Iridescent Ideas CIC

Social Impact Statements

The Social Enterprise Mark criteria includes a requirement that the applicant can demonstrate that social and/or environmental objectives are being achieved.

In support of this, new applicants and renewing Mark holders are asked to respond to a set of social impact questions, which are designed to help them think about the social impact they create, and to articulate this clearly and succinctly.

Updated July 2019

1) What social differences and changes have you aimed to create (or supported)?

• Support for social enterprises starting up, growing, finding investment and proving their social impact
• Support for individuals thinking about and developing social enterprises
• Workshops and training on social enterprise themes
• Policy and advocacy work promoting social enterprise

2) What actions have you taken to address the above social aims?

• Delivery of workshops
• Delivery of one to one advice
• Campaigning and advocacy work – blogs, webinars, media articles
• Supporting the local social enterprise network
• Work to promote Plymouth as UK’s Social Enterprise City.

3) What has changed and what benefits have been realised as a result of your actions?

• Social enterprises supported have firmer foundations for their work (e.g. legal structures in place)
• Individuals feel more informed about social enterprise as a business option
• Social enterprises and individuals feel more confident about meeting their goals and objectives
• Social enterprise in Plymouth is more recognised and influential.

4) How do you and other people know your aims are being achieved? Or how will you know?

• Feedback from clients
• Consultation information via Plymouth Social Enterprise Network and others
• Looking forward we are seeking to improve our social impact reporting to better report on qualitative outcomes

Supplementary details

The below questions are not mandatory, but Mark holders are encouraged to answer them where possible, to provide a fuller account of their social outcomes and the social value they create.

5) How many people have benefitted from your actions?

• c160 organizations – social enterprises, voluntary and charitable groups
• 70 individuals attending workshops or one-to-one advice sessions
• £1m of investment raised for social enterprises
• Delivered 9 social impact evaluations
• Invested 185 hours voluntary in the local social enterprise network.

6) What examples can you provide of a typical service user experience, that helps illustrate the benefits they have experienced as a result of your actions?

“With Iridescent Ideas CIC support we were able to successfully create a multi-million pound social enterprise. Their understanding of social enterprise and advice gave us the confidence to create and develop PDSE CIC.” - Rob Witton, Director of PDSE CIC.

“I am very satisfied with the work delivered by Iridescent Ideas and I will continue to recommend them to anyone that is in the process of setting up a social enterprise.” - Andy Turnock, Fly Plymouth.

"We couldn't have completed the application as well as we did without your help" - Ash Parker, Skatepark Manager.

“I cannot fault their service. It’s very beneficial to have a funding expert to review my work once I’ve written it. I have been most impressed with the research completed for our Comic Relief application." - Jane Jiwa, Founder.

"Iridescent Ideas are the first people I call when I have a new business idea; they not only provide clear explanations of how I can fund the idea, but go above and beyond what you would usually expect from a service." - Kate Smith, Founding Director, Memory Matters South West CIC.

“This is excellent. Exactly what we want for future funders, and a great summary of three year’s work with areas to move on with. Thank you so much, this is a great piece of work!” - Becca Adshead, Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council.

“Very helpful in shaping future strategy. Especially for our future funding bid.” - Peter Blenard, Eden Project.

7) What additional social benefits have you been able to deliver within your core services that distinguish you from other “for shareholder profit” providers?

Contribution to the wider social enterprise sector through volunteering hours at Plymouth Social Enterprise Network – raising awareness of social enterprise as a way of doing business.

8) What other social benefits have you contributed that go beyond your core delivery activities (ones that are completely unrelated to your main services)?

Contribution to the wider social enterprise sector through volunteering hours at Plymouth Social Enterprise Network – raising awareness of social enterprise as a way of doing business.

9) What social and environmental benefits have you created from internal operational policies and actions?

Buying social – aiming to buy from local social enterprises where possible.