Inspiring a generation of youth sector social enterprises

Charlotte Hollins, co-founder of Fordhall Community Land Initiative, grew up at Fordhall Farm in North Shropshire. After leaving university in 2003 she led the high profile campaign that saved Fordhall Farm from development in 2006: raising an amazing £800,000 in less than six months. Fordhall’s plight touched people across the world, and 8,000 individuals came forward to purchase a £50 non-profit making share and become a member of England’s first ever community-owned farm.

Speaking to a cohort of Directors and Senior Leaders of youth organisations on the Youth Organisations Social Enterprise Leadership Programme (YOSELP), delivered by Clear Thinking Consultancy in partnership with Real Partners CIC, Charlotte spoke with passion about her and her brother’s journey driven by their passion to save their family’s farm and engage locally in the community. ‘Despite the challenges ahead, I was just so positive that we could do it… it just goes to show the power of positive action from the community.’ Leafleting around the community to generate awareness of their cause and holding a number of community consultation meeting led to the development of the innovative share scheme.

The Fordhall Community Land Initiative has won a number of awards over recent years including the ‘Schumacher Award’ for their contribution towards sustainable development; ‘Planet Award’ from Social Enterprise West Midlands; Morgan Foundation ‘Against All Odds’ award; ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award from The Field, and they are a ‘Flagship Social Enterprise’ for the West Midlands. Charlotte has since written ‘A guide to setting up and running Community-owned Farms.’

YOSELP is being funded by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), one of four organisations forming the Catalyst Consortium which is working with the Department for Education (DfE) as the strategic partner for young people, as part of the Department’s wider transition programme for the sector. Real Partners CIC has been successful in securing a further contract with SEUK to deliver the National Leadership Programme for 2013.