Social firm is a commercial enterprise that works for social goals. It conducts economic activity and the same time set social goals and it invests spurs in action or community. Making a profit for the owners or share holders is not the main goal. Social firm helps socially excluded people find a job. 

20 years ago we were searching for possibilities of including people with mental illness in work places where they could reach their full potential and be satisfy with the job they’re doing. We were disappointed with what we found. There were institutions that employed disable people however, they were so big that our clients weren’t treated as individuals and they didn’t feel they could make a difference. There were no appropriate solutions, the businesses weren’t interested in employing people with mental illness even if there was a subsidy system in place.

People with mental illness are employed in Friends of Disable Society in administrative positions. However, it wasn’t enough, we dreamed about creating interesting work places for those people. 

As we were searching for new solutions we found a Social Firm. It was created in Great Britain in order to activate and include people with mental illness in labor market. Work places were created in small enterprises which work with all attributes of this type of activity: business plan, managing costumers care, quality of work, reacting to changes in economic conditions and making a profit. Work places were created in the way that employees felt understood and that they could influence companies activity and create companies future. In Social Firm definition it’s called coexisting of “two hearts”.

In 2000 we started to learn about this model based on Social Firms in the capital of Scotland – Edinburgh. We were fascinated not only with beautiful architecture of the city but also with how creative and open people were for others individual needs and uniqueness. We found out about Six Mary’s Place and Forth Sector Organization. Scots were our partners in this project, they not only let us use their knowledge and experience but also hosted us in their place. We could learn about social firm and  experience it which is really important to understand what is it about. Individual approach, exceptional management according to a rule “all hands on deck” - if needed even the boss will serve breakfast – and  clear vision of development of the business were an impulse for opening first Social Firm in łódzkie region, the second in Poland. 

Thanks to polish-scottish cooperation we started guesthouse KŁOS in Jedlicze near Łódź. It works in hotel and catering industry and offers professional service and  friendly atmosphere. We introduced this employment model to other our projects because we want to look after good work atmosphere and allow employees to grow. 

Filozofa firmy społecznej w Wyjątkowym Domu

Praca, jako bardzo ważny aspekt życia i samodzielności człowieka, znajduje się w centrum naszego zainteresowania. Dlatego planując działania i sposób organizacji Wyjątkowego Domu, pragniemy tworzyć firmy społeczne aby zatrudnienie znalazły w nich osoby chorujące psychicznie i aby była to droga w ich zdrowieniu.

Planujemy iż ponad 90 osób znajdzie zatrudnienie w małych zespołach firm społecznych świadczących usługi dla mieszkańców Wyjątkowego Domu. Będą oni pracować na takich stanowiskach jak opiekunowie w domu zapewniającym pielęgnację, pracownicy administracyjni czy w zapleczu kuchenno-gastronomicznym.

Każdy z nas potrzebuje czuć się częścią całości, potrzebuje czuć ze nie jest w pustce a nasze współuczestnictwo czyni różnicę. Praca to miejsce gdzie ludzie nie tylko wykonują powierzone zadania ale także komunikują się ze sobą, zawierają Przyjaźnie, a nawet znajdują Miłość. Czują się potrzebni, zauważeni i wartościowi. Takie wyjątkowe miejsce pracy stworzymy w Wyjątkowym Domu – w końcu nazwa zobowiązuje!