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Community Enterprise

Part of our mission is to encourage development trusts and other community organisations to cultivate community enterprises for long term sustainability. We are involved in a number of initiatives to promote and support community enterprise activity.

A community enterprise is a business with social rather than financial objectives. Any surpluses that a community enterprise generates will be reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profits for shareholders and owners.

For us, community enterprise means:

Community-led organisations – both community of place and of interest
A self-help ethos – while we achieve much in partnership with local authorities, businesses etc, we aim to avoid dependency
Communities themselves are the best agents of their own renewal
Philanthropic and welfare approaches by themselves are not enough – enterprise is necessary for sustained change
Trading for social purpose – where surpluses are reinvested in further enterprise development for community benefit
Community ownership of assets (buildings, land and other assets) can build business capacity and achieve community goals

There are community enterprises operating in a wide range of sectors right across the UK. They form part of the overall social enterprise sector in Wales. Examples of well known community enterprises in Wales include some of our Members, such as Galeri Caernarfon in North West Wales, Vision 21 in Cardiff, and PLANED in West Wales. In summary, community enterprise means creating wealth in communities, and keeping it there.

To support the growth of community enterprises in Wales, DTA Wales aims to develop an increasingly confident and competent peer mentoring service to social enterprises in Wales through Social Business Wales.

View a range of case studies showing a range of different types of community and social enterprises across Wales in the videos below.

Rogiet Community Junction

This is the story of how the Rogiet Community Junction and the village of Rogiet are working together to bring the community a brighter future.

DOVE workshop Adult Education Centre in Neath

Virtual tour of DOVE workshop Adult Education Centre in Banwen, Neath SA109LW. They run many courses from introductory informal IT skills to part-time degree studies. They are also home to a Cafe, Creche, South Wales Miners Library, advice and guidance workers and the local Oxfam

Elwy Working Woods

Elwy are co-operative based in North Wales which aims to combine affordable housing with jobs based on the management of neglected local woodlands.

Ebbw Vale Institute

The EVI – Ebbw Vale Institute is a building full of story and culture. Founded in 1849 to promote cultural exchange in the neighbourhood, it was vacant for a number of years before undergoing extensive refurbishment. It is now a vibrant community and cultural centre for Blaenau Gwent and surrounding areas.

This building now provides a programme of creative activities, learning and social enterprise development helping to revitalise the economy of Blaenau Gwent.

Canolfan Beaumaris

A not for profit Social Enterprise was established to take over the Centre in 2013. There is a Theatre and Concert Hall, Sports and Gym facilities, and rooms for meetings and workshops. We are supporting them to develop a marketing strategy and look at their training needs.

Iorwerth Arms

A local Welsh Community pub – run by the community for the community. We have been supporting them with their governance, training needs, volunteer skills, marketing and strengthening their business plan.