Bath Abbey will be hosting ‘Next steps…’, a one-off event to celebrate and raise awareness of local social enterprises today, Thursday 16th May, from 12pm to 3pm.
A number of the city’s successful social enterprises will be taking part including the Bath Bike Company, the Bath Soup Company, Handy Help and Secret City Tours.
Members of the public can get involved by bringing in their bikes to the Abbey courtyard for a free service by the Bath Bike Company or sampling some free soup made and served by the Bath Soup Company.
There will also be a display of planters made by Handy Help, a new social enterprise project set up by Clean Slate and DHI (Developing Health and Independence) which aims to get long-term unemployed people in Bath and North East Somerset to help vulnerable people and those on low incomes to improve their homes and gardens.
Kerry Headen, Bath Abbey’s Homelessness Initiative Manager, said: “There are a growing number of social enterprises in the city with a clear sense of social mission, all trying to make a difference. We are thrilled to be supporting them with this event especially as many are helping service users of homeless and housing organisations with the next steps towards employment. We hope they will be an inspiration to other entrepreneurs in the city.”
Another of the highlights will be one of Bath’s most innovative social enterprises, Secret City Tours, which offers an entertaining, informative walk led by the homeless or formerly homeless to discover a hidden side to this amazing World Heritage city. Tickets are £7 and £5 for concessions. The tour lasts 1hr 30mins and will start from outside the Abbey at 3pm following the ‘Next Steps…’ event.
Ceri Clements, Social Enterprise Lead from Julian House, said: “Who knows the streets of a city better than the people who have spent time living on them? Did you know that Rastafarianism has its roots in Bath? Or that the city was once home to a flamboyant group called the ‘macaronis’, who frequently set their giant wigs on fire by dancing too close to the Assembly Room chandeliers?
“You’ll hear all these stories and more as charismatic guide, Alex Krizsan, who was homeless in Bath for 18 months, shows you an alternative view of the city. He’ll also share some of his own experiences of what life is really like on the streets and the challenges facing those who want to work their way off them.”
