Cafe society: the regional enterprises putting the community before profit : Regional social enterprises are often hubs that serve the population beyond creating jobs and services

"Next to the baskets of plums sitting on the wooden table outside a Castlemaine cafe is a handwritten sign encouraging those passing to help themselves. It seems to be working – the basket is almost empty. The free fruit is an initiative of The Local, a new social enterprise cafe in Castlemaine in the heart of the Victorian gold fields. Social enterprises are generally defined as businesses that exist to meet a social or environmental purpose and devote the majority of their profit to that cause, rather than maximise private profit. We grow it, we waste it, we dump it: fighting food waste one click at a time." Lindy Alexander, The Guardian, 08 March 2017 Read more