News
The Wellbeing Project CIC is awarded an ‘Ethical’ business award
St Helens based The Wellbeing Project CIC has been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, which identifies them as trading for social and environmental purposes.
The Social Enterprise Mark is the brand for social enterprises and was launched 1st February, 2010. The Mark identifies businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprise, and consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet.
The Wellbeing Project CIC joins other ethical businesses that have been recognised by being awarded the Mark such as the Eden Project, Hill Holt Wood, Bristol Wood Recycling Project and the Co-operative Group South & West. The Social Enterprise Mark builds off the pilot run by RISE, the voice for South West social enterprise.
Government data estimates that there are 62,000 social enterprises across the UK, contributing £24 billion to the economy and employing around 800,000 people.
Recent research found that social enterprises are twice as confident of growth compared to typical small to medium enterprises (SMEs), with 48% of social enterprises saying they are positive about the future as opposed to just 24% of SMEs (The Social Enterprise Coalition’s State of Social Enterprise Survey 2009).
Social enterprises are working to make a difference across the UK and beyond, but not enough people know what they are or how they work. The Social Enterprise Mark aims to raise awareness of what social enterprises do in order to get more people to buy from, engage with, start up and work for social enterprises.
Paula Gamester, Co-Director of the Wellbeing Project CIC said, “We’re really proud to have been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark. The Wellbeing Project CIC is absolutely committed to supporting sustainable businesses and consequently helping local communities to thrive and prosper”.
Lucy Findlay champion from the Social Enterprise Mark Company (manager of the Mark) advised:
"With more and more opportunities opening up every day for social enterprises to deliver health services, the Social Enterprise Mark has an important role to play in helping people understand when their health provider is genuinely socially motivated. The Social Enterprise Mark will be available across the country and we hope its the next 'Fair Trade'-type success story in helping people buy in a more ‘ethical’ way."
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Notes to Editor – The Wellbeing Project CIC
The Wellbeing Project Community Interest Company was set up in 2006 in Halton and St Helens. We provide a range of community based activities for everyone who would like to improve their mental wellbeing. www.wellbeingproject.co.uk
Notes to Editor – Social Enterprise Mark Company
1. The Social Enterprise Mark is the brand for social enterprises. The Mark will identify businesses which meet defined criteria for social enterprise, and consumers will recognise that businesses displaying the Mark are trading to benefit people and planet. Visit www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk to find out more.
2. The Social Enterprise Mark is supported by the Office of the Third Sector, the National Lottery through the BIG Lottery Fund and Capacity Builders.
3. The most widely adopted definition of social enterprise, used by organisations such as the Social Enterprise Coalition and RISE, is from the Government's Department for Trade and Industry: "Social enterprises are businesses 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 profit for shareholders and owners." Social Enterprise: a strategy for success, 2001.
4. The Social Enterprise Mark Company has been set up as a Community Interest Company (CIC) Limited by shares. It is a joint venture between the Social Enterprise Coalition and RISE.
5. The Social Enterprise Coalition is the UK’s national body for social enterprise. As the voice for the sector, the Coalition provides a platform for showcasing the benefits of social enterprise while supporting and representing the work of its varied members, influencing national policy and promoting best practice. www.socialenterprise.org.uk
6. RISE is the voice for South West social enterprise and aims to establish a favourable environment for social enterprises to develop and flourish. RISE is supported by the South West RDA. www.rise-sw.co.uk