Speakers Bank trade as a social enterprise who tackle social problems, improve the community and provide people with a disability and elderly people access to employment and training.
Speakers Bank Social Enterprise aims to:
- Support people with disabilities by providing them pathways to potential employment and realise a life of greater independence.
- Raise awareness, acceptance and understanding of people with a disability and elderly people through the power of communication.
Statistics
Why is our social enterprise needed?
- We need to raise awareness, recognise the importance of acceptance and encourage the inclusion of people with disability
- People with a disability in Australia are 7 times more likely to be at risk of poverty than other OECD countries
- 1 million Australians of working age (15 – 64 years) have a disability. Of these, just over 1 million are employed
- 1 in 5 people in Australia have some form of disability
- 45% of those with a disability in Australia are living either near or below the poverty line
- Almost 80% of school principals reported not having enough resources to meet the needs of children with a disability
- Disability discrimination accounts for the highest volume of complaints across the board to the AHRC
- 9% of Australian households have a person with a disability
Examples of Social Enterprises in Melbourne
We provide some examples of social enterprises where they create an impact to their beneficiaries while trying to trade to become self-sustainable. Here are some of what we found around Melbourne, Victoria. Although most of them are café’s or restaurants, they do present an interesting mix of business models. Our trading niche is unique – -we provide speaking services and advocacy to achieve our mission and vision, while we try to put some income in to support the work that we do.
Resource: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/guides/social-enterprises-melbourne
http://www.vcd.vic.edu.au/?page_id=138
Training deaf year 11 and 12 students in hospitality.
597 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Eat dinner here and you’ll support programs in Malawi, Ghana, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Australia.
117 Swan Street, Richmond
One hundred per cent of profits to local and international causes.
673 Bourke Street, Melbourne
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/south-yarra/cafes/final-step
Helps starving kids in Argentina.
1C Murphy Street, South Yarra
https://www.charcoallane.com.au/
Not-for-profit fine-dining? Yes, it can be done.
136 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
http://www.longstreetcoffee.com/
Featuring refugees and asylum seekers behind the coffee machine.
45 Little Hoddle Street, Richmond
https://www.streat.com.au/cafes
More than 500 disadvantaged youths have trained at these cafes since 2010.
66 Cromwell Street, Collingwood
https://www.acso.org.au/acspresso
A second chance for current or former prison inmates.
2 Regent Street, Richmond North
Buy a coffee, support farmers in Timor-Leste.
282 Sydney Road, Coburg
Spot number two for four soldiers turned philanthropists.
251 Faraday Street, Carlton
https://www.lentilasanything.com/
Pay-what-you feel, meaning anyone can eat here.
1-3 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Coffee, porridge, bircher muesli, and bagels that help support Melbourne’s homeless.
6 Florence Street, Brunswick
Resource: https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/guides/social-enterprises-melbourne