A Practical Seminar for Social Entrepreneurs

There's an upcoming workshop for budding Melbourne-based social entrepreneurs  who have a social idea they want to develop, along with candid conversations about setting up a social enterprise – including what not to do? 

The School for Social Entrepreneurs and social enterprise The Social Studio, What Ken Be Done and will lead the June workshop for budding social entrepreneurs.

At the workshop, social entrepreneurs will share their thoughts and experiences about what strategies have worked to gain public attention on social issues, and what it takes to raise money in the modern online environment.

Grace McQuilten, who established The Social Studio, will discuss what she has learnt about social entrepreneurship in the last 5 years.

McQuilten established The Social Studio in 2009, a social enterprise which works with young refugees to develop their self-esteem, skills and employment prospects using fashion design and retailing as a starting point.

Recycled and excess manufacturing materials are gathered from local industry and re-configured into original clothing. The Social Studio addresses the barriers of unemployment, isolation and difficulties accessing education and training faced by refugees and migrants, by creating jobs, providing education, encouraging community engagement and social inclusion.

The Social Studio allows students to develop their skills in clothing production, retail and hospitality through the Smith St fashion house and café.

Jackie Ruddock from What Ken Be Done?, who has experience in social entrepreneurship and social philanthropy, will share what she’s learnt about raising support for social enterprise.

What Ken Be Done? is a project that involves Ruddock, a Sydney-based charity worker, wearing a different piece of clothing by iconic Australian fashion designer Ken Done every day for a year.

The year-long project is described as an innovative approach to raising money for charity, and the journey has been documented on the blog What Ken Be Done.

Ruddock says the online social and philanthropic project aims to pay tribute to Ken Done, and at the same time raise the profile and financial support for the Social Studio. So far the project has raised nearly $10,000 for The Social Studio, with people donating Ken Done items for Ruddock to wear and then auction off on eBay.

Ruddock, who has donated $3 every day to the project, says she is interested in having fun and showing that anyone can be a philanthropist, even someone on a modest income like hers.

View the blog here: www.goodfashionforgood.com

The School for Social Entrepreneurs will provide information about programs that support those taking social action.

The event will include drinks from 6-7pm to celebrate Jackie Ruddock’s last month of What Ken Be Done?

A Practical Seminar for Social Entrepreneurs

Friday 3 June 2011 from 4pm until 6pm.

Tickets $20 must be pre-purchased by clicking here.

For more information, contact Jackie Ruddock at jackie@goodfashionforgood.com