Families in Debt and Homeless Social Entrepreneur Challenge

"Independence is not linked to the physical or intellectual capacity to care for one self without assistance, independence is created by having assistance when and how one requires it"

Julia Twigg, Changing Role of Social Care

The Wellspring is a resource centre for homeless and disadvantaged people in Stockport. The Wellspring is open everyday of the year and provides free food and drinks, free clothing and free shower facilities. In addition it offers a range of additional free services including health and housing referrals, counselling, confidence building and other short training courses.

As a Registered Charity (No. 1088776) The Wellspring is in a unique and exclusive position to offer support to the homeless and disadvantaged people of Stockport. Over the last five years the centre has grown from a basic "soup kitchen", run almost completely by Volunteers, to now employing two staff, over 170 volunteers and has plans to move into a new purpose built flagship resource centre.

The Wellspring is one of just fourteen charities in the UK to be awarded a grant from The Church Urban Fund Faithful Enterprise Scheme. The main aim of the scheme is to make Charities less dependant on grant funding by providing income via a Social Enterprise Model. In the case of The Wellspring the grant has been used to explore and develop 'Social Enterprises at The Wellspring'.

The Wellspring are working with Tyrer Sorrel to develop these Social Enterprises Programmes under the title '1000 Little Business Ideas'. The programmes are designed not just for homeless people but people and families in or at risk of financial debt.