The Participation of Elderly People in Social Entrepreneurship: The Practice of the Social Accelerator of a Resource Centre for NGOs (St. Petersburg)

Abstract

Anastasiya Yu. Moskvina – PhD (Sociology), Project Manager, Centre for NGO Development, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation. Email: nastya_moskvina@inbox.ru

Darya V. Dolzhikova – Lawyer, Member of the Association 'Lawyers for Civil Society', Studying at St. Petersburg State University on the Educational Program of the Master’s Program 'Medical Law', Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation. Email: dolzhikova.daria@gmail.com

This paper focuses on the participation of the aged and retired people in social entrepreneurship (SE) activities, namely on programmes to accelerate social start-ups in St. Petersburg. Nowadays, retired people in Russia become more active in implementing social projects and are consequently in initiation of social enterprises. This allows them not only solve the problems they face but also to ensure financial sustainability for their social projects and get additional income for themselves as well. It is obvious that most retired people still have the energy and desire to be involved in the professional or public activities and have very low pension incomes. However, Russian legislation does not provide a clear accounting of the tax benefits elderly people can obtain while doing entrepreneurship activities. Taking this into account, that when elderly people start SE, they face certain obstacles and challenges that, unless they overcome, could prevent them from success in SE. These include adapting their mentality for entrepreneurship and the necessity of learning business, marketing, and sales issues quickly. Elderly people have potential to actively participate in SE and become actors of a new phenomenon for Russia. For this to happen, however, legislative protection, tax benefits and infrastructure are needed to support their SE activities.