From Left Behind to Leading Change: Building Communities Through Social Enterprise: A discussion with Graham Tower

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Big River Rising

Big River Bakery

11 episodes

5 days ago

A journey of more than five decades from Tyneside to Shanghai and back for Andy Haddon has led to the realisation that creating a kinder way of living and doing business is needed but will only come by reaching out and enriching the diverse communities and relationships in which change will flourish. It is the bedrock upon which societal change depends. Through conversations with many partners on the relevance of the deep and broad work of Big River Bakery this podcast series shares insights on how to achieve systemic change through a place-based approach relevant to policy makers and others.

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Non-Profit

Business

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From Left Behind to Leading Change: Building Communities Through Social Enterprise: A discussion with Graham Tower

Big River Rising

56 minutes 50 seconds

7 months ago

From Left Behind to Leading Change: Building Communities Through Social Enterprise: A discussion with Graham Tower

In this episode, Andy Haddon speaks with Graham Thrower, Head of the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at Sunderland University. They discuss the critical role of social enterprises and place-based approaches in rebuilding “left behind” communities. Key topics include:

The Importance of Social Infrastructure:

Social enterprises like Big River Bakery provide crucial “social infrastructure,” serving as community hubs that foster learning, connection, and empowerment.

The decline of community spaces has left many areas struggling, making the rebuilding of social infrastructure essential for creating healthier, more resilient communities.Building Confidence and Agency:

Graham emphasizes the importance of giving communities agency to create their own solutions, rather than relying on top-down, short-term interventions that often fail to address long-term needs.

Success comes from empowering people to take ownership of projects that reflect their needs and values, whether through bakeries, community gardening, or other initiatives.Collaboration and Long-Term Thinking:

Both speakers highlight the need for collaboration across universities, businesses, and social enterprises to foster innovation and drive sustainable change.

They call for a shift away from short-term, “bungee” funding cycles toward robust, long-term support models that allow organizations to grow strategically.Support Social Enterprises: Invest in businesses like Big River Bakery that create vital community spaces and opportunities for growth. Your support helps address social challenges while driving local economic development.

Advocate for Long-Term Funding: Push for funding models that prioritize sustained, place-based approaches to community and economic development, enabling deeper, lasting impacts.

Get Involved Locally: Whether through volunteering, collaboration, or launching your own initiative, take action to help rebuild social infrastructure in your community. Small, local efforts can lead to big changes over time.

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