Changing our community for the better

Putting profits back into services

 

Watering a plant at Grimsby Garden Centre part o the NAViGO social enterprise

 

Many people believe that it’s just our garden centre or cafes that are the social enterprise parts of NAViGO.

But actually, the whole of NAViGO is classed as a not-for-profit social enterprise.

That’s not that unusual. Lots of organisations that have emerged from primary care trusts and other public sector organisations have established themselves as independent social enterprises.

So while we’ve emerged from the NHS to run all local mental health and associated services in North East Lincolnshire, we’ve also developed income-generating, commercially viable businesses that provide training, education and employment opportunities including Grimsby Garden Centre  and two cafes.

We also have a voting membership, giving service users and carers equal rights to staff.

Social enterprises are critical to parts of the NHS delivering one third of community services and two out of three out-of-hours services.