The document summarizes the Youth Centre as a social enterprise. It describes how the Youth Centre was created based on feedback from youth in the community who wanted a safe space. It operates programs and rents out space to generate income to fund its operations and youth programs. Examples of social enterprises run by the youth include a computer repair business that provides job skills, a recording studio that offers music lessons, and a cafe that teaches nutrition. One youth has already started their own business through skills gained at the Youth Centre. The document promotes social enterprises as a way for youth centres to pursue social and environmental goals while generating self-sustaining funding.
3. Fusion Youth Centre
Our Vision is To be the leading youth service facility
where youth want to be
Our Mission is that Youth directed initiatives will
guide our Team to provide a fun, safe and inclusive
environment where youth know they belong and
are empowered to make positive changes in their
lives
The Mantra –Where Fusion YOUTH are Priority ONE
4. How did Fusion begin?
• Town of Ingersoll asked its youth what they needed in
the community
• To give youth a voice, they created the Youth Action
Committee
What does your town or youth centre do to give youth a voice
in your community?
5. Youth Action Committee
Formed September 2005 from a Youth Forum
Youth organization designates & Community members
2 youth liaisons from the Youth Advisory Council
Deputy Mayor sits on committee
Takes action with the youth
Mission Statement
“The Town of Ingersoll Youth Action Committee will collaborate with the
Youth Advisory Council to plan and implement civic strategies that respond to the
flexible needs of youth. We will work cooperatively to improve the well-being of
children and youth in the Town of Ingersoll and surrounding area.”
6. Time to think business…
In your groups, come with a business idea and be
prepared to answer the following questions:
1. What is your business idea?
2. Who would be buying your product or service?
3. What makes someone want to choose your
business over another one that is similar?
7. Where does Fusion get its money from anyways?
Town of Ingersoll
• Owns, operates and funds 60% of Fusion’s $850,000 operating budget
Grants & Donations
• 15% comes from grants, community groups
Facility Leases and Rentals
• 25% comes from Facility leases and rentals
Social Enterprise
• generate 10% of annual operating budget
8. What is a social enterprise?
•Operates like a business
•Instead of profits going back to owners revenue
is directed towards social or environmental
goals
•Example of goals could be:
-helping the homeless or hungry
-using less pesticides
-providing employment experience
•Some social enterprises can have more than
one goal
9. Types of social enterprise
Youth Centre Youth Centre A catering A clothing A business A business
offers rents out its business only company only donates money makes
programs space for hires uses fabrics back into the money
free of meetings employees made by community by
charge with impoverished donating $1 for
intellectual African women every cookie
disabilities they sell
-youth get -programs can -people with a -African women -some of the -the owners
programs, run longer disability get can send their money a of the
but are because some job experience children to business business
worried they of the costs are they couldn’t school because makes is keep the
programs covered by get before and of the money donated to a profit for
they are making themselves
will stop renting their can now work non profit in
selling their and other
when a grant space to other part-time their community
fabrics shareholders
ends people (other
owners)
10. Examples of Social Enterprise
ReStores are building supply
stores run by Habitat for
Humanity affiliates that accept
and resell quality new and
used building materials.
Shopping at a ReStore is a
socially conscious decision, as
funds generated are used to
Patagonia makes equipment for “silent sports” fund Habitat homebuilding
(ones that do not require gas such as hiking, projects.
skiing, biking) and much of the profit is used to
educate people about and to address
environmental problems.
11. Social Enterprises at Fusion
• Multimedia Production
– Engage in our state-of-the-art
facilities, primarily the iMac Lab
• Digital Recording and Audio
– Learn the basics of music production and
recording
• Computer Skills
– Learn the components of a computer and
how to fix computers
– Provide computers and repairs to people in
our community
– Collect E-waste for recycling
12. Rebuild IT
• Youth rebuild donated computers
• Hands on experience
• Hardware and software repair
• Health and Safety training
• E-waste collection
13. iMAC Lab
Graphic Design & Video Editing
• Learn how to use IMAC computers
• Learn graphic design programs
• Create videos, art, and music using programs such as
Final Cut, Adobe Creative Suite and Garage Band
14. The Recording Studio
• A state of the art recording studio that is available to youth and the community for:
– recording opportunities
– individual youth and band practice
– Music lessons
• Youth are trained in the use
of recording console and software
• Youth also provide sound reinforcement
for community events
15. Youth Café
• Nutrition Program
• nutritious meals are offered daily to youth for $3.00
• staff and youth work together to create creative snacks
during the Snack Shack hour
• Menu planning, grocery lists, and cost breakdown are
some of the daily life skills youth learn in the cafe
16. Benefits for YOUth
• Access to training and experience to help
get a job
• Ability to try a variety of things without
worrying if you don’t like it or if you aren’t
good at it
• Meet new people
• Earn some money
• Money for programs
17. Success!
One youth has already
started their own
business at Fusion
Received funding from
Summer Company
Started Business
summer of 2010
18. Back to business
In your groups, think again about the business idea. You now have to
turn your idea into a social enterprise! Remember the social
enterprise chart and try not to settle to be a socially responsible
business.
Be prepared to answer these questions:
1. Explain your business and how you will make money.
2. What is the social or environmental purpose of your business?
3. Who will benefit from the social or environmental purpose of your
business?
19. What is so exciting about social enterprise?
• It means that you can solve even the toughest
problems in your community- or the world!
• It means that business is not just about making
money- business can do good too.
• It means that youth centres do not need to
chase money (grants, fundraising, donations)
because you can generate your own funding!
But how will you pay for this business? Imagine if you had an idea that did not generate any money? How would you pay for that idea? That is a non profit….
Youth Friendly environmentYouth directed and involved To improve the economic, social and personal prospects of youthTo develop and provide a cutting edge Technology Centre To provide a recreational facility and high quality programs and drop in activities that will meet needs of all youthTo provide accessible, Youth community-based, culturally relevant and supportive projects, programs, access to leased space at Fusion- for other community service providers, services and professional and peer counseling, to address a wide range of youth issues and needs To support cooperative and collaborative
Food ServicesYouth are certificated in safe food handling, knife skills and meal preparationMultimedia ProductionAllows us to really engage youth in our state-of-the-art facilities, primarily the Mac LabDigital Recording and AudioYouth are taught the basics of music production from an industry expert, and record each others workComputer ProductionParticipants learn the components of a computer, and are taught how to fix computer problemsYouth can take home computers that they make
Youth rebuild donated computers into working systemsHands on experience in hardware and software repairHealth and Safety trainingApproved Ontario Electronic Stewardship collection site of E-waste for Oxford County
A professional sound engineer is available, upon request, for a feeYouth also provide sound and equipment support to community events such as Harvest Fest, Canterbury Festival and Battle of the Bands
Sense of responsibility for actionsEmployment Aptitude since they gain certification and exposure to the principles of business and workIntegrated within the Community and sense of belonging More likely to get help for addictions or mental problems since the programs run from the buildingSense of social responsibility Higher-risk youth that come to the centre don’t get exposed to drugs… more likely to overcome their issuesLearn to respect and socialize with a broad social base as these kids are all very different from one another… they don’t get that at school
