To mark National Social Enterprise Day today, Caroline visited Brighton Youth Centre, where she took part in 'toy hacking' - turning waste materials into toys.

Caroline was joined by Benita Matofska, the Brighton-based founder of the global social enterprise The People Who Share, the campaigning organisation behind Global Sharing Day, which seeks to build a Sharing Economy and organises Crowdshare events at the centre.

Examples of this include ‘Communitoy’  ‘toy hacking’ workshops, run with partners Exploring Senses  (also a social enterprise), which show young people how waste materials can be turned into toys.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:

“Social enterprises are doing amazing things in Brighton and Hove, and across the country. They show that creativity and entrepreneurism can be harnessed for the good of local communities, not just for shareholders.   People who Share and Exploring Senses are both wonderful examples of this.

“As well as being immensely entertaining, the Communitoy programme teaches children valuable creative and social skills.”

Benita Matofska, founder of The People Who Share, said:

“Social Enterprise Day is a great opportunity to showcase the brilliant sharing initiatives happening in Brighton and Hove and nationally. Brighton and Hove can be a leading ‘Sharing City’, demonstrating how the Sharing Economy helps build sustainable, happy healthy communities built around the sharing and swapping of resources."