Social Enterprise Schools: An Introduction

What is Social Enterprise Schools?

Innovated in partnership with The Scottish Government in 2007, Social Enterprise Schools enables every young person to step up, realise their potential, and create the change they want to see in the world.

By giving young people a real life experience of running their own social enterprise, this fully-funded programme delivers transformational learning which impacts them, their school and their community. Delivered by experienced social entrepreneurs, our pupil-led programme supports young people to identify the environmental or social issue they want to solve and create a business to make that change happen.

Social Enterprise Schools is guided by the values of compassion, inclusion and participation. Young people of all ages and abilities engage in practical experiences that develop successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

“

I’ve learnt just as much as the children through all this, and SEA were there to support me the whole way. All the resources, chats, everything they’ve done has made this possible for me to take this journey with the children.” Jen McDonald, P6/7 Teacher at Gourdon Primary School.

Social Enterprise

Businesses that exist to deliver a specific social and/ or environmental mission with profits reinvested in their mission.

Pupil-led

Young people own and lead their social enterprise, growing their own sense of agency along the way.

Create the change they want to see

Young people have been tackling issues such as; climate change, racism, loneliness and homelessness.

How can Social Enterprise Schools work for you?

1. Register Interest

Email schools@socialenterprise.academy to organise your pupil workshop or set up a meeting with the team.

3. Inspire Your Young People

One of our experienced facilitators will deliver a pupil workshop to increase young peoples’ understanding of social enterprise and support them to develop their own ideas.

2. Attend our Understanding Social Enterprise CPD

For practitioners to find out more about our approach to learning, how we work with young people and the next steps for you and your school.

4. Build Your Social Enterprise

With our support and optional resources, young people develop their social enterprise idea, complete their business plan, start to trade and make a difference in their community!

6. Celebrate!

Get recognition by entering your school for one of our Awards. We will visit your school to assess your social enterprise, you will also be able to apply to attend one of our Awards Ceremonies.

7. Become a Champion! We recognise schools that have gone the extra mile after starting their social enterprise. E.g. Reaching out to the local community, developing your trading activity or measuring social impact.

5. Pitch to the Dragons

Take part in or host a Dragons’ Den in your area with our support. Young people pitch their ideas to a panel of experts who will guide them on their social aim and trading ideas, often providing seed funding.

Why get involved?

Mapped to the curriculum: Social Enterprise Schools is mapped to the Curriculum for Excellence and helps young people develop the four capacities. It supports DYW as well as SQA units and qualifications.

Fully funded tailored support and resources available:

From pupil workshops and teacher CPD sessions led by inspiring social entrepreneurs to our new online learning platform and resource library, there are a variety of tools available to support you and your young people on your social enterprise journey.

Supports Scotland’s National Improvement Framework: Raising attainment and achievement, inclusion and equality, wellbeing and global citizenship, employability and entrepreneurship. Support is available to connect your social enterprise with other initiatives across the school.

Building global connections between young social entrepreneurs across Scotland and Internationally: Opportunities to engage with social entrepreneurs in your area at Dragons’ Dens or the wider social enterprise network, such as the chance to feature in our annual schools special of the Big Issue Magazine.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SCHOOLS

Do you want to empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs to create positive change across Scotland?

Contact our team today to start your Social Enterprise Schools journey: schools@socialenterprise.academy