Social Enterprise Barometer – Autumn 2023

Just 0.4% of UK charities and social enterprises offer support on LGBTQ+ issues, with most operating on incomes below £10,000.  This report looks at whether charities converting to a social enterprise model – earning more of their income rather than relying on grants or donations - could lead to more sustainable and resilient LGBTQ+ services in the UK. It gives an overview of the LGBTQ+ population, the support and funding available, together with some examples of social enterprises working successfully in the space.

Every two years, we publish our State of Social Enterprise Report, which provides the clearest picture of how social enterprises are doing. The latest report, titled ‘Backbone of Britain’, surveyed nearly 2,000 businesses to assess how they are performing financially and looks in depth at who they employ, where they work, their missions, and the major challenges they face. It was a tough period for social enterprises, with turnover and profits down compared to previous surveys. Despite this, a majority were still planning to innovate to achieve growth and support an increased number of beneficiaries. As in previous years, we also found social enterprises to be more diverse and equitable, both in their leadership and workforce, than other forms of business.

The Government’s 10 Year Plan for the NHS may have just recently been made public, but social enterprises have long been delivering the kind of services it aspires to. Read this new report, published with the King's Fund and Baxendale, and find out how social enterprises are ahead of the curve in already delivering the very type of healthcare which the Plan envisions. From breaking down barriers to care for vulnerable groups such as female prisoners to reducing emergency admissions, from working with patients to co-create services to finding innovative ways to lower waiting times - you'll find examples of the social enterprise effect from across the country.