Local charity SLATE – in the midst of their 10th anniversary celebrations – were today (Friday 9th October) visited by a pair of enterprising cyclists, touring the North to promote the work of ‘social enterprises’ in the region.
Jeremy Robinson and Jason Norris (from London-based charity Clarity and The Soap Co in Keswick respectively – both organisations seeking to create work opportunities for those who are blind and/or disabled) are on a 200-mile tour of Yorkshire and the North West, visiting dozens of ‘social enterprises’ like SLATE – to mark the UK’s second-ever ‘Social Saturday’ this weekend.
‘Social enterprises’ are businesses (which are also often, but not always, charities) run not just for profit, but to serve wider social needs. They typically invest their profits in supporting local communities, help international development, seek environmental impact, empower those who are marginalised, and much more. ‘Social Saturday’ is a new annual scheme designed to raise awareness of how people can support social enterprises – often simply by just choosing to give them business!
Jeremy commented, on arrival at the SLATE store in Hunslet:
“It’s been a fantastic trip, in beautiful surroudings – and it’s been inspiring to see the scope of what all these organisations do, with a wide range of people channelling their passion and drive into making a difference. We just want to encourage people to look out for and support these great social enterprises in our communities – of which SLATE is a prime example.”
The cyclists continued their journey through Morley, then up into the Pennines to Todmorden. They are finishing their mini-tour tomorrow (Saturday 10th October) in Manchester.
Meanwhile, SLATE’s ten year anniversary celebrations continue – with the relaunch of their revamped Hunslet store also tomorrow (Saturday 10th October), as previously reported here on South Leeds Life. As well as their Hunslet store (on Low Road), they also run the Feel Good cafe inside Tiger 11’s Hillside building on Beeston Road, and the new store on Canal Road in Armley – and they co-run the Revive Leeds store at Seacroft Waste Sorting Site.
