Focus 50+

As the austerity agenda in the UK cuts state-funded service provision for older people despite increasing demand, social enterprise has become a politically and economically attractive model for the sustainable delivery of some public services (Hazenberg & Hall, 2016; Donaldson et al, 2011). Yet the impact of social enterprises on health and wellbeing of older people remains poorly understood (Hlady-Rispal & Servantie, 2016). Focus 50+ begins to address this gap in understanding of what impact social enterprise activities had on the health and wellbeing of participants aged over 50, and also how that impact was created. To achieve this, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample (n=43) of staff, volunteers, clients and carers aged over 50 involved in activities delivered by three Scottish social enterprises. Using a thematic analysis to explore manifest and latent themes, the analysis demonstrates the social enterprise activities impact upon intermediary determinants within the social determinants of health. Positive impacts were found on participants’ sense of purpose, social support, connectedness and inclusion. References Donaldson,C., Baker,R., Cheater,F., Gillespie,M., McHugh,N., Sinclair,S. (2011). Social business, health and well-being. Social Business,1(1), pp.17-35. Hazenberg,R., Hall,K. (2016). Public service mutuals: towards a theoretical understanding of the spin-out process. Policy & Politics,44(3), pp.441-463. Hlady-Rispal, M., Servantie, V. (2016). Deconstructing the Way in which Value Is Created in the Context of Social Entrepreneurship. Int.J.Manag.Rev,00,p.1-19.