Nearly 300 community micro-enterprises now operating across Somerset

Somerset County Council, St Margaret’s Hospice and the Somerset Community Foundation have worked with the social enterprise Community Catalysts to deliver a project that helps people with good ideas to set up a very small help, care or support service.

Now 3,500 hours of care are delivered each week by these local micro-enterprises which offer a flexible alternative to traditional services.

The council started this innovative and forward-thinking project in 2014 when they recognised that people did not have enough choice and control when selecting care and support services to help them live at home. The project aims to grow more local, community-based carers to support people to stay independent at home.

The project provides small start-ups and existing providers with practical information on everything from regulation to training, as well as offering support, feedback, advice and signposting people to help on how to establish a new venture or grow an existing enterprise.

Since the project began 471 enquiries from local Somerset people interested in running a community micro-enterprise have been received. 179 new community micro-enterprises have set up to deliver care to people at home offering anything from end of life care to dog walking. Additionally, 96 established community micro-enterprises have been identified, engaged and supported.

David Huxtable, cabinet member for adult services at Somerset County Council, said: “Local community micro-enterprises are filling a gap in the care market and giving people the option to have a flexible, local, independent carer who can meet their needs and help them stay independent.

“800 people are now supported by community micro-enterprises in Somerset, including older people, people with a mental or physical illness and disabled people. These people are now well-supported at home by carers from their neighbourhood which means they can stay at home for longer and they are well connected to their community, contributing to avoiding loneliness.”

Rhys Davies, Community Catalysts, said: “We want people wherever they live in Somerset to get the help they need to lead a good life. The project has shown how we can release people’s capacity to care through working with the energy and talent that already exists. By giving local people the right tools, support and a little bit of confidence we can offer other local people a real choice of personalised, high quality services and support.”