Workshops running to develop social enterprise

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

PEOPLE with social enterprise ideas in the Gisborne region will start planning how to get their ideas off the ground with a two-day workshop next week.

After receiving 27 applications, Thrive Tairawhiti has selected 15 participants for its four-month development programme for people interested in starting a social enterprise.

Social enterprises are organisations effecting positive social and environmental change through trade.

Thrive Tairawhiti is delivered via a partnership between Akina Foundation and Eastland Community Trust, supported by New Zealand Post and Kiwibank.

Akina venture manager Emily Preston said they received a high level of interest from people keen to be involved with or support the programme. Akina received 27 applications from community leaders and aspiring social entrepreneurs wanting to be participants of the programme.

“The quality of applicants was really high — it was difficult to choose just 15 participants — but it does demonstrate demand for social enterprise support.”

Ms Preston said the participants came from throughout Tairawhiti, including from Gisborne, Ruatoria and Te Araroa.

Ideas for social enterpriseTheir ideas for social enterprise span employment generation, waste reduction and supporting the environment.

Akina ran a similar Thrive programme in partnership with the Far North District Council last year and, with Te Tihi o Ruahine, a Whanau Ora provider, in the Manawata earlier this year.

“Social enterprise offers a way to deal to the problems we face through a sustainable business model. It’s a hybrid between business and charity — and our experience is that Thrive participants come with great ideas,” she said.

Akina will work alongside other local support agencies to bring the best of local knowledge, networks and capacity building with expertise in social enterprise support to create a vibrant environment for social enterprise.

Ms Preston said New Zealand Post and Kiwibank’s support meant Akina could work alongside local partners to develop social enterprise hubs and deliver capability-building support.

“Social enterprise is business for good. It’s business with a social purpose at its heart. Partnering with Eastland Community Trust makes sense because we can use the power of business to bring about sustainable social change,” she said.

The partners were still seeking support from people who could provide mentoring, coaching or practical support in specialist areas to the participants.