Supporting local people
Lots of people need some extra help in life, perhaps because they are older, disabled, or have a long-term health condition. Their needs could include:
- personal care
- support with their home or garden
- help to get out and about, or meet friends
- help to enjoy hobbies or find work
A community enterprise is a small local service that can offer people the support they need to live the life they want. They often help with care, housing, community or health matters.
Typically a community enterprise:
- has 8 or fewer full-time staff or volunteers
- is independent – not part of a larger organisation
- offers support in a way that puts people first
Community enterprises tend to be personal, flexible and responsive. Their small size means they are also known as 'community micro-enterprises' or 'micro providers'. They can be fully commercial or run by volunteers, full-time or part-time, or a mixture of these.
A community micro-enterprise could be a:
- sole trader
- partnership
- social enterprise
- not-for-profit, charity or voluntary organisation
People can pay for their services using either:
- their own money
- direct payments or personal budgets from us, which they can decide how to spend
Go to Community Catalysts to find out more about community enterprises, or contact us about running a community micro-enterprise.