Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs Takes Off!

They say good news travels fast! That's certainly true with Community Action Hampshire’s new Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs. 

The Hampshire school officially launches on the evening of the 23rd of September at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth. Anyone who would like to come along is welcome – just call 01962 857376 or by e-mail to book a place.

''Calls are coming in daily from prospective social entrepreneurs – but we would still like to hear from more!” explains Conroy Williams, the school's Programme Manager, ''It's great to hear local people's story of what they're hoping to do.  They're thrilled by the prospect of joining like-minded people and hearing from leading social entrepreneurs about the successes and failures that have made them who they are today.”

A social entrepreneur is an individual  who works for the public or social benefit and who has vision and a passion to improve people’s lives and create change in their community.

Mandy Lindley, Partnerships Manager for the voluntary and community sector of Portsmouth City Council says:
“This is a wonderful opportunity for budding Social Entrepreneurs in Hampshire to transform their visions into reality. It’s a win-win situation – the students will receive world class help to achieve their goals and local communities will benefit from the changes they can bring about.”

The school, founded ten years’ ago by serial social entrepreneur Michael Young, exists to identify, promote and encourage entrepreneurial capacity amongst individuals working for social benefit.  The Hampshire school is one of three new schools across the country which will add to their growing strong team of eleven including a school in Australia which opened earlier this year. 

Alastair Wilson, SSE UK Chief Executive commented:

“We are delighted that the School for Social Entrepreneurs is coming to Hampshire, and we look forward to working with Community Action Hampshire on making it a long-term success in the county and region. All the partners, supporters and funders deserve enormous thanks and congratulations for making this happen.
 
“Social entrepreneurs need to learn and develop new skills and contacts to create sustainable, effective organisations, and the SSE programme helps them do that. As a former SSE student myself on the first ever programme, I look forward hugely to meeting the social entrepreneurs who will be part of the first ever programme in the South-East.”

Through its very successful programme of personal and project development based on learning-by-doing and ongoing support, SSE enables social entrepreneurs to establish effective, sustainable community projects and initiatives that meet social and community needs.

For more information about the Hampshire School for Social Entrepreneurs please visit their website and click on ‘Hampshire’, or contact Conroy Williams 01962 857376 or via e-mail.