Her Kitchen Table received $30,000 in matched funding from the ACT Government's Social Enterprise Grant Program
31 January 2025
In brief
- Applications are closing soon for the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program.
- The program provides up to $30,000 in matched funding for businesses with social, cultural or environmental impact.
- Her Kitchen Table received funding to help expand their training offering.
Applications for the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program are now open.
The program supports new social enterprises to start. It also helps existing social enterprises to take the next step in their business journey.
Like Nazia Ahmed, who is no stranger to starting businesses with a social impact.
She's the founder of The Social Outcomes Lab. It’s a dedicated consultancy providing advice to government, non-government organisations and the corporate world on how to build socially responsible programs and businesses.
Her latest venture, Her Kitchen Table, got $30,000 in matched funding from the ACT Government's Social Enterprise Grant Program.
Her Kitchen Table
Her Kitchen Table is a unique catering business in Canberra. Migrant, refugee and women of multicultural backgrounds cater with food and recipes from their home country.
"I'm so excited about the grant, it will be a game changer for us," Nazia said.
"We're using the funding to develop something called empowerment training.
"The women already get business and culinary training so their food can be sold at a commercial level. But we found if they could improve their self-belief and self-worth, it would make them much better foodpreneurs (or entrepreneurs), and the new training will help address this.”
Nazia said Her Kitchen Table is helping these women find their place in Australia.
“Not only are they finding a path to employment and professional networks, but they’re also creating friends and finding their own space in Australia as new Australians.
“That’s the beauty of food,” she said. “It helps break boundaries.”
What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprises are businesses with a social, cultural or environmental purpose. They are aligned with public or community benefit.
In the ACT there are approximately 180 social enterprises. They support over 3,000 jobs and contribute $318.5 million annually to the local economy.
What does the program involve?
The Mill House Ventures, a Canberra social enterprise advisory, delivers the grant program on behalf of the ACT Government.
The grants offer between $10,000 and $30,000 in matched funding for a range of activities. This includes:
- product development
- business planning
- training programs
- marketing activities
- resources
- website development or upgrades.
How can I apply?
Applications for the ACT Social Enterprise Grants Program close 7 February 2025.
For more information go to: www.act.gov.au/money-and-tax/grants-funding-and-incentives/funding-and-support-for-social-enterprises
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