Shop with purpose this weekend at Social Capital’s For Purpose Market
Posted on
On the hunt for holiday gifts? Head over to Cafe Stepping Stone’s Dickson branch on Saturday 6 December and you’ll find a hidden gem located just next door: Social Capital’s For Purpose Market.
As the name suggests, the market highlights the businesses that give back to the community – and it’s your last chance to catch it before it closes for the new year. And with stalls like Allara Creative, Queer Food, Lolendo Collections, U Shape Us, and Yidinj & Ngandi Aboriginal Art, you’ll have no shortage of gift options.
Not only is the market a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but you’ll also be supporting Canberra’s social enterprises in their latest ambition: securing a full-purpose premises. The markets are a trial for a permanent space where social enterprises can work and collaborate. For Canberrans, this will mean a one-stop shop to put your dollars where your values are.
Allara Creative’s employee: Rima Jeha
Broadly speaking, social enterprises are entities that use business as a tool to address social and environmental issues. Instead of a traditional profit-based business model, they are first and foremost driven by purpose and impact. Thanks to programs and organisations such as The Mill House Ventures and Hands Across Canberra, Canberra is fertile soil for these kinds of enterprises to grow.
For success stories, you don’t need to look further than the visionaries behind the markets: Ruth Oettle and Jessica Wright, co-founders of Allara Creative, and Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone, and their Operations Manager, Daniella Divissi.
From left to right: Ruth Oettle, Jessica Wright, Hannah Costello, Rina Brettell, Vanessa Brettell
Their businesses are successful social enterprises that provide employment, training, and social support to people of migrant and refugee backgrounds. While they share the same purpose, they differ in approach: Allara Creative is a greeting card and gift product retailer and Cafe Stepping Stone operates as a cafe and catering business.
Despite being well-established, they continue to push the boundaries of what social enterprises can do. Just recently, Allara Creative launched a driving school that provides employment and heavily subsidised driving lessons to people of refugee and migrant backgrounds. As for Vanessa and Hannah, interest in Cafe Stepping Stone exploded after they were named the 2025 Local Heroes at the Australian of the Year Awards, opening the floodgates to collaborations across the community sector.
A permanent premise for Canberra’s social enterprises is the next thing on their agenda.
“We [social enterprises] are all in it for the same reason and that’s to create social good and benefit the environment. We all want each other to do well,” says Vanessa.
“At the cafe, we’re very lucky because we have a precinct space where people can come in, see what we do, and participate in our social enterprise, but a lot of other social enterprises are finding it a bit harder to get out there, or they can’t afford to have a whole shop front.”
“These markets are a pilot, to prove that us social enterprises want to work together and that there is interest from the community.”
Other businesses featuring on Saturday include Himayat, a disability support service for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as Lids4Kids and The Endless Project – two companies that save plastic bottle lids from landfill by transforming them into useful products.
From left to right: Himayat’s Anisa Jayhoon, Waheed Jayhoon, and Musli Jayhoon.
The markets are also an opportunity for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to showcase their skills and talents. Last month included Makeup by Katia, a makeup business run by Katia Baddur, and Hamasa Rostazada, a henna artist who has been honing her craft since she was 12 years old.
Social Capital’s For Purpose Market is a fantastic opportunity to show your love for the local social enterprise sector while shopping for some holiday gifts with a positive social impact. But even if you don’t end up buying anything, the atmosphere alone makes it worth the outing.
Hamasa Rostazada (left) drawing henna on Katia Baddur (right)
Running from 10 am until 2 pm, there’ll be plenty to see and do. Feeling hungry? Treat yourself to a box of goodies from Syrian Sweets or pop next door to Cafe Stepping Stone for an ethically sourced coffee and a delicious vegetarian meal. There’ll also be a painting station for the little ones and a pay-as-you-wish secondhand clothes rack to refresh your wardrobe.
If that’s not enough, local folk band, The Wisterias, will be playing live from 12 pm to 1 pm. In the past, the markets have also featured a songwriting workshop by musician Ben Drysdale, live demonstrations by Women’s Shed Canberra, and a performance by cellist Tab Hart.
It’s incredibly heart-warming to see the ways in which local businesses are giving back to the community. A cup-filling start to the weekend, Social Capital’s For Purpose Market is a must-see for any Canberra local.
Feature image: U Shape Us’s mother-and-daughter duo: Fiona McIntosh (left) and Molly McIntosh (right).
