Enterprising

The Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) is tackling poverty in Australia by developing new ways of supporting and delivering welfare.

One idea gaining momentum is that of social and community enterprise. These enterprises can raise revenue for our charitable work, create employment and training opportunities, operate within an ethically sound framework (both at home and abroad) and offer low income earners affordable, high quality services and products.

Social enterprise
A social enterprise is a business. But it’s a business with a difference. All profits made by a social enterprise are reinvested back into the community to develop much needed services and resources. A social enterprise is run in a socially responsible manner and the business itself often provides an unmet service to the community.

To find out more about each of the Brotherhood’s social enterprises, click here:

Brotherhood Books - an online second-hand bookstore
Mod-Style – an importer and wholesaler of optical frames
BSL community stores - selling recycled clothing and homewares
Hunter Gatherer store - selling hand picked retro clothing and accessories and homewares from young independent designers.

Community enterprises
The Brotherhood runs a number of community enterprises, that deliver training and employment. The businesses employ young people and long term unemployed and teaches them new skills in a real life environment.

The Brotherhood's community enterprises provide an Intermediate Labor Market, training and employment for 12 months, whilst also providing ongoing support. This support helps them to develop work habits that will allow them to maintain a job in the Open Labor Market.

Community enterprises at the Brotherhood currently employ 45 trainess and turn over in excess of $3 million.

The BSL has established a number of successful community enterprises in Fitzroy, Werribee, Braybrook and Frankston, including:

Community Contact Service - a training enterprise delivering community development and security service to inner city housing estates.

AMES BSL Cleaning Co - a training enterprise providing cleaning services in the inner city recruiting clients from BSL and AMES.

Global Landscapes - a training enterprise delivering landscaping, fencing and garden maintenance services.

Community Enterprise Development Initiative (CEDI)
The BSL’s Community Enterprises Development Initiative works with disadvantaged communities across Victoria to develop community enterprises. The community enterprises are identified based on local community needs, issues and opportunities. 

The resulting enterprises help build partnerships between business, community, government and public sectors and provide new opportunities for economic and social participation for the residents.

Some of the projects developed so far include a community plant nursery, a café/milk bar and a building and carpentry service.