Social Enterprise Celebration Seminar

Event date: 18 September 2009 - 10:00am
Cost: Free
Contact: Clare Dempsey
Phone: 02892 625756
Location: Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast

Employers For Childcare and NOW wish to invite you to take part in an event to endorse the work of social enterprises and the contribution they make to the Northern Ireland economy.  The celebration seminar will:

• Initiate the roll-out of the "Social Enterprise Mark" in Northern Ireland
• Recognise the achievement of Employers For Childcare as the Northern Ireland Champion for the "Social Enterprise Mark"
• Launch GAUGE - NOW's new social enterprise which uses Social Return on Investment to help organisations measure their impact.

What is the Social Enterprise Mark?

The "Social Enterprise Mark" is a label which tells customers that a product or service comes from a social enterprise. To be eligible a supplier must provide evidence that they are delivering a social or environmental benefit.  The Mark communicates the fact that they do business differently, i.e. they trade for a social purpose.

What is Employers For Childcare?

Employers For Childcare was set up as a charity in 2002 with the financial support of European and local government.  Its aim is to make it easier for parents with dependent children to get into work, and to stay in work.  

Since 2008 the charity has been entirely funded by a thriving and rapidly expanding social enterprise: Employers For Childcare vouchers Ltd.  The business has one sole function: to administer childcare vouchers (a government tax exemption on the cost of registered childcare). 100% of the profit is gift-aided to the charity to develop services which benefit working parents and employers alike.

Employers For Childcare is the first business in Northern Ireland to be awarded the "Social Enterprise Mark" and one of only a handful of companies across the UK to achieve this recognition. The English based awarding body (RISE) has also awarded us with "Champion Status" and we are working closely with them to promote the Mark and encourage other social enterprises to put themselves forward for assessment. 

Lucy Findlay, the Chief Executive of RISE will announce our award and launch the roll-out of the Mark in Northern Ireland at the celebration seminar. We are also delighted to have secured the support of Liam Black, one of the UK's best known social entrepreneurs. 

What is GAUGE?

Gauge is a new social economy business set up by NOW to help organisations understand, measure and communicate their impact.  Since 2005 NOW have been leading the way in Northern Ireland in using the model of Social Return in Investment to highlight the added value returned to the local community by their work.  This business will enable others to utilise the model and understand their value while strengthening their message to funders and local commissioners.

NOW provides quality training and employment services for local people with learning difficulties.  With its core business in North and West Belfast NOW also delivers services in partnership with organisations in Lisburn and South and East Belfast.

NOW supports people with learning difficulties to get the job they want and keep it.  Over the years they have developed a range of innovative services which ensure participants reach their full potential, alongside their other Social Enterprise Loaf Catering which consists of three Cafes and a corporate catering delivery business operating in the Greater Belfast area. 

Please find attached additional information and a programme. RSVP by email to marketing@employersforchildcare.org by Friday 28th August.