Today is #SocialEnterpriseDay and if you don’t happen to know what that means, you’ll be easily forgiven.

Not many people know about the world of social enterprises, what they stand for or what they achieve and that’s all a bit of a shame. So treat this blog-post like you’re one stop shop about the London-based ones you can get involved with or visit for a plate of socially conscious food.

So what exactly is a social enterprise? In a nutshell, a social enterprise is a business with a social or environmental mission. There are many social enterprises flourishing in the capital and it seems a shame to see them go unnoticed when they’re doing such good for their causes. Of course, the theme here will be food-focused ones as we’re, well, hungry all the time. 

Kitchenette Karts

We think you would’ve noticed our love of London street food by now so this social enterprise was always going to get a mention. These guys are all about helping young people with low-incomes flourish in a street kitchen environment. Their sandwich based menu is inspired by the East London community where Kitchenette Karts was born so expect some amazing flavours. Keep an eye on their Instagram for where you can find their kart next.

LIBERTY KITCHEN

This is one street food stall with a serious difference. Liberty Kitchen employs prisoners and ex-prisoners from Pentonville Prison to serve up their Balls No Chain meatballs to hungry Londoners. Their ethos is straight forward: working to give men a chance for change. They started off trading at Primrose market and have now expanded to the KERB lunch markets. Follow them on Instagram to see where you can find them next.

Luminary Bakery

This bakery offers women affected by homelessness, poverty, domestic violence and criminal activity a place to work and learn. Luminary offers employment, support and skills training for disadvantaged women in the capital and really, their ethos is sweet enough. But wait till you see their beautiful cake creations. You can usually find them trading at Canopy Market or Borough Market but stay updated on their website and Instagram.

Dusty Knuckle Bakery

Born in 2014 in an old shipping container in Dalston was the Dusty Knuckle bakery but fast forward to this year and they’ve now moved into a permanent location. This bakery is all about “engaging young people through the process of creating exceptional food”. The message of trying to get as many young people involved in baking and employment opportunities is a strong one and so far, several have been offered work experience and 125 have benefitted from the classes.

Beyond Brigade

Brigade and the Beyond Food foundation have teamed up for this newly opened restaurant on Tooley Street where the food is the focus. The main aim is simple: giving homeless people the skills and job opportunities to make a difference and get them out of poverty. Currently, they have trained hundreds of apprentices into jobs and taught skills to thousands.

Devi’s

Street food with flavours from the trade route of Indo-Persia to the Levant are already going to win us over but Devi’s also reinvests their time and profits into women empowerment programs. With a strong focus on helping women who have been affected by the refugee crisis, as well as gender inequality and lack of women’s rights. You can usually find them at Maltby Street Market on the weekends but stay updated via their Instagram. Trust us, if you’re looking for a very aesthetically pleasing and soothing feed, their insta is worth a follow in itself.

Fat Macy’s

Think of delicious home cooked food, supper clubs and a tangible scheme that gets young Londoners out of hostels and into securing deposits for their first homes. Founded by Meg Doharty, this initiative sees chefs volunteer their time and get paid in credit. Accumulated credit is then turned into physical money that Fat Macy’s pays as their deposit for a rented flat. Brilliant, right? What’s more is the menu is ever-changing depending on the inspiration that each new chef brings onto the team.

Unity Kitchen

Every penny from this shareholder-free business is put back into supporting people with disabilities to building careers and brighter futures. Unity Kitchen recruits new apprentices each summer but reserves their spaces for those with disabilities in the hopes of breaking the stigma and giving opportunities to those that are often forgotten in the job market. Unity Kitchen can be found as a café in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Bromley by Bow and Tooley Street.