Somerset Social Enterprise Network (SSEN):
A network of socially-motivated, community-owned enterprises. We work co-operatively to support our membership and the communities they serve. Believing in the power of people, we foster peer-to-peer support and mentoring. Drawing on the wealth of knowledge and expertise of our member organisations, SSEN provides advice, guidance, and training within the
CVSE sector – supporting marginalised individuals and communities, to help establish new co-operative and social initiatives with high social and environmental impacts; providing sustainable solutions to local problems; strengthen communities; helping people to help themselves and build local resilience. Our network aims to give people the opportunity to receive specialist training; to develop existing knowledge and skills through peer support; to share best practice and experiences; and identify possible collaboration and promotion opportunities. Consolidating our experience over the past five years, we have developed from a grassroots organisation into a formalised network. We now seek to create capacity and attract social investment funding in order to better support the regeneration of disadvantaged communities. SSEN is also a platform for discussion and debate – providing a collective voice for lobbying on key issues and greater support for ‘not-for-private-profit’ business activity in Somerset. We aim to raise awareness of the potential for social enterprise to contribute to the rural economy, environment, and local communities (including job creation); demonstrate how social enterprises can offer a wide range of cost-effective services; promote the reduction of carbon emissions; and develop increasingly strong working links with other social enterprise networks in the SW.
