Rafford's Naturally Useful makers added to buysocialscotland.com social enterprises directory

A LOCAL social enterprise has signed up to a national campaign to encourage consumers to “pick gifts that give back this Christmas”.

Naturally Useful – based at Marcassie Farm, Rafford and making products including willow coffins, urns, baskets, platters and roosting pockets – is now featured on www.buysocialscotland.com, a new online directory of social enterprises from Social Enterprise Scotland (SES).

Naturally Useful’s owner Karen Collins’ sales doubled during the pandemic via online shopping.

She said: “I’m happy to be part of a growing movement of like-minded businesses who believe the local economy is important. Social enterprises put people and the planet before profit. The directory shows people what’s going on in Scotland.”

SES chief executive Chris Martin believes the public is on course to transform shopping habits.

He said: “For too long, social enterprises have been a hidden secret. With so many ethical shoppers looking to find great products and services while helping to build a better, fairer society, now is the time to support businesses that give back.”

There are more than 6000 social enterprises in Scotland generating over £3 billion in trading income and employing almost 90,000 people. Many social enterprises deliver positive social or environmental change, and reinvest profits into communities.

Buy Social Scotland taps into the demand for gifts, goods and services with a positive impact. The directory features ethical gifts with products, experiences and vouchers ranging from arts and crafts to health and beauty, home and garden, clothing and accessories for adults and children, and sport and wellbeing.

Naturally Useful’s handcrafted, home-grown willow Celtic frame basket is featured on the site which describes Karen as someone “who keeps traditional craft skills alive” with a mission to “produce useful and beautiful products that are pleasing to the soul”.