This week has genuinely been one of the most amazing of my career. We’re all very good at telling everyone how amazing everything is on social media, but this week it’s really true. Those who know me know I’m capable of cynicism with the rest of them. However, with the development of our Tenancy Training Flat I have genuinely had my eyes opened to corporate goodwill and the scope of social enterprise to do differently against a backdrop of local authority cuts. We have been overwhelmed by personal and corporate donations. Individuals have recognised immediately the value of our work and reached deep into their pockets to help us. As a fledgling social enterprise we are able to act quickly and efficiently and take advantage of these amazing opportunities. We are leveraging support we never knew was possible. Partners such as B&Q and Ikea, whilst wanting to help us furnish and equip our venue, now want to offer our young people work experience and develop a long partnership with us. Is this the future? Is social capital and social investment how we are going to make up for the shortfall of the state? If it is, then it’s great fun, full of possibility and has the potential to reap rewards we didn’t know existed.
