Social entrepreneurs: a new approach in social housing Cliff Prior

UnLtd: Reaching out and unleashing the energies of people to transform the world in which they live. We call these people social entrepreneurs. Working for: A world where people act to make it better

UnLtd’s work We back around 1000 people every year to get started on their own ventures for social or environmental benefit, with a mix of cash, development support and networking. We then support about 50 each year to get to scale, with more intensive support and brokering to social investment opportunities. We believe that individuals have the potential to make positive change in the world and we value social entrepreneurs across the spectrum, from local to world changing. We work with people with passion, ideas and a can do attitude, from all backgrounds and sectors of social or environmental benefit. They are people who are resilient and resourceful in overcoming barriers, authentic to their communities and the social leaders of the future.

UnLtd Philosophy Back people first, projects second Communities which face problems contain the people who will create the solutions Minimise bureaucracy, maximise opportunity, trust judgement, back hunches If there is a question about what is best, act and then learn from the results

The UnLtd Approach Outreach to find people with: Passion to improve the world An idea they want to lead The personal qualities to be an entrepreneur Individual assessment of each person Individually tailored package of: Cash Development support, advice and coaching Networking face to face and online Backed up by: Partnerships Research Building public understanding The world’s largest programme of support for start up social entrepreneurs

New schemes Big Venture Challenge: public competition for highest growth potential social ventures Community Entrepreneurs: partnering with community organisations to find support thousands of local social entrepreneurs Live UnLtd: for young people aged 11 up UnLtd Engage: for older people to contribute as social entrepreneurs

We are focused on... Entrepreneurial people Who are working for social benefit And are a solution to a need

238,000 people trying to start 1.7m people leading one now Majority small and informal, minority go to scale Gender balanced Peak age 30-45, age range 9 – 99 A third are from 20% most deprived areas 40% from minority ethnic groups Half are degree or professional qualified One in 3 new venture startups have a social mission Who are Social Entrepreneurs?

Benefits and impact Economic impact* Social impact* Social innovation* Social capital* Confidence to act*

Impacts Economic: average 4 jobs, 14 training places, 50% increased turnover in most recent year Social impact: incredibly diverse, very hard to measure Social innovation: after 1 year, 36% of projects were already being replicated or had plans to be replicated soon Social capital: 53% formed new networks, avg 15 volunteer places, bonding and bridging Confidence to act: 89% feel able to create change, 92% able to run a social venture, 98% as a result of running the project funded Continuity: 75%, 9% another venture

What are your motivations? Biographic* Career* Most social entrepreneurs are motivated by personal experience of the problem they seek to solve

Accord Group: Addventures Midlands based group of HAs Working with social venture support agencies Incubating social enterprises “Tides” model from the USA Providing a “Fiscal shield” allowing startup within the parent organisation Back office support Making it easier for new social ventures to get started

Annys Darkwa: Vision Housing London based social enterprise founded 2007 Resettlement of people leaving prison in good quality private rented housing Founder and most staff are ex offenders Complete from prison gate support Reoffending rate 15% (vs usual 60-70%) Now 400 people housed in London Franchising beyond London and joint working with housing associations

Bright Ideas Challenge Partnership of UnLtd and Affinity Sutton Start up seed funds and support to tenants to improve their neighbourhoods Northern pilot mainly with young people Southern pilot open to all ages Joint UnLtd, ASG, local resident judging Active promotion to inspire & help applicants “we were surprised by the energy, creativity and commitment that...our residents demonstrated via their social enterprises”

Bright Ideas Challenge: examples MC’ing project for young people on the estate After school IT training project Dance and drama class leading to a talent show Catering business for construction staff which trained 6 “neet” young people Benefits include confidence building, employability, community cohesion, reduction in antisocial behaviour

Liz Douglas: the Roots Project Local social entrepreneur plus Contour HA Social regen in highly deprived Bolton estate Based in a house on the estate “The aim is to get the residents involved in the planning and delivery of the project, which will increase their confidence, hopefully leading to education and then employment” Developing communities through their people

Wates Group: closer to fewer Leading social house builder Adopting a social enterprise in each major development area Long term relationship to give time to help the social enterprise develop fully Becoming part of the supply chain for Wates in relevant areas of work Building confidence, skills and employability in the estate and surrounding population

Empower Community Social enterprise connecting community level renewable energy with investment and improving social & economic resilience Solar PV on social housing roofs Free daytime power to tenants 25yr index linked income to social landlords Option to create local community foundations to continue initiatives in the area All funded and brokered via Empower Empowercommunity.co.uk

Empower Community Example of 2kWp systems on 5000 houses in Manchester with SE – S – SW roofs £400k pa to social landlord £92.50 pa to each of 5000 tenants £200k+ pa to local community fund £31m total benefit during the 25yr feed in tariff period All funded and brokered via Empower Empowercommunity.co.uk

The social entrepreneur ecosystem Social entrepreneurs PolicyFinanceCultureSupports Human capital Markets

Final thoughts Invite your tenants to step forward as social entrepreneurs Provide small scale seed funds and development support in partnership with a social venture intermediary Tap in to social ventures as part of your supply chain Use your back office to make it easier for innovators and entrepreneurs to get started

Every community facing problems contains within it the people who can become the solutions @bigventurechall #socent