Social Enterprise

We at the Nomad are registered memebers of SEUK - the National Trade Body for Social Enterprise. Social enterprises trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community. And so when they profit, society profits.  

The term ‘social enterprise’ came about from recognition that in the UK and across the world, there were organisations using the power of business to bring about social and environmental change without a single term to unite them.

Here are the criteria for social enterprise certification as set out by SEUK:

1. Have a clear social and/or environmental mission set out in their governing documents - We are clear in our mission to help The Sustainability Institute. The SI is a pioneering sustainable living and learning centre based in rural Stellenbosch, South Africa. Through a series of internationally acclaimed development programmes, The S.I. is making a difference to the quality of life for the families of Lynedoch Village and surrounding area. 100% of the Nomad's profits goes to the SI, it is the mission that governs our work.
    
2. Generate the majority of their income through trade - We generate the majority of our income through ticket sales for our pop-up cinema events and through the sale of food, drink and merchandise at these events.
    
3. Reinvest the majority of their profits -  100% of distributable profits go to The Sustainability Institute.
    
4. Be autonomous of state - We are an independent enterprise and so entirely autonomous. We make our own decisions and drive our own mission to support the work of The Sustainability Institute. 
    
5. Be majority controlled in the interests of the social mission - Every decision we make is reached with the ultimate goal of towards putting on successful events that people will choose to attend, generating awareness and income in order to support The Sustainability Institute to the best of our ability.
    
6. Be accountable and transparent - The Nomad is an open book. You can find our company registration information here.

The Lexi Cinema

Our sister company is The Lexi Cinema in Kensal Rise, the UK’s first social enterprise independent boutique digital cinema. Like us, the Lexi donates 100% of its profits to charity and is staffed predominantly by passionate local volunteers. The Lexi improves the quality of life for everyone in their little corner of northwest London and at the same time makes a difference to the quality of life for a very different community on the other side of the world.

Volunteers

Our volunteers are at the very heart of all that the Nomad does. Over the year, we roam from venue to venue around London, and our fantastic Volunteer Programme enables us to donate as much as possible each year. Volunteers have a great chance to learn from experienced and innovative arts professionals running the UK’s only social enterprise cinema, The Lexi, and the UK’s first social enterprise pop-up cinema business. Volunteers get real, transferable hands-on experience in hospitality and events management, and gain some extremely valuable skills. The Nomad and the Lexi are signatories of the London Volunteer Charter and have been used by Greater London Volunteering as a best practice case study.

Social Saturday

Long-term partner of the Lexi and Nomad, award-winning farmer-owned social enterprise Divine Chocolate gathered together some of London's most exciting social businesses for a fair to celebrate Social Saturday on Saturday 10th October 2015.

Hosted by The Lexi Cinema, the Fair featured a variety of independent food, drink and fashion companies. Along with Divine Chocolate and The Lexi Cinema, the Fair featured Liberation Nuts, Papi's Pickles, Old Spike Roastery, Fikay Fashion, Good Beans Coffee, Grow Up Urban Farms, SOAK Shakes and Big Issue. You can read more about the fair here. 

Points of Light Award

Points of Light are outstanding individual volunteers – people who are making a change in their community. Every weekday the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer with the Daily Point of Light award. First established in the USA, over 5,000 Points of Light have been recognised in the USA to date. UK Points of Light was developed in partnership with the US programme and launched in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street in April 2014.

The Nomad and Lexi Cinema's founder Sally Wilton became the 467th point of light in February 2016.

The Prime Minister said:
“With The Lexi Cinema, Sally has created a fantastic hub for her local community which has inspired hundreds of people to give their time to volunteer. The huge amount of money the cinema has helped to raise is also making a real difference to communities in South Africa through The Sustainability Institute. I am delighted to recognise Sally as the UK’s 467th Point of Light.”

Sally Wilton said:
"I am honoured to accept this award which l do on behalf of my fabulous management team and wonderful volunteers. Without them we could never make the difference that we do both within our local community and in South Africa."

You can read more about Sally's award here.