Social Economy Support Centres (hereinafter: OWES) are the primary institutions providing support to social enterprises in Poland. OWES centres provide advisory services to existing social economy organisations and offer training to those interested in setting up a social enterprise or transforming their non-governmental organisation into a social enterprise. We also assist with securing grants, including loans for the development of social economy organisations.
Since 1 January 2015, the MOST Association for the Support of Non-Governmental Organisations, together with its partners: the Regional Employment Promotion Agency Foundation, based in Dąbrowa Górnicza, and the Upper Silesian Fund Joint-Stock Company, Katowice Branch, has been running the OWES programme for the Central-Eastern Subregion.
- The Będzin District and the City of Sosnowiec are served by the MOST Association,
- The Zawiercie District and the town of Dąbrowa Górnicza are served by FRAPZ,
- The towns of Siemianowice Śląskie, Świętochłowice and Chorzów are served by FG.
OWES’s activities include:
- Services provided to social economy organisations which plan to become self-sustaining by setting up a business and undertaking public benefit activities in return for payment, including:
- support from key general advisers
The scope of general advisory services will cover: the establishment of Social Enterprises (hereinafter: SE) and Social Economy Entities (hereinafter: SEE), the registration of SES activities, external funding for SEs and SESs, and the conduct of SESs’ statutory activities. - support from key business advisers
The Social Enterprise, established with the support of OWES, will have a key business adviser responsible for monitoring its situation and providing support in drawing up a development plan, organising support or dealing with crisis situations.
specialist consultancy packages for PES, including accounting and tax, financial, legal, marketing and HR services. - marketing packages for social economy organisations facing financial constraints, involving the funding of promotional materials for social enterprises.
- Training courses in accounting, law for PES, marketing, fundraising, sources of funding, and the preparation of development plans and grant applications.
- Services relating to labour market activation and the creation of new jobs, including:
- pre-employment support for individuals (e.g. psychological and career counselling, vocational training courses necessary for running a business). Jobs may be created within social enterprises.
- the awarding of grants for newly created jobs.
- bridging support, including financial support – granted only to newly established social enterprises.
- Promotional activities aimed at fostering the development of the Social Economy (hereinafter: SE), encouraging organisations and individuals to undertake activities in the field of SE, disseminating information about SE, providing information on funding sources for the development of Social Enterprises, legal provisions, etc. OWES facilitators organise meetings, activities and contacts between Social Economy organisations or individuals interested in the Social Economy.
The aim of the project is to increase the number of jobs in the social economy sector by 127 and to enhance their stability in the centralthrough advisory, facilitation and training activities, as well as the provision of grants for the creation of new jobs, together with the provision of bridging support. As part of the project, support will be provided to at least:
- 587 people at risk of social exclusion,
- 148 social economy organisations,
- 6 action groups.
Thanks to the implementation of the project:
- 127 jobs will be created,
- 117 people at risk of social exclusion will find employment,
- at least three non-governmental organisations will begin carrying out their statutory activities for a fee or engaging in commercial activities,
- Under the 2% programme, the turnover of the social enterprises receiving support will increase.
Total project value: 10,353,219.05, of which European Union funding amounts to 8,800,236.19 zł.
To make use of OWES’s services, please read the OWES terms and conditions, available below, and complete the application forms, which are also available below.
We warmly invite you to get in touch and make use of our assistance.