Toolkit for running a social enterprise
Great support for every aspect of running your Social Enterprise in our free online toolkit by UNLTD UK: http://ow.ly/UQGw306TqCD
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Digital filesharing tools for collaboration
If you have ever searched for an effective way of publishing your files for closed group of colleagues or friends, you may probably discover some filesharing tools, which meet your needs. But have you ever thought about regular use of some file storing and sharing systems in your work?
Basic filesharing tools are an online cloud-based file syncing and sharing services that support collaborative work by storing commonly used files and providing an access to them from any place and device. All you need for work with them is necessary internet and software support, as well as account in filesharing programme. The files can be used by several people at the time and keep team members updated. It really helps people working from distant places, saving their time on information gathering and memory space of their devices. Moreover, keeping files in computer or smart-phone is not that reliable, because they may be lost if something happens with device. Different online filesharing tools have different capacity of memory space and additional features that help to share, modify, discuss and improve work process of the team. There are free of charge tools, paid upgraded versions of free tools, as well as paid ones. Considering, for instance social entrepreneurs or young start-ups, free ones are worth to mention. They can be used both – for business and private purposes.
Dropbox is not only the storage to back up all files, but also a central hub for content every team member can use. Even unregistered persons can be invited to upload relevant files into Dropbox storage. Important documents and files can be accessed through different kinds of devices, supported by internet. This filesharing tool provides advanced security settings. While the free version is useful for individuals, the business plans provide more space and support more sharing. Check for more about Dropbox here.
Box, as one of the most recognized cloud content management and file sharing service provider, offers file storing, sharing and document collaboration options for teams, so the work can be effectively managed remotedly. Also, file editing can be done directly within the program without downloading and uploading it again. The software delivers different types of services – for Enterprise, Business and Personal and those can be used with any of the operating system on the computer, phone or tablet from anywhere. Check for more about Box here.
One of the most used collaboration tool is also previously described Google Drive system that stores and shares files and information within the teams around the globe.The advantage of Google Drive is not only the storage feature, but also its compatibility with most popular Microsoft softwares, that allows to co-create, edit and comment on stored Word, Excel, Power Point and other files online. Google Drive makes every team member updated about changes in documents, as folders and files can be reached from any device any time. Sharing options can be public or private, giving access to specific people by sending them an email invitation. Google Drive is only a small part of what Google softwares offer, so click here for more.
These are the free of charge tools specifically meant for storing and sharing files, which are regularily used by Social Entrepreneuship Support Network in the Baltic States members. Hovewer, there are much more useful tools to try, as multifunctional project management tools also offer file storage, editing and sharing features. Check our E-Collaboration-tools section to read more about functionality and advantages of project management tools, communication support tools and many more.
EU will present new Social Economy Action Plan by the end of 2021!
The President of the Commission mandated the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, with developing a European Action Plan for Social Economy.
The 2021 Commission Work Programme announced that the publication date for the Action Plan would be the fourth quarter of 2021. It also highlights that the Action Plan will enhance social investment, support social economy acts and social enterprises to start-up, scale-up, innovate and create jobs.
To prepare the Action Plan, citizens and stakeholders were invited (from 1 March until 26 April 2021) to give their views on the so-called roadmap on the Action Plan.
Roadmaps describe the problem to be tackled and objectives to be met, explain why EU action is needed, outline policy options and describe the main features of the consultation strategy. The feedback received can be found at the above link.
The social economy encompasses a variety of businesses, organisations and legal forms, such as non-profit associations, cooperatives, mutual societies, foundations and social enterprises. They share the feature of systematically putting people first, reinvesting most of the profit back into the organisation or a social cause, and having a participatory form of governance.
They play an important role in job creation, work integration and inclusive and sustainable growth. They operate in a large variety of economic sectors, such as social services, health care, social housing, affordable energy to the most vulnerable, recycling, retail, tourism, hospitality.
In view of its potential to address societal challenges and contribute to economic growth, the EU has launched a large number of actions to support the development of social enterprises and the social economy under the 2011 Social Business Initiative (SBI) and the 2016 Start-up and Scale-up initiative,
More recently, a number of Commission initiatives have called on the potential of social economy:
- A Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions
- Circular Economy Action Plan
- SME Strategy
- Renovation Wave
- Recovery Plan – Next Generation EU
- Africa Strategy
- Youth Employment Support Initiative
- Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion
- European Skills Agenda
- EU Roma Strategic Framework
- Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans
- Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood – A new Agenda for the Mediterranean
Social economy organisations also contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
This publication has been prepared within SENBS project No. 2020- 1-EE01-KA204-077999. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the project coordinator and may not always reflect the views of the European Commission or the National Agency.
“BlindArt” from Latvia. The story of impact and success.
Social business is often confused with charity or social responsibility. Usually it happens, because impact from those are similar, however social business makes impact by meeting social needs in long lasting way on society. It is easy to donate time to time, but how easy it is to work with social challenges on a daily basis? And to what extent it is possible to earn some profit by solving these challenges?
“I wanted to offer people something more sustainable, the chance to participate and return them back into circulation, not only to bring them Christmas present”, states the founder of “BlindArt”, social entrepreneur Andrs Hermanis. Experienced in design and marketing, Andrs started to work for and with blind and visually impaired people in 2007 and since then has created numerous engaging events for disabled people and tangible design products made by disabled people. Thus the integration of blind and visually impaired people became a passion, also being a great challenge at the same time.
The activity of “BlindArt” seeks its roots in Strazdumuiža (Riga), where the first social project has been realized in cooperation with Strazdumuiža’s boarding school for blind and visually impaired people. Back then the project was about engaging blind children into creation of large-sized photo-collages, which resulted in mobile exhibition under the name “Do Touch!” (“Ar rokām aiztikt!”).
The project and its earned profits have given the opportunity to support the purchase of 10 digital readers, but this would not become the reality also without the support of private investor. Back then social entrepreneurships in Latvia was not something well recognized or prioritized. The project showed big interest of society, but the main source of motivation to continue was empathy: people involved into the project felt huge satisfaction from participation, being a part of something bigger. So, the activities for blind and impaired people started to be realized on regular basis.
In ten years period more than 300 blind and impaired people were helped 
to integrate into society, not only via short-term projects, but also by employing them. The impact was not reached only by empowerment and improvement of emotional state of disabled people, but also by financial support of enterprise. Purchased digital readers, renovated art room of boarding school for blind people, raised financial support for blind and impaired people, ensured books in Braille for school and Latvian Library for the Blind and many more has been done by “BlindArt” to improve lives of disabled people.
Since 2014 organisation is involving people with visual disabilities in creation of design elements, but since July 2017 “BlindArt” is registered as limited liability company in Latvia. The enterprise consists of 7 persons and 3 of them are people with special needs. It is also the first enterprise in Latvia, which has received 20 000 EUR grant from “Altum” social entrepreneurship support programme in December 2017. Grant is meant for engagement of 3 blind persons in production on regular basis and development of the business, adding more new employees with special needs. It is a big chance for enterprise to go international with distribution of unique masterpieces, made by blind people.
The success story of “BlindArt” was marked by creations of unique book for children, including impaired ones. “Chasing the Sock Thief” is a story book in 4 parts, which consists of storyline created by members of the Blind Society of Latvia and illustrations made by blind and visually impaired children from Strasdumuiža’s boarding school. Some may say this is impossible, but creativity and effort is always a solution. Children, using previously prepared stencils, punctured little holes around the stencils on a paper with some sharper tools. Then, using the sense of touch, filled marked shapes with colors and created amazing ilustrations. The book was published in two languages, Latvian and English, for children with no disabilities, as well as for blind ones, as the book was customized for them as well.
Similar techniques, as well as new ones are used in creation of other kinds of goods. 
“BlindArt” is also producing porcelain plates of different size with unique design, canvas and painting reproductions. In future social enterprise is planning to enlarge the production and create unique design puffs, pillows, bags and more made by blind and visually impaired people. As the process of testing has already been started, people are already trained to work with Shibori technique in workshops, so the idea has a great potential. The products of “BlindArt” are unique, handmade and bring additional support for blind people and organisations working with them. Company sells products through the internet shop on their webpage and the part of created goods have already been sold abroad, however the company is thinking about bigger export on a regular basis. To make it, “BlindArt” needs bigger capacity, which also means bigger support for blind and visually impaired people. For the biggest part of these people social enterprise is the only chance to find a paid job.
Therefore social enterprise gives an opportunity for somehow excluded part of society to work and socialize, as well as participate in different seminars, exhibitions and workshops for self-development and belonging to something bigger. “BlindArt” successfully connects business with artistic processes and social work, reaching bigger satisfaction from paid job, which makes an impact, not just asking for donations. In addition, every person, that wants to help blind people in Latvia, buys the unique masterpiece to remind about the beauty of giving and receiving.
