UK: giving it all away

Over the last 12 months, 30 democratically controlled not-for-profit organisations in Edinburgh have received small grants and business advice from a unique fund designed to stimulate social and community enterprise start-ups in the city.

The money came from the Edinburgh Fund which was set up by Community Enterprise Ltd, one of Scotland?s longest established specialists in developing sustainable community organisations.

The circumstances that led to the creation of the fund are unusual. Ten years ago there was no local shop in the Niddrie area of Edinburgh. Working with local people Community Enterprise Ltd raised money from the Urban Regeneration Fund to buy premises and open a shop in 1998. The venture proved so successful that four years later a local businessman offered to buy it (a reversal of the usual trend in local shop ownership). After local consultation, Community Enterprise Ltd agreed to sell the premises on condition that it remained a shop.

Community Enterprise Ltd decided to reinvest the proceeds of the sale in the community by creating a fund to help local groups research and develop business ideas. With some additional funding from the European Social Fund the Edinburgh Fund was set up with £145,000 available for small grants (maximum £5,000).

www.communityenterprise.co.uk