What about charges?

Keeping House does not be recommending centrally set charges. These will depend on what is being offered, the price that the social enterprise needs to charge and on what people are prepared to pay.

One reason we're interested in setting up social enterprises is that their social mission drives them to develop an enterprising approach to enabling people to access their services. Some of the social enterprises that are setting up offer concessionary rates to older people - subsidising them with higher charges to the wider public. It may sound like a Robin Hood approach to business - but done well it can work.

Another benefit that social enterprises can bring is that they don't distribute profits to shareholders - so any profits can be re-invested in developing their service.

We will also be encouraging people to get a benefits check to make sure they are getting all benefits to which they are entitled.