CEO Blog: Social Enterprise -Building Stronger Communities for the Long Term

Across the third sector, we see the same challenge again and again — funding that is short-term, project-specific, and rarely covers the real cost of running an organisation. These grants are vital, but they usually only fund direct delivery. They don’t pay for the essentials that keep a community organisation alive — things like heating, insurance, maintenance, admin, staff support and development. These are known as core costs, and without them, even the best projects can’t survive. 

That’s why social enterprise matters. 

At YMCA Bellshill & Mossend, being a social enterprise means we trade with purpose, we are a business with a heart!  We generate income through childcare, hall hire, training, and community events — but every penny goes straight back into supporting people locally. It’s business activity, yes, but every part of it exists to strengthen our community and sustain the work that makes a difference every day. 

Social enterprise gives stability where funding cannot. It helps us plan ahead, protect jobs, and respond quickly when people need support. It keeps decision-making local and allows us to be proactive instead of waiting for the next funding round. 

The truth is, the future of the third sector depends on how well we can build our own financial resilience. Relying only on short-term grants means living project to project, never knowing what we can continue beyond the next deadline. By growing our social enterprise activity, we give ourselves the power to create lasting impact — not just deliver temporary projects. 

When you choose a social enterprise, you’re not just buying a service — you’re backing your community. You’re helping to fund childcare, food support, youth programmes, and wellbeing activities that wouldn’t exist otherwise. You’re keeping local people in jobs and ensuring that community spaces stay open and welcoming. 

So, here’s my call to action: Next time you need a hall or room hire, after-school care, a party package, or a place to run your activities — think about using a third sector or social enterprise organisation like ours. Your choice keeps money in the community, supports local families, and helps organisations like YMCA Bellshill & Mossend continue to do what we do best — create opportunities, provide support, and build a fairer, stronger community for everyone. 

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘 2025

🎄 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘 – 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟕 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑, 𝟏𝟏𝐚𝐦–𝟐𝐩𝐦 🎅

📍 YMCA Bellshill & Mossend, 294 Main Street

Get ready for a festive day filled with fun for all ages at the YMCA:

🎈 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬

🎅 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚’𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨

🎁 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐚 & 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞

🎯 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

🌭 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬

☕ 𝐓𝐞𝐚, 𝐂𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 & 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠

🎟️ £5 wristband for inflatables and Santa’s Grotto – all other admission is free!

𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨 – 𝙥𝙤𝙥 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙜, 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙔𝙈𝘾𝘼 𝙏𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨. ❤️

🎁 We’re also looking for donations for our raffle, tombola, and donations of selection boxes. Please hand in any donations to the YMCA by Friday 5 December 🌟 thank you 🌟

CEO Blog – Challenge Poverty Week 2025

Affordable Energy and Community Renewal: Why Challenge Poverty Week Matters in Bellshill

Every day at YMCA Bellshill & Mossend, we see the realities of poverty. It isn’t an abstract statistic. It is the parent choosing not to eat so their children can. It is the child who says they can’t join in a trip because there’s no money at home. It is the young person who comes to our foodbank embarrassed but determined to keep their family going.

In North Lanarkshire, over one in four children grow up in poverty. That’s thousands of children and families whose lives are limited not by their ambition, but by a lack of income and opportunity. That’s why Challenge Poverty Week matters – because it shines a light on those realities, while also highlighting solutions that already exist in our communities.

Energy and Dignity

One of the sharpest ways poverty is felt today is through energy bills. Over the last few years, we’ve all seen how rising fuel costs have created impossible choices for families – heating or eating, paying bills or going into debt.

At YMCA Bellshill, we’ve tried to lead by example. Thanks to investment from Scottish Power Energy Networks and local support, we have installed air source heat pumps, new energy-efficient windows, upgraded lighting and solar power. These changes mean our building is warmer, more sustainable, and cheaper to run. That matters, because every pound we save on heating is a pound we can spend on services for our community.

But it also sends a wider message: affordable energy is about dignity. Families shouldn’t need to sit in the cold, or tell children to put on another jumper, simply because they can’t afford their bills. Energy justice means everyone, regardless of income, should be able to heat and light their home.

Listening to Local Voices

This Challenge Poverty Week, we’ve asked our children, young people, families, and women’s group what poverty means to them. Their answers are powerful:

· Our S1–S4 young people said poverty in Bellshill means “no food”, “no heating”, “not feeling safe”, and “being left out”.

· Our women’s group showed how difficult it is to feed a family on a small budget, cooking meals for under £5 and sharing the challenges they face every week.

· Our childcare groups drew pictures of “a good life”, which included simple things like family, friends, toys, and food.

· Our digital group talked about jobs, skills, and how fair pay and opportunity are key to escaping poverty.

These are not abstract ideas – they are lived experiences. They remind us that poverty isn’t only about income. It affects confidence, relationships, opportunities, and mental wellbeing.

Building Communities Where Everyone Belongs

The theme that runs through all of this is belonging. Poverty isolates. It makes people feel less than others, left out of ordinary life. But community can change that.

At YMCA Bellshill, we work hard to make sure everyone feels they belong. From our foodbank and community swap shop, to our youth work, childcare, esports academy, digital groups, and women’s wellbeing programmes – we create spaces where people can feel valued, included, and safe.

We believe this is how we challenge poverty: by tackling immediate hardship, by helping people build skills and confidence, and by calling for wider change so that every person has the same chance to shine.

A Call to Action

Challenge Poverty Week is not just about raising awareness. It is about action. It is about calling on decision makers to ensure:

· A social security system that protects rather than punishes.

· Fair work with fair pay and secure conditions.

· Affordable energy for all.

· Communities where everyone belongs.

As CEO, I am proud of the work our staff, volunteers, and partners do every day. But I also know it is not enough to manage poverty – we must end it. That requires systemic change at national level, alongside strong, resilient communities at local level.

Final Word

This week, you’ll see us share the voices of Bellshill – children’s drawings, young people’s posters, women’s cooking sessions, digital skills, food bank stories, and more. I invite you to listen to them, share them, and join us in saying clearly:

Poverty is not inevitable. Poverty is not acceptable. Together, we can build a fairer Scotland.