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The SIE Fund Task Force sees cross-sector collaboration as conducive to social innovation. Task Force Members are keen to study successful models, one of which they visited recently is MINDSET Place, a hostel in Fanling for people with chronic mental illness.

MINDSET Place was renovated from a residential property bought by MINDSET, a charity arm of the Jardine Matheson Group. With tailor-designed facilities and comprehensive care provided by social workers and health workers, it helps its residents to get prepared for re-joining the community. Self-financed and operated by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, MINDSET Place is a notable example of collaboration with contribution from business sector, architectural design profession and NGOs.

The SIE Fund Task Force has strived to reach out to the public and stakeholders in the social innovation space since the launch of the Fund in September last year. The latest addition to this effort was a newsletter newly published highlighting the Fund's activities in the previous quarter as well as upcoming events. The back page is a calendar of January to March with notes encouraging people to make a change for the betterment of the society.

The SIE Fund newsletter will be published every quarter.

While preparing for inviting application of intermediaries, the SIE Fund Task Force Secretariat proceeds with the stakeholder engagement exercise to promote the Fund. Recently a briefing session was held with audience comprising young entrepreneurs and professionals invited by the association "香港各界青少年活動委員會" and its related organisations. The Task Force opined that it is crucial for the development of social innovation in Hong Kong to bring together resources and knowledge from different sectors and professions. The collaborated efforts will provide platforms, funding and advice for nurturing social entrepreneurs and innovative ideas.

The magazine The Big Issue was first published some 20 years ago in London. Despite running as a profitable business, the magazine recruits and trains homeless people to become its retail vendors. These vendors acquire copies of the magazine at about half the retail price and earn from sale the price difference. This model, which proves to be a great success in helping the homeless to earn a living and reclaim dignity, is being replicated through franchise in various cities across the globe. Its founder Dr John Bird visited Hong Kong recently. The SIE Fund Task Force Secretariat seized the chance to hold a sharing session with audience from Hong Kong's social innovation and impact investing community. Dr Bird talked proudly about people turning from being 'part of the problem' to 'part of the solution'. He emphasised that there are problems in the society, but there are as many answers – a proposition the SIE Fund also appreciates.