ring-fenced as grants of up to £5,000 to help as many as 20 smaller social enterprises grow.
It has also appointed a new Development Officer to coordinate the wider range of practical and financial support open to these businesses.
At a conference of social enterprises and sector experts in Paisley’s Abercorn Centre on Thursday, Mark MacMillan, Leader of Renfrewshire Council praised the work of this sector. “These organisations are inspiring examples of local people meeting local needs and improving local lives.
“They create jobs, bring money into the area, and have the potential to grow and innovate. However, they can find it difficult to access or apply for the funding they need.
“The Social Enterprise Grant Fund will help to bridge that funding gap and support business growth.”
Iain Reynolds, of Johnstone Community Sports Complex knows how a grant could help to improve his business. ‘Social Enterprise Grants are good news for The McMaster Centre and good news for other businesses like ours ’
The council’s commitment to social enterprises is part of its wider economic strategy. This includes the Invest in Renfrewshire business support and job creation programme, huge infrastructure projects as part of the City Deal and Paisley’s heritage based regeneration strategy.
Applications for Social Enterprise Grants are welcome at any time and more information can be found at investinrenfrewshire.com/socialenterprises.
Image (Left to Right)
Alan McNiven, Engage Renfrewshire
Iain Reynolds, Johnstone Community Sports Complex
Lesley Compston, KLAS Care, Nursery and Childcare, Linwood
Ian Williams, Environmental Training Team, Paisley