Salford and Glasgow Caledonian Universities build on Muhammad Yunus links with social enterprise workshop on tackling health inequalities
Salford and Glasgow Caledonian Universities build on Muhammad Yunus links with social enterprise workshop on tackling health inequalities
Tuesday 20 January 2015
The University of Salford held a workshop on understanding social enterprises and how they can tackle health inequalities, in partnership with Northern Soul and Glasgow Caledonian University’s Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health.
The event built on previous work around social enterprise by both universities, inspired by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. Social entrepreneur and microcredit innovator Professor Yunus is an Honorary Graduate of the University of Salford and Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU).
The workshop at the University’s MediaCityUK campus was targeted at academics and people involved in social enterprises, who are interested in exploring the potential for social enterprise to improve health and well-being in our most deprived communities.
The event on Friday 16 January was a collaboration between the University of Salford, Northern Soul, the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University. All three organisations share a focus on social enterprise and aim to map out a programme of research to help further the understanding of the links between health and social enterprise.
Hazel Blears, the MP for Salford and Eccles, who spoke at the workshop, said: “Here in Salford I’ve seen the real difference social enterprises can make to the health of the most vulnerable in our society. That is why this event is so important.
“This workshop will improve understanding of how health outcomes can be improved by social enterprise but will also allow experts to share best practice and work on new partnerships to further their work across the UK.”
Chris Dabbs, member of the Advisory Board of the University of Salford Centre for Social Business, who has set up and supported local people to set up social enterprises, said: “This workshop will help people involved in social enterprise to improve understanding of some of the key benefits of social enterprise on health. It will also be a real boost in building the business case for social enterprise as a sector and as individual businesses.
“Both the University of Salford and Glasgow Caledonian University are institutions that have demonstrated a long term commitment to understanding and developing the concept of social enterprise. I’m delighted they have again showed their commitment to social enterprise by working together to make this event happen.”
GCU Yunus Chair in Social Business and Health Professor Cam Donaldson, added: “Social enterprises have the potential to improve health outcomes and drive up the well-being of people in our country’s most deprived communities.
“That is why both Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Salford, which share a common commitment to healthcare innovation, have such a passion for exploring the possibilities of social enterprise to improve the health of people across the UK and are holding this collaborative event today.”
GCU established the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health after the visit of Professor Yunus to the University in 2008 to deliver the first Magnusson Lecture. The University of Salford’s Centre for Social Business was also visited by Professor Yunus and in May 2013, to mark the visit, the University initiated three social business awards – the Yunus Social Business Awards for Greater Manchester.
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