We champion Eldership within social impact - amplifying the voices of Elder social entrepreneurs and encouraging them to share their wisdom with the wider ecosystem - and the world.

It’s vital that we share and learn from the wisdom of our Elders, building on the work already done and discovering the innovations they still seek to make. This is how we can create accelerated social impact, working together to avoid lessons already learned.

What we do:

We engage with the social entrepreneur community and beyond through webinars, workshops and more. 

Computer screen showing Chris Underhill talking at conference via zoom.

Webinars.
We run a regular series of webinars on specific aspects of eldership including succession planning, transition and financial sustainability - to name just a few.

Check out our next webinar on our Events page.

Soul Sessions.
Discreet get-togethers involving a small number of people, offering a place to talk through difficult issues confidentially in a very supportive and friendly environment. For Elders by Elders. If you are interested in taking part, then please contact chris@elderscouncil.net

Events.
We host workshops at some of the best conferences in the social innovation calendar. Look out for news of our next sessions!

Mentoring.
Find out more about our plans to provide mentoring services to our members.

Our Founders.

Andrea speaking at Silverstone event.

Andrea Coleman.

Riders for Health, Two Wheels for Life.

Mel giving speech at podium.

Mel Young.

Homeless World Cup, New Ism, Sportscotland.

Headshot of Chris smiling at camera.

Chris Underhill MBE.

Thrive, BasicNeeds, citiesRISE and Mentor Service.

“We all still have a passion about changing the world, so we weren’t going to retire, were we? In fact we hate the word ‘retire’.”

Head and shoulders portrait image of Cecilia looking straight at the camera. She has dark hair in a bob style. She is wearing glasses with black frames, a patterned top, a pink suit jacket and pearl stud earrings.

Global Advisory Board.

Cecilia Flores - Oebanda

Voice of the Free.

Head and shoulders portrait image of Kathryn smiling straight at the camera. She is wearing a white top, beaded and silver necklaces, large yellow, blue, black and red earrings and a yellow head scarf. Her long light brown hair is in thin dreadlocks

Kathryn Hall-Trujillo

Birthing Project USA: The Underground Railroad for New Life.

Head and shoulders portrait image of Attila looking straight at the camera. He is wearing a dark blue suit jacket, a light pink, off-white shirt and glasses which have dark grey frames. He has short black and grey hair and a short black & grey beard
Head and shoulders portrait image of Marc smiling straight at the camera. He is wearing a dark blue jumper, a checked shirt and glasses which have dark brown frames. He has grey hair and a short grey beard.

Marc Freedman

CoGenerate.

Head & shoulders image of Therese smiling at the camera. She is wearing a turquoise dress with a red, brown, gold & yellow pattern and a matching head scarf. She is wearing a gold, red and dark & light green patterned scarf around her neck.

Therese Drammeh

Riders For Health.

Head & shoulders image of Mark smiling at the camera. He is wearing a dark blue suit jacket and a light blue shirt. He has short dark hair and is wearing glasses with thin metal frames.

Mark Cheng

Social Innovation Circle.

Head & shoulders image of Agnes smiling at the camera. She has long dark and grey hair and is wearing a red, orange, light and dark green zip up top.

Ágnes Geréb

Founder, Alternatal Foundation.

Head & shoulders image of Timothy smiling at the camera. He has dark and grey hair and is wearing a dark grey suit jacket and a salmon coloured shirt.

Timothy Ma

Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (SCHSA).

Head & shoulders image of Neelam smiling at the camera. She has black and grey hair and is wearing earrings and a pink, gold and dark blue sari.

Neelam Chhiber

Industree Foundation.

Impact.

Eldership is an important issue. By raising the issue and bringing people together we intend to increase the personal wellbeing of individual social entrepreneurs who are over 55. With shared knowledge we will also make a contribution to the overall sustainability of the sector as founders change their role. 

Decorative number ‘1’.

Our first responsibility is to offer support to the Elders in our own community. Each Elder, who is a member, should feel that they have had their concerns listened to and where possible acted upon. Each Elder should feel they have contributed to the wellbeing of at least one other Elder in the network. 

Decorative number ‘2’.

Our second responsibility is to the wider Social Entrepreneur community. Wisdom is not something we dump on people from on high but rather it flows from our understanding, our mutual understanding, of what is possible, what pain feels like and what it feels like to alleviate that pain. The Elders network is about genuine wisdom not pomposity. 

 

Taken together, these two responsibilities, will deepen our impact and make individual social entrepreneurs more resilient as they grow older and improve the sustainability of the sector by improving knowledge and understanding of exit strategies.

Furthering Impact.

Country chapters of the Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs can be formed. If you are interested in forming a chapter for your country then please contact info@elderscouncil.net

Supporting Partners.

Ashoka builds and cultivates a community of change leaders who see that the world now requires everyone to be a changemaker. Together, we collaborate to transform institutions and cultures worldwide so they support changemaking for the good of society. 

For further information please contact: copy to follow www.ashoka.org

 

Catalyst 2030 is a fast-growing global movement of people and organisations committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) by 2030.

For further information please visit: catalyst2030.net

 

The Skoll Foundation catalyses transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

 

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, sister organisation of the World Economic Forum, is a leading global platform that accelerates outstanding models of social innovation. For further information please visit: www.schwabfound.org

 

Katelynne Kirk has designed our brand identity and website. She works primarily in the social sector and with brands making a positive impact on society. See more work at: www.katelynnekirk.co.uk

 

Our gratitude to Buddhika Indatissa for his generous, pro bono support (and great patience) with the set up and support of the IT needs of the Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs.