Social enterprises do help people

Published: 24 February, 2011

• YOUR editorial says that voluntary-run bodies exist to help people, not make a profit, like The People’s Supermarket (Cameron visit leaves the ‘Big Society’ muddled as ever, February 17). 

This betrays a lack of understanding of what a social enterprise is.

Social enterprises can, and do, help people. They also make a profit. That profit is reinvested back into the business so that the social enterprise can carry out its social goals.

So the People’s Supermarket must compete with other shops, yes. 

But, unlike other shops, it has thrown a lifeline to a business facing closure and assisted a long-term unemployed resident to run a business.

Other social enterprises provide vital transport or care services. They beat the private sector to contracts and do good in the community. 

There is nothing grubby about making money that is then used to meet social objectives.

LEE BAKER
Regent Square, WC1