Social Enterprise Awards

The pupils are among scores of children from around Scotland setting up their own social enterprise businesses as part of a growing movement. They joined 31 other primary and secondary schools and colleges at the Awards ceremony on June 4th in the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh.

Many of the emerging social enterprises winning awards for their entrepreneurial talents this year were kick started by pupils who are on a mission to improve the health in their community.

They include a health centre set up by primary school pupils for single parents, older people and local people suffering from stress has won a national award.

The ‘Philly Feel Good Wellness Centre’ where people can get a back and neck massage for as little as a £1 has proved a big hit with the community.

Philly Feel Good was set up by p6 and p7 pupils to take the ‘ill’ out of Blackhill and Provanmill in Glasgow by tackling stress and ill health in the community.

The centre provides activities from fitness classes and pampering days to sing alongs and art classes and is managed by pupils who take on roles from finance to event management. 

Teacher Linda Bertolacci said, “It’s a place where we encourage people to get healthy and have fun by providing low cost activities that everyone can get involved in.”

"People come in feeling stressed and leave feeling better. Children like to share the feel good factor. We ask people to pass good feelings onto someone else and let us know what they have done. We are mapping the returns we get on a world map to see how far we can spread the good feeling! Children are learning a wide range of skills in a real life situation that would never be learned from a textbook.”

Pupils from King’s Park Primary School in Glasgow have set up an enterprise making fruit mocktails to encourage children to choose healthy alternatives to fizzy drinks. The money raised by KP Flurries is used to support clean water and wells through Water Aid.

The Awards are part of the Social Enterprise in Education programme delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy in partnership with the Scottish Government.

The Social Enterprise in Education programme gives pupils hands on experience of running a social enterprise with practical advice and mentoring from successful entrepreneurs.

Some social enterprises started by schools have turnovers of up to £50,000 and children as young as three are helping to manage social businesses that not only turn a profit but help tackle social problems or improve the environment.
 
Sandra Ewan MBE, Manager for the Social Enterprise in Education Programme at the Social Enterprise Academy said, “Social enterprise has really taken off in schools across Scotland. Children have a real spark for ideas and making them happen. By setting up a social enterprise children of all abilities develop a huge range of practical and creative skills that they can take with them into the world of work or even go onto run a business. They learn communication, team work, and all about being responsible citizens in the community. Social enterprise ultimately is a chance for pupils of all abilities to shine.”

Finance Secretary John Swinney said, “I am delighted to help celebrate the achievements of these enterprising, innovative and creative young social entrepreneurs.  Setting up and running their own sustainable social enterprises for the benefit of local communities has helped them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed, enhancing their work readiness which will help build a smarter, wealthier and fairer Scotland.

“The Scottish Government recognises the crucial contribution the third sector can make to supporting growth for Scotland’s economy – and we continue to work hard to enable the sector, including the next generation of social entrepreneurs, to develop and evolve to deliver its full potential.”

Nine schools from Glasgow City have won national awards for their enterprising approach to tackling social issues.

 Abercorn Secondary School have set up a social enterprise cafe selling homemade cream scones at their regular coffee mornings and use the profits to support their chosen charity the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Brick by Brick Appeal. 

 Corpus Christie Primary School run a stationary shop which helps them come to class well prepared. With their profits they support families in their local community experiencing hardship through the St Vincent De Paul Society. Corpus Christie can’t be with us today but have asked Gary Condie from Glasgow City council to pick up their Award.

 Holybrook Academy founded Fruit box.com in August 2013. It is a fruit distribution company who plan, organise and deliver fruit for Hollybrook Academy’s staff and pupils. They also saw a gap in the market for providing fruit at break times for staff and pupils so their business is expanding already.


 Kelvindale Primary School has set up a Stationary Shop providing the essentials items pupils need every day at school. Their social aim is to help provide clean water and sanitation to children across the world and their profits go to Water Aid.

 Kings Park Primary School developed KP Flurries, healthy Fruit Mocktails made by the pupils to encourage children to choose healthy alternatives to fizzy drinks. The money they raise is used to support the provision of clean water and wells through Water Aid.

 Lourdes Secondary School has 3 successful social enterprises running this year. We Are Cake – A – Licious make tasty treats related to special occasions throughout the year. They use their profits to support a range of charities working with children and young people. Shining Bright are a creative jewellery company producing custom made and unique bracelets and necklaces for all ages, male and female. All the funds raised go to the charity Brightest Star set up by the groups janitors niece after the sudden death of her son to help support bereaved parents in Scotland and Change it Today offer a range of phone covers for different makes of phones custom made with jewels, stickers and photographs. They support the work that Help for Heroes do for our servicemen and women. One of the groups father is a serviceman and she has seen first-hand the invaluable support this charity can offer. 

 Royston Primary School has set up a Healthy Tuck Shop which promotes healthy eating, uses fresh, local produce and encourages everyone to eat better. The profits made are used to support the charity ‘Classrooms for Malawi’.


 St Philomena’s Primary School have set up The ‘Philly Feel Good Wellness Centre’ as a place where people can go to relax, share experiences and reduce stress by taking part in activities that make them feel good. Their social enterprise is open to the whole community and is encouraging everyone to get healthy and have fun. Their social aim is to provide low cost activities that everyone can get involved in.

 St Rose of Lima Primary School is running a book shop which will encourage everyone to read more. As well as books they sell a range of stationary items. Their social aims are to get everyone reading and to use their profits to support Marie Curie Foundation.