Community enterprise

Community Enterprise was first developed by Freer Spreckley in 1982 in a publication called ‘Developing Community Co-operatives’ published by Beechwood College, UK.

The Community Enterprise is a registered not-for-profit organisation that acts as a community owned and controlled holding company in supporting residents develop new initiatives, manage commercial and social projects and run local commercial enterprises. It owns assets and distributes profits and benefits to the community and is managed democratically, based one person one vote. Membership is open to all residents of a defined area and can include employees as well.

It can use Social Audit to provide a balance to the financial audit so that social and commercial objectives are planned and measured in an integrated way.

The general purpose of the Community Enterprise:
* To create and hold wealth for the community
* To create social benefit for the community
* To empower and create confidence of members
* To provide resources to groups and individuals in order that they may establish their own activities and gain benefit

External links

* www.locallivelihoods.com