This article contributes to research of vulnerable communities and investigates the role of social enterprise created or saved from closure by social entrepreneurs affected personally by a life-changing event, in the context of stroke survival. Qualitative research is deployed to investigate the ways in which social enterprise supports survivors of stroke and their caregivers. Research analysis identifies start-up motives and challenges faced by social entrepreneurs and highlights how social enterprise can bridge the gap in support provision provided by the statutory and third sectors. Involvement in stroke clubs was found to be a key positive contributor to participants’ life after stroke. This study has found that those who become social entrepreneurs after a life-changing event exhibit altruistic behaviours, while engagement between these social enterprises and this vulnerable group created specific benefits for vulnerable individuals and their caregivers, highlighting the potential for social enterprise to bridge the gap between statutory and third sectors which is currently overlooked in existing policy provision. The article concludes by making detailed recommendations for future research in this context and for governments and policymakers.

中文翻译：

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社会企业：弥合法定部门与第三部门之间的差距

本文有助于对弱势社区的研究，并调查在中风生存的背景下，社会企业家创建或挽救的社会企业在中风生存背景下受到改变生活的事件影响的社会企业的作用。开展定性研究以调查社会企业支持中风幸存者及其照顾者的方式。研究分析确定了社会企业家面临的创业动机和挑战，并强调了社会企业如何弥合法定和第三部门提供的支持方面的差距。参与中风俱乐部被发现是参与者中风后生活的关键积极因素。这项研究发现，那些在改变生活的事件后成为社会企业家的人表现出利他行为，虽然这些社会企业与这个​​弱势群体之间的参与为弱势个人及其照顾者创造了特定的好处，但突出了社会企业在法定和第三部门之间弥合差距的潜力，而这一差距目前在现有政策规定中被忽视。本文最后为在此背景下的未来研究以及政府和政策制定者提出了详细的建议。