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More social enterprises helped to grow and succeed

Six small charities and social enterprises will be mentored to become more successful and sustainable companies through ‘Our Moment’, an innovative Commonwealth Games Legacy 2014 programme.

Pilotlight, who are delivering the programme, matches corporate talent from the public sector with small social enterprises to coach and equip them with business expertise to grow and succeed further.

Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison made the announcement at one of the projects to benefit, Stramash, an outdoor education centre for children and young people in Oban that promotes personal development, healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness.

‘Our Moment’ is a partnership between the Scottish Government, Big Lottery Fund and Pilotlight in Scotland to deliver a lasting legacy from the Commonwealth Games.

The news comes at the start of Legacy Week, a celebration of the ongoing economic, cultural, educational and sporting legacy from the Games.

Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison said:

“The Commonwealth Games is more than a spectacular sporting event, it’s about jobs, training and a strengthened economy long after the Games have passed. Scotland has been recognised as the best place in the world to start a social enterprise and the third sector is not only providing goods and services to the Games, but also leaving lasting legacy in areas such as skills development, urban regeneration and supporting communities.

“Pilotlight is matching talented leaders to ambitious businesses to share invaluable skills and experience and enhance the services they offer to their communities. It is helping charities and social enterprises become more sustainable and I have been very pleased to see and hear today from Pilotlight Scotland and Stramash on how they are using the Commonwealth Games to create a positive legacy for their communities.”

Ken Campbell, Project Manager at Pilotlight in Scotland said: “So far the social enterprises have made great progress working with their teams. They have produced strategic plans, gained greater clarity over their purpose and direction, strengthened their governance and developed more robust financial management systems. This will allow them to continue the great work they do in their communities in a more sustainable and efficient way. The ultimate goal of the process is to leave a lasting legacy for the social enterprises’ current and potential beneficiaries”.

In total 12 social enterprises will go through Our Moment. The second tranche of businesses to be helped are:

Pilotlight is a unique, capacity building charity offering tailored strategic planning support to charities and social enterprises that are tackling disadvantage in the UK. They match directors from charities and social enterprises with teams of senior business people who coach them through the process of planning for sustainability, development and growth.Each charity and social enterprise also has a dedicated Pilotlight project manager who coordinates and facilitates the process.

Pilotlight is currently working with over 70 charities and social enterprises across the UK. Within a year of working with Pilotlight charities increase their income, on average, by 50 per cent and are able to double the number of people they reach.

In May 2013 Pilotlight were awarded Scottish Government funding of £72,000 over two years to deliver their Legacy 2014 Project. The project will support six social enterprises/charities over two years which deliver activity which supports the Legacy 2014 aspirations from hosting the Games. Pilotlight has since been successful in securing further funding of £101,300 from the Big Lottery Fund to support a further social enterprises through the project, bringing the total number supported to 12.