イギリス社会的企業による就業・自立支援の地域的展開

抄録

  This article aims to explore the development of a community-based approach for supporting the independence of the socially excluded, which has been at the heart of contemporary social policy discourse in advanced capitalist countries since the mid-1990s, focusing particularly on social enterprise practice in the UK.

  In the current socio-political climate, structured by a new welfare mix and the related processes of welfare restructuring, more and more active and participatory forms of citizenship have been emphasised, and in particular, interests are increasingly emerged in social enterprises as a means of providing public services and tackling social exclusion. It is acknowledged by many that this new concept provides a strategic framework for tackling multi-dimensional aspects of problems economically and socially.

  Following the discussions on social enterprise discourse in the European context, a case study of a social enterprise in London - Account 3 Women's Consultancy Service - is carried out, focusing particularly on its activities enhancing participant's opportunities for economic and social independence through various vocational training and enterprise projects. Finally, the article is concluded with a recommendation for the establishment of wider strategies for community-based independent support systems in the interest of exploring the potential of more inclusive career development.