The Avalon Group has been awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark. The mark is supported by the Office for Civil Society and recognises businesses that meet specific criteria for social enterprises that benefit society.
The Social Enterprise Mark 'represents enterprises working for social and environmental aims, trading to benefit people and the planet'.
The Avalon Group’s Innovations Hub Director, Keith Wyatt, said: “The Avalon Group is thrilled to have been awarded this nationally recognised mark of excellence for operating social enterprises. The Social Enterprise Mark highlights our commitment to providing innovative opportunities for customers and the community.”
Lucy Findlay, Managing Director of the Social Enterprise Mark Company commented: “The Social Enterprise Mark Company is the first and only authority that has developed and constantly reviews the certification process for social enterprises. The Mark is a guarantee that The Avalon Group is trading, as a social enterprise, to truly benefit people and planet. We congratulate them for achieving this unique award and look forward to a greater understanding in Harrogate of how they are different to private business.”
The Avalon Group believes that a social enterprise should:
- provide goods or services which benefit the community
- provide employment and training to people who are historically excluded from the jobs market
Michelangelo’s Mates consists of a team of people, supported by The Avalon Group, who receive traineeships in painting and decorating.
The Garden Gang tidies and maintains gardens for people living in the East North East Homes area of Leeds. The team receives on-the-job training and access to vocational qualifications.
The Franciscan at Greyfriars is a social enterprise restaurant at Greyfriars – the new extra care housing scheme for older people, in Richmond. The Franciscan is a partnership between The Avalon Group, Housing 21, North Yorkshire County Council and Richmondshire District Council.
Story of a social enterprise: The Avalon Group, by Krystena Petrakas at Business Wings
http://www.businesswings.co.uk/articles/Story-of-a-social-enterprise
For further information, call Keith Wyatt on 01423 530 053.
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The Avalon Group’s Social Enterprises and Supported Employment - click to go to YouTube to view this video at full screen
Welcome to The Garden Gang.
Hi, I am James. I’m Project Manager of The Garden Gang.
The Garden Gang provides a platform of opportunity for lads and lasses who would otherwise find it difficult getting employment.
I think the Social Enterprise is a fantastic opportunity for myself to pass on some of the skills I have learnt to enable people to succeed in whatever they choose to do.
Social Enterprises are a great way of businesses actually employing local people and providing services for the community that they operate in.
Michelangelo’s Mates is a Social Enterprise that was formed in 2008.
I’d like to introduce you to Henryk, who has been with us for 3 years now.
When you start, you start on a 30-day placement.
Then you become qualified after 1 year. That’s our service, it is a Social Enterprise.
The Social Enterprise is really any business that has a social end to it.
So, it could be in terms of employment for people who would not normally find employment; it could be something that benefits the community or a combination of the 2 things.
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