Volunteering is about to Evolve

Committed to ensuring your volunteering activities benefit wider society and your people?

Evolve provides significant development opportunities for business by holding professionally facilitated mentoring sessions which allow volunteers to apply existing, dormant or developing skills in a new and exciting environment – disconnected from their usual business risk and delivering real benefit to the social economy.

What is a social enterprise?

“A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profits for shareholders and owners”.  (Social Enterprise - A Strategy for Success DTI July 2002).  Perhaps the best known example of a social enterprise is The Big Issue magazine.

Why become involved?

Businesses gain from partnering with social enterprises as a development opportunity for their staff.  Volunteers find it good commercial awareness training in helping to apply existing skills in different ways, understanding of the bigger picture and the community context in which their business operates.

How does it work?

Volunteers and Social Enterprises (SEs) arrive at the venue with little knowledge of the other party.  This is deliberate so as to ensure preconceptions do not inhibit the brainstorming process used later on. The aim is to ensure that the initial introduction to the SE is kept at the ‘visionary’ or ‘strategic’ level and the process of the day then directs the focusing in on the key issues that really matter. A face to face first impression works best as an introduction, especially as the passion of the social entrepreneur comes across instantly. Too much detail early on or in advance of the day, such as business plans and reports, can divert the focus into operational issues which have not yet been put into context.

The day begins with delegate introductions and a representative from our specialist partner Firstport explaining a little about the context for the day by describing where social enterprise fits in on the spectrum of organisations, from charity to corporate. 

Social Entrepreneurs then present their business in more detail and take questions from their group.  Key areas for attention are identified using SWOT and PEST analysis processes.  The group then decide on one or two of the most important opportunities or issues and take these forward to the next stage.  As this is a combination of what is most important and where the volunteers are best able to help, the process ensures that maximum benefit is gained from the day and that skills are being put to best use.  The group would then brainstorm ideas for development using the Walt Disney Strategy then develop strategies to address the chosen key issues/opportunities.

The final part of the day is for the group to develop and do a presentation and five minute feed back talk to the total group. 

If you are interested in becoming involved with Evolve, please contact James Tindell james@sbcscot.com or 0131 451 1100.