Unique Social Enterprise CIC

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www.uniquesocialenterprise.com

Based in Newark, Unique Social Enterprise carries out a number of activities that benefit young people, the community and the environment. These activities include The Unique Coffee Bar, which helps young people achieve accredited education and work experience; Unique Scrap Store, the UK’s 1st eCommerce Scrap Store, and Unique Community RePaint, which takes unwanted domestic paint, and makes it available to community groups and people on low incomes. The judges were impressed by the impact made on the community and the plans to expand to help other communities.

1 nomination from readers

  • Within three years Unique aims to be the most recognised and valued social enterprise in the East Midlands.

    Successful roll-out of Unique Network is key - we plan to open eight Coffee Bars with at least five in the pipeline. We are working with ten communities across the region, hoping to attract more as our project gains publicity.

    In addition to creating social value across the region, Unique Network enables us to reduce our running costs, developing our administration scope and increasing our sphere of influence with decision makers. Unique’s Coffee Bar model meets many Government policy objectives in a sustainable way – at relatively low cost.

    We are also developing the scope of the Unique Scrap Store website, selling Re-Use items for other social enterprises, creating an online marketplace, enabling the purchase , sale or trade of Re-Use materials and products made from Re-Use materials.

    To achieve the above we continue to maintain a focus on sustainability whilst delivering social benefit, employing focused skills, providing effective and innovative responses to social need in our community.

    Winning the Edge Upstarts 2008 Award would provide the essential spotlight Unique needs to gather more support and highlight the potential to achieve greater social value across our region ,sending a clear message to local government that our model is worthy of investment.

    Our on-line Scrap Store, would greatly benefit from additional training provided by the IT prize

    Recognised SEE Stamp accreditation would also enhance our standing within this sector, helping to educate and inform our staff, enabling Unique to further grow and develop.

    Unique’s main aim is to provide an alternative learning environment for the young and disadvantaged – we‘re also eager to learn. Winning this would provide new avenues for us to explore along with the kudos that this prestigious award would commend

    Nominated by Alison Farr, 13 May 2008

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