Young social entrepreneurs came to the House of Lords today as guests of The Big Issue, to show how innovative and smart thinking around creating business for good can make a big impact for local communities and across the world.
Pupils from six primary and secondary schools, who have been running their own social enterprises as part of the Social Enterprise Academy’s Social Enterprise Schools programme, were welcomed by Big Issue founder Lord Bird to the seat of parliament, to share their inspiring business ideas.
The new generation of pioneers also feature in our special Big Issue Schools Takeover Edition, on sale this week across the UK from vendors – and which will also be sold at School Sell-Off events to raise funds and awareness for their individual social enterprises.
Amazing social enterprises running in 27 schools in the UK, Malaysia and Australia feature in the magazine, with business models that include creating sustainable food products from waste ingredients; sharing and upcycling clothing among pupils; growing produce; reducing waste and recycling in creative ways; and using community spaces to trade fairly and improve mental wellbeing.
Each pupil involved has been thinking about the future, and what they can do to make it better for themselves and for everyone.
At the House of Lords launch event, pupils from Oaklands School, Hounslow, Elm Court School, Lambeth, Millennium Primary School, Greenwich and Sanders Draper, Havering, met Lord Bird and heard about his journey as founder of Big Issue Group, one of the UK’s first and biggest social enterprises.
