"School's Out" For 2011 Social Entrepreneurs

Wednesday 7th December was a momentous day for thirteen students from the Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs – graduation day for their year-long learning programme.

The event was attended by over 140 guests from a huge variety of backgrounds – from local politicians, to business leaders, and representatives from a combination of bodies.

Vaughan Lindsay, CEO of The Dartington Hall Trust, said, _“This year’s thirteen DSSE students embody the ideal of social change through people power and Dartington’s principles of experimentation, creativity and sustainability. The positive change they are determined to create through sustainable business models is an inspiration.”

Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs is part of the wider School for Social Entrepreneur movement, which was started in 1999 by Lord Michael Young of Dartington. The school aims to support social entrepreneurs as they use their creativity to tackle social and environmental problems.

The thirteen students have a variety of projects, including care models for older people, skills training and professional development for excluded young people, and “vertical farms”. For Dartington SSE Manager Dirk Rohwedder, they share common themes. “What I see in all our students is hard work, self-determination and a passion to make a difference. They have been a privilege to teach and I wish them every success with their projects.”

Alistair Wilson, CEO of SSE UK, attended to present the graduates with their certificates. He said, “It’s been a pleasure to take part in this hugely successful graduation and an honour to see these new social enterprises launched.”

Following the graduation of this year’s students, SSE is gearing up for a new class of student social entrepreneurs who will join the programme in 2012, as well as ‘Trading for Sustainability’, a new specialist course for people and organisations that have lost public funding. To find out more about the School visit www.sse.org.uk or contact Sam Haycock, Programme Administrator, on 01803 847066.