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CaSE-da celebrates its 25 year birthday
Posted on 12/11/2007
P. Klein
In 1982 a small business support organisation opened its doors to provide advice, support and training to local people setting up social enterprise businesses. Twenty-five years later it is celebrating its continued success in this field. Originally known as the Leicester and County Co-operative Development Agency (LCCDA) it was renamed the Co-operative and Social Enterprise Development Agency (CaSE-da) in 2005. The New Walk based agency has lived up to its motto of "Change the Way You Work, helping local residents to establish over 150 socially owned businesses to realise their personal dreams and support communities. All their advisors are all advisers are members of the Institute of Business Advisers.
Dorothy Francis, Chief Executive Officer of CaSE-da explained: "Co-operatives and Social Enterprises offer a different route for people who want to set up businesses that trade for profit but also have a social, ethical or environmental aim. Social enterprises in Leicestershire work in a variety of ways to support and change communities and the CaSE-da team is so proud to be a part of this
There have been many milestones. By 1985 the LCCDA model rules for collectively run co-operatives were published nationally, and are still adopted by 100s of co-operatives countrywide. It was also the first social enterprise in Leicestershire to achieve Investors In People and Work Life Balance.
CaSE-da supports a diverse range of social enterprises and has developed a national reputation for its innovative work. In 2003, CaSE-da registered ACETS, the first Somali social enterprise in Leicestershire, which runs a homework study club for children, many of whom have English as their third or fourth language. Yet despite this barrier 80% of ACETs students achieved level 4 or higher in the 2007 SATS exams. CaSE-da has become a popular agency for Somalis as the agency staff understands cultural and language barriers. Their growing reputation in this field led to a visit to the Netherlands in 2005 to advise The Hague City Council how to promote social enterprise within Somali communities.
Complete Wasters, based just down the road from Loughborough in Sileby began their recycling co-operative in 1996 and since then has recycled over 2,500 tonnes of paper, card, cans and bottles and promoted recycling to over 800,000 people at more than 150 events. Deborah Parker co-founder of Complete Wasters said: "The best thing about CaSE-da is the continuing support they give to co-ops and social enterprises. New organisations get the guidance they need to start up and established groups know there is help available if needed. We wouldnt be where we are without them.
CaSE-da has helped many clients to win awards and is pleased to share in their success. Shepshed Carers won the New Statesman Social Enterprise of the Year Award in 2005 for their excellent work as home carers. The business started as a 2 person enterprise and has grown to a workers co-operative of over 100 workers, providing quality homecare to their elderly and frail clients.
They have also worked with Youth Arts Leicestershire which is based on Fearon Road in Loughborough. Youth Arts Leicestershire carry out amazing work and are regular contributors to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, CaSE-da initially helped them to register 13 years ago and have offered ongoing help with business advice over the years.
Charnwood Borough Council has been working with CaSE-da for many years now. What has developed is a total package of care for social enterprises; CaSE-da finds candidate social enterprises, helps them prepare grant applications and submits them to us. CBC provides the grant that can be used for a wide range of business development purposes and CaSE-da manages the spending of that grant.
CaSE-da celebrated their quarter century with a party for friends, clients and business partners past and present. The Midlands Co-op Society provided fair trade tastings of chocolates, wine and fruit and Cyrrhian Macrae, Head of Community & Co-operative Affairs said, "Midlands Co-op Society is pleased to provide support to CaSE-da and to have played a part in developing social enterprises in the region. CaSE-da can be justly proud of its excellent track-record.
The last word goes to Dorothy Francis " Its been a great journey so far, heres to the next 25 years!
Further information:
- A social enterprise is a business that combines the need to be a successful profit making business with social, ethical and environmental aims.
- Social enterprises are always democratically run and are often run by local communities to provide services as diverse as leisure centres, childcare nurseries, home care for the elderly, teaching services and catering.
- Contact details: Telephone: 0116 222 5010. Fax: 0116 222 5495. Email: enquiries@case-da.co.uk