Social and solidary economy is primarily about other people. Thus, the goal is not profit, but actions for the society: the employment and integration of persons in a difficult situation and persons endangered by social exclusion, such as disabled persons, the homeless and seniors.

Today, around 94,000 social economy entities operate in Poland. The database created last year contains almost 1,150 entities that have obtained the status of a social enterprise. They include social co-operatives, foundations, non-profit companies and associations. Different branches, locations and scales of activity, but one purpose – acting for others.

Distinctions for the most committed ones

In 2018, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy organised for the first time “Quality Marks of Social and Solidary Economy” – a nationwide competition for social economy entities. It is a special distinction for those entities that successfully combine economic activity with social commitment. In the first edition of the competition, 27 entities were distinguished; a year later this number rose to 49. A new edition of the competition will start in the nearest future, and certificates will be awarded in 5 categories:

• Category I – Debut of the Year
• Category II – Best Employer
• Category III – Market Success
• Category IV – SEE (Social Economy Entity) project financed from the ESF’s repayable funds
• Category V – Socially Responsible Self-Government

Winners of the previous editions of the competition are good examples and role models for other social economy entities.

Through the stomach to the heart

Dagmara Janas – the president of the Razem [Together] Association for Disabled Persons, which obtained a certificate and became the winner of the Quality Mark of Social and Solidary Economy competition in 2019 – says that the primary aim of the association is to support persons with disabilities in every respect.

‘Therefore, we have opened the Różany Gościniec restaurant, in which we employ such persons. Our disabled employees have an opportunity to prove that they are needed and can also fulfil themselves successfully in a professional sense. They prove their high competences as waiters, kitchen assistants and technical assistants. Our Restaurant provides also catering services to other entities acting for disabled persons, elderly persons and kindergartens,’ says Dagmara Janas.

Another institution that combines their cooking passion with actions for others is the Bon Appetit Social Co-operative, which provides catering services.

‘The Bon Appetit Social Co-operative was established in 2017. We initially employed 4 persons, and now our staff includes almost 25 persons isolated from the labour market. These are mainly unemployed and disabled persons, people aged 50+ or young trainees,’ says Monika Kościańska, the president of the Co-operative, which obtained a certificate and became the winner of the Quality Mark competition in 2019.

Social education and rehabilitation

The mission of the Foundation for the Development of Warmia and Mazury is to enable the development of the local community on the largest possible scale, starting from the education and upbringing of the youngest children to the education of youth and adults. Last year the Foundation obtained a certificate and became the winner of the Quality Mark competition.

‘The biggest success of our activity in recent times is the Academic Complex of Educational Institutions in Fijewo. The facility was founded in a new building equipped with modern and innovative educational aids. The measure of this success is the growing popularity and recognisability of our facility in the region. After only 1.5 years from its opening, it is attended by around 300 pupils, is a place of work for over 50 persons and gives support to many parents,’ stresses Joanna Długosz, the president of the Foundation for the Development of Warmia and Mazury.

An example of an entity that received a certificate and became the winner of the competition also last year is the Perspektywa [Prospect] Social Co-operative. The co-operative received a loan under the European Social Fund (ESF).

‘We appropriated the loan for the reconstruction of the building that is home to social economy entities, an occupational therapy workshop for 50 persons, the seat of the Ochrona Zdrowia and Rehabilitacja Niepełnosprawnych [Health Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled] Foundation, the Perspektywa [Prospect] Social Co-operative and a limited liability company having the status of a social enterprise,’ indicates Wacław Szramowski, the president of the Co-operative.

As he says, the activities of these entities focus on the social and professional reintegration of persons with disabilities. Every day the building is used by 120–150 persons endangered by social exclusion. ‘On the basis of these companies and organisations, we have created a social and professional reintegration centre for disabled persons. In the current year, we are starting the next stage of its expansion with a two-storey wing,’ adds Wacław Szramkowski.