Buying socially this Christmas
While for many of us the festive season is about switching off and re-connecting with friends and family, the economic impact of the time of year can’t be under-estimated. Huge amounts of money are spent as people go out to socialise and buy gifts for loved ones.
It’s important that when we’re choosing where we spend our money that we consider the impact of our decisions. Fortunately, the hard work of social entrepreneurs across Wales means we have a range of options for gifts and activities that help us celebrate, but also make a positive difference in our communities.
Whether that’s buying gifts that are made sustainably, eating in a pub that’s owned and run for the community, or using businesses that re-invest their profits into good causes – when you buy social, you’re helping your local area.
Our research has shown that social enterprises in Wales help their community in a wide range of different ways. The most popular social objectives are to improve health and well-being and to improve a particular community, while supporting vulnerable people, addressing social exclusion and encouraging people to participate in arts, sports and recreation are also popular aims.
It doesn’t stop there though, with other common objectives including creating employment opportunities, protecting the environment, promoting education and literacy, promoting the Welsh language and supporting vulnerable young people.
Over the past 12 days we’ve celebrated a range of social enterprises across Wales who are using the holiday season to create brilliant memories, while also making a positive difference to their local communities, people and planet. If you’ve got some last-minute shopping to finish off, why not check out one of the brilliant social enterprises local to you?
| Prom Ally CIC (Llandudno) | Wrexham’s Refill Station (Wrecsam) | |
| Centre for Alternative Technology (Machynlleth) | Siop Havards (Newport, Pembs) | |
| East Gate Creative Hwb (Benfro) | SimpLee Swim (Swansea) | Get the Boys a Lift (Haverfordwest) |
| Outside Lives (Mold) | Soaring SuperSaurus (Rhondda) | Cae Tân (Gower) |
| Role Play Lane (Pontypridd) | Câr y Môr (St Davids) | Tregroes Waffles (Llandysul) |
| Awesome Wales (Barry/Cowbridge) | Yellow and Blue (Wrecsam) | Antur Waunfawr (Caernarfon) |
| Railway Gardens (Cardiff) | Queer Little Shop (Aberystwyth) | Roots Forest School (Ynys Mon) |
| Caban Cyf (Caernarfon) | Growing for Change (Bangor) | Growing Space (Pontypridd) |
| Nomad (Bangor) | Blas Lon Las (Tregarth) | Zombie Plastics (Gower) |
| The Bike Lock (Cardiff) | Melin Tregwynt (Castlemorris) | Y Tŷ Gwyrdd (Denbigh) |
| Xcel Bowl (Carmarthen) | Bird Farm Alpacas (Lampeter) | Ty’n Llan (Llandwrog) |
| Galeri (Caernarfon) | Le Pub (Newport) | HaverHub (Haverfordwest) |
Do you run a social enterprise and want us to promote your work on our social media channels? Get in touch with our Policy and Engagement Officer via dan.roberts@cwmpas.coop.
If you want to know more about our work with social enterprises or thinking of starting one yourself then check out:
https://cwmpas.coop/what-we-do/services/social-business-wales-new-start/
https://cwmpas.coop/what-we-do/services/social-business-wales-growth/
