Independent not for profit social enterprise

Independence

Health Link works in accordance with the Compact, 'an agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector ...to work in partnership.' (www.thecompact.org.uk)This Compact is supported by the Compact Commissioner.

Government respect for independence of our sector: The Compact incorporates the following undertaking by Government: 'To recognise and support the independence of the sector, including its right within the law, to campaign, to comment on Government policy, and to challenge that policy, irrespective of any funding relationship that might exist, and to determine and manage its own affairs.'


Social Enterprise

According to the Social Enterprise Coalition: "A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.' In our case we aim to charge for our work on a not-for-profit basis and provide a community benefit. We have no shareholders as we are a company limited by guarantee. We are governed by a management committee made up of volunteers, three of whom are also part of our 125 strong volunteer network.

Community benefit - we have a volunteer programme under which we offer volunteers three month placements with us to learn administrative skills. Our aim is to give them confidence and experience and the chance to practise IT skills they have learnt elsewhere. Since we started this programme earlier on in 2006, we have supported five volunteers and are expanding our programme in 2007. We hope to benefit the community by providing opportunities for people to gain practical experience of working in an office, filling the experience gap which is often a barrier to getting a job.