Schools across Scotland have received Social Enterprise in Education awards
The skills of enterprising young people from across Scotland have been celebrated this week.
This week, resilient young people at 50 schools across Scotland are receiving an the Social Enterprise in Education award to celebrate the businesses they have created to solve the social and environmental issues that matter to them.
Social enterprises created by young people this year include; writing, illustrating and publishing a range of diverse storybooks, creating ‘calming kits’ to support health and wellbeing in the school community, and making masks for vulnerable community members.
Pupils created their social enterprises as part of the Social Enterprise in Education programme. A partnership between the Social Enterprise Academy and The Scottish Government, this fully-funded programme supports young people to develop essential skills for life, learning and work through a hands-on experience of running their own social enterprise.
As well as celebrating schools in Scotland, the virtual awards also showcase social enterprises being created by young people in Egypt, Malaysia and Australia, who have been connecting with each other and sharing experiences throughout the year.
Cabinet secretary for education and skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP sent a video message of congratulations to the schools receiving awards.
She said: ‘‘My congratulations go out to all of the schools who are receiving a Social Enterprise in Education Award this week. It is inspiring to see how young people across Scotland have been creating positive changes in their community while also developing essential skills for life, learning and work.
“By creating connections with their school and community throughout the pandemic, pupils have not only been supporting their own health and wellbeing, but that of their classmates and wider community for which they should be incredibly proud.”
Neil McLean, chief executive of the Social Enterprise Academy, said: “The theme of the 2021 Social Enterprise in Education Awards is ‘resilience’ and all the young people receiving awards this week have shown real resilience and entrepreneurial spirit by adapting their social enterprises to continue supporting their communities throughout Covid-19.
“We are looking forward to ensuring that more young people have access to this transformational programme and thanks to the support of The Scottish Government, every young person in Scotland will have the opportunity to take part in Social Enterprise Schools by 2024.”
The full list of winners can be found online.
