Supporting BAME social enterprises
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) social enterprises are creating jobs, providing quality services, and transforming lives and communities across the UK.
They are trading in a range of markets from health and social care and business consultancy, to journalism and food retail.
The Coalition is working to strengthen networks of social enterprises led by, employing or serving BAME communities. As part of a programme of work funded by the Office for Civil Society (previously Office of the Third Sector) we are undertaking a scoping exercise to map and highlight BAME social enterprises in each English region. In this way we can promote the significant benefits BAME social enterprises provide and better integrate such organisations into the wider movement.
The Coalition is also organising a number of regional events and engagement activities to connect BAME social enterprises (and their support bodies) across the country. Our aim is to help emerging and established BAME social enterprises to share best practice, identify opportunities and to create partnerships. Such activities will also allow us all to explore how to replicate success and address any potential barriers to growth.
We believe that facilitating this type of movement-led shared learning, will help the BAME social enterprise sector reach its full potential.
BAME taskforce
To support the Coalition in it's aims a BAME taskforce was created in March 2010 to help inform the planning and delivery of the BAME engagement strategy and provide strategic direction for the BAME programme.
The groups members are some of the top BAME social enterprise leaders along with representatives from key BAME stakeholder organisations and networks. You can read more about the individuals involved here.
BAME strategy
In order to support the development of BAME social enterprises the Coalition recently published a strategy which sets out ways to challenge the wider social enterprise movement to connect with BAME social enterprises and entrepreneurs.
The strategy was researched and written by the Social Enterprise Coalition in consultation with Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) and Voice4Change England and was funded by the Office for Civil Society (previously Office of the Third Sector).
