Social Enterprise Spotlight – Delivered Next Day Personally CIC
Posted: 20 February 2015, in Press Release
In our latest Social Enterprise Spotlight for four weeks (2 Feb – 1 Mar) is Bruce Gunn and Delivered Next Day Personally CIC – a social enterprise courier service that employs people with disabilities that are furthest away from the workplace. Get in touch with Bruce on 01355 221555 / brucesgunn@dndp.co.uk and check out www.dndp.co.uk. Connect with them on Twitter too.
Each fortnight we focus on a randomly selected social enterprise member for intense marketing support and promotion. Delivered Next Day Personally CIC will feature in all e-bulletins, on our website homepage and on all our social media, alongside other support, reaching thousands of people across Scotland and beyond.
What’s your social and/or environmental mission? The main mission is to reduce isolation and improve the lives of disabled people throughout Scotland. We work with other social enterprises, charities, local authorities and housing associations. We want to provide a courier & mail delivery service that focuses on creating jobs and keeping money in the community.
How do you do it? We employ people with disabilities that are furthest away from the workplace, focusing on their ability as opposed to their limitation. The disabled community needs a flexible working environment that improves their day to day life. We actively encourage disabled people to take their destiny into their own hands.
What’s your personal motivation for being a social entrepreneur? Through no fault of my own; I found myself disabled in 2008. I was pretty much housebound for 3 years and during that time I got to know lots of disabled people in the same situation as myself. People that just wanted to work, so I created DNDP CIC.
What are your current projects? We have just started a pilot project with Cassiltoun housing association delivering their local post, putting community postmen/woman on their streets is increasing employment opportunities and keeping money in the community. We have even managed to reduce their costs! Our posties develop relationships and put a person touch back into the community.
What exciting things do you have coming up? We are on the verge of signing our first corporate contract; it is very exciting because it will allow us to implement our first electric van. This gives us an excellent environmental impact, as well as social impact. We are also hoping to launch social franchising later this year.
Who do you want to work with more? Ideally, we want to work more with charities and housing associations. They all deliver local mail, newsletters, annual accounts, statements etc. We can increase community cohesion by supplying local people to deliver their post. It is a win, win, win situation for them.
What’s your biggest challenge? Our biggest challenge is convincing organisations that we can do the job. Because we are disabled; people think that we are unable to work to a high standard. I don’t focus on people’s different-ability, not their dis-ability! We also employ co-pilots, 16 to 24 year old’s to do any ‘leg work’ needed.
What top tip would you give to other social enterprises? Don’t ever give up! Starting a social enterprise has been a steep learning curve. However, I have never felt such excitement in any previous employment. I wake up looking forward to going to work in the morning now. I love helping people and feel lucky every day I wake up.