EIGHT social entrepreneurs from all over Scotland have just been awarded a total of almost £20,000.
Firstport, Scotland’s start up social enterprise development agency, said the awards will to help them to pilot their business ideas.
The entrepreneurs will use their award money to test social enterprise ideas around the country.
The ideas include Nathan Beresforde’s cleaning service for students, employing homeless and long-term unemployed in Edinburgh which received a £2,070 award.
He developed his idea when working with the capital’s homeless community. Journalism student Naina Bhardwaj, 19, from Glasgow, got £1,730 to create an online multimedia magazine aimed at the young South Asian diaspora in Scotland. She wants to help youths develop a sense of identity that is true to their roots, but also linked to their Scottish heritage.
Rashmi Mantri, also from Glasgow, received £2,600 to set up a pre-apprenticeship IT programme for school children aged 8-17, focusing on deprived areas of the city. She has 10 years experience and a PhD in IT.
Tim Mart, from Kelty, Fife, got £2,210 for his DotCoach website which links coaches going through accreditation with people who could benefit from being coached, but can’t normally afford it.
Mart said: “I continue to be blown away by the time and effort that Firstport has invested into the development of DotCoach.
“They have worked closely with us since it was a just an idea and, with this award, have provided us with the opportunity to make it a reality.”
A construction firm that will tackle gender inequality in the industry and provide affordable homes in Milngavie run by Shalinay Raghavan got £3,240. She is a qualified solicitor with 12 years of public sector experience and more than 20 years of experience of property development.
Ashley Scotland was awarded £2,700 to launch a unique training and support service for victims of trauma in Glasgow.
A programme to help young disadvantaged Glaswegians set up businesses supported by public sector and private investment set up received £1,000 award.
Johnny Walker, Barrhead, Renfrewshire, is behind the idea and has been a trainer and personal development coach for 15 years and Jane Wilson Forrest, from Kilmarnock, got £4,000 for her Equine Facilitated Learning project in East Ayrshire. Karen McGregor, chief Executive of Firstport said: “I am very proud that Firstport supports individuals who want to make a different in their community and across Scotland.
“This latest round of awards shows how dynamic the social enterprise model is and the inspiring commitment of social entrepreneurs: tackling unemployment, providing new skills, regenerating local places and overall enriching local communities with valued products and services.
“I believe that social entrepreneurs make the world a better place, one social enterprise at a time.”
The awards are part of Firstport’s Start It awards programme.
The entrepreneurs can apply for up to £5,000 to pilot their business idea and the awards are funded by the Scottish Government’s Social Entrepreneurs Fund.
As social enterprises, all of these businesses have social or environmental goals. They aim to become financially sustainable and generate profits to re-invest in the cause they support. The enterprise will create five businesses in five defined, deprived areas of Glasgow. It is planned that each business will be run by five young people aged 18-24, supported by an intensive personal development programme.
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