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The contribution of social enterprises to rural economies and communities (CTE0219) - RE0118
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Description
The purpose of the project is to assess the contribution and impact of social enterprises to rural economies and communities in Devon and, in the process, develop and refine a methodology that can be used as an impact assessment tool by academics and policy makers at a national level. More specifically, the objectives are to produce a review of existing literature and information concerned with the nature, contribution and impact of social enterprises in rural areas; undertake case studies of different types of social enterprises in order to measure their social and economic impact on rural Devon; refine the impact methodology and measurement tools in the light of the experience of using them in a rural context. The study will contribute to DEFRA’s objectives with respect to providing a more detailed evidence base to underpin the development of possible ERDP projects, and support for community projects by the Rural Enterprise Scheme and Leader +. The project addresses many of the key objectives of DEFRA, since social enterprises can potentially contribute to employment generation, raising productivity, tackling social exclusion, the provision of rural services, promoting a diverse, sustainable and safe food chain, and protecting the rural environment and biodiversity. The results of the study will be disseminated throughout the social enterprise support network and to those agencies specifically concerned with rural development. |
Objective
1. To produce a review of existing literature and information concerned with the nature, contribution and impact of social enterprises in rural areas.
2. To identify a sample of social enterprises serving rural Devon that are willing to participate in the study.
3. To measure the social and economic impact and assess the contribution of the sample of social enterprises serving rural Devon, through a series of case studies.
4. To refine the impact methodology and measurement tools in the light of the experience of using them in a rural context.
5. To analyse the results of the empirical investigation in Devon and present them, together with the refined methodology in a project report.
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Project Documents
• Final Report : Final Report
(181k)
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Time-Scale and Cost
From:
2003
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To:
2003
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Cost: £27,134 |
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Contractor / Funded Organisations
University - Middlesex |
Keywords
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Fields of Study
Rural Affairs |