Unlocking Opportunities for Social Enterprises in Canberra
In brief
- ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program offers up to $30,000 in matched funding for businesses with social, cultural, or environmental impact.
- Applications closing soon for the grant program.
- Her Kitchen Table, a unique catering business, received $30,000 in funding to expand their training offerings.
Are you a social entrepreneur looking to make a difference in Canberra? The ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program might just be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This program, initiated by the ACT Government, aims to support businesses with a strong social, cultural, or environmental purpose by providing them with up to $30,000 in matched funding. One such success story is that of Her Kitchen Table, a catering business in Canberra that is transforming the lives of migrant, refugee, and multicultural women through food and empowerment training.
Her Kitchen Table
Founded by Nazia Ahmed, Her Kitchen Table is not your average catering business. It brings together women from diverse backgrounds to share their culinary skills and cultural heritage with the community. The recent grant of $30,000 from the ACT Government’s Social Enterprise Grant Program will enable Her Kitchen Table to develop empowerment training for these women, focusing on building their self-belief and self-worth alongside business and culinary skills. Nazia believes that this new training will help the women become better entrepreneurs and find their place in Australia.
Through Her Kitchen Table, these women are not just creating delicious food, but also forging friendships, building professional networks, and carving out their own space in a new country. Food, according to Nazia, has the power to break boundaries and bring people together in ways that transcend language and culture.
What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are businesses that operate with a clear social, cultural, or environmental purpose. They are driven by a commitment to creating positive change in society and often reinvest their profits into furthering their mission. In Canberra alone, there are approximately 180 social enterprises that collectively support over 3,000 jobs and contribute $318.5 million annually to the local economy.
ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program Details
The ACT Government has entrusted Mill House Ventures, a Canberra-based social enterprise advisory, with the task of delivering the grant program. The grants range from $10,000 to $30,000 in matched funding and can be used for a variety of activities such as product development, business planning, training programs, marketing initiatives, resources, and website development or upgrades.
How to Apply
If you’re inspired to make a difference through your business, applications for the ACT Social Enterprise Grants Program are open until 7 February 2025. To learn more and apply, visit here.
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