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World at the Crossroads-Article 13 interviews the Community Action Network
Added: (Tue Apr 27 2004)
Article 13 interviewed co-founder Adele Blakeborough to find out more about this organisation.
By acting as a broker in the transition of these social enterprises to create revenue generating entities, Community Action Network, or “CAN” acts as an enabler of social change. CAN's Mission is relatively simple: “to tackle social deprivation through social entrepreneurship and 'thinking outside the box', by its members and partners, and by the enthusiasm and skills of its team.” Set in the context of Business Unusual, organisations such as CAN are contributing to the redress of the critical issues identified by Article 13, at grass root. The scale for change though, through such initiatives, is without doubt potentially massive.
About CAN
CAN's vision is to “stimulate new, entrepreneurial ways to tackle social problems more effectively and more efficiently.” They achieve this by connecting people in communities and bringing together those from voluntary and not-for-profit organisations with the public and private sectors. This enables the sharing of ideas and practical experience, and encourages 'thinking outside the box'.
CAN services are rooted in CAN's own direct experience in delivering social entrepreneurial projects, and reflect CAN's Values: high quality, high impact and high added value.
On-line support, is a key service, putting members in touch with each other, offering them a market place for their own products and services, providing access to specialist and sector support, and alerting them to new opportunities for growth.
Direct support and advice are also available from the CAN team - both in the London HQ and across the UK via CAN's regional directors. There are CAN specialists in black and minority ethnic matters, co-location and social franchising, education, health, private sector relations and a host of other fields.
The range of CAN services continues to expand, in line with the needs and activities of its members, and as the case for social entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised by government, the public and private sectors and through other voluntary and community organisations and groups.
According to CAN co-founder, Adele Blakeborough, CAN is “a membership organisation created by social entrepreneurs, for social entrepreneurs”. Back in 1995, Adele, who had been running a community project called Kaleidoscope, along with Andrew Mawson and Helen Taylor Thompson – all social entrepreneurs in their own right – formed an informal network in response to a collective feeling that the work they did was not part of the three traditional market sectors (private, public and not for profit). Adele describes her feelings at this time as one of “isolation – there were a whole lot of organisations and people in the middle, but no where you could meet like minded people”. And thus, CAN was born.
To find out more and read the full case study, visit Article 13’s website at www.article13.com
© Article 13
Article 13 works with companies, governments and academic institutions to meet the growing pressure for better performance, whether it be social, environmental, ethical or economic. This pressure is based increasingly upon cold, commercial reality. Good governance is no longer optional. Article 13 helps organisations in these sectors identify and implement best social, ethical and environmental practice through business responsibility and governance programmes.