Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 6:00am

Chinese visit to Goth

A DELEGATION from China visited Prestonpans on Tuesday (See picture) to learn first hand about the arts and social enterprise activities happening in the town.

Arranged by the British Council, the delegation was made up of members from key partner organisations from the social enterprise sector in China.

The group examined how the Prestoungrange Gothenburg social business enterprise.

Built in 1908, The Goth is under the management of the East of Scotland Public House Company Limited which trades wholly within the original 'Gothenburg Principles' its founders established.

To achieve this five per cent of the pub's profit is returned to investors and all further surpluses are Gift Aid granted to the Prestoungrange Arts Festival - a charity devoted to using the arts to stimulate and encourage the economy of Prestonpans and its vicinity.

The delegates' visit to Prestonpans is part of a 10-day trip to the UK.

Yanni Peng, assistant director of Social Development at the British Council, in Beijing, said: "The aim of the visit is for the Chinese organisations to learn from British experience in the area of social enterprise.

"We also hope it will lead to the formation of new and mutually beneficial partnerships in the future."

Andrew Crummy, convenor of the Prestoungrange Arts Festival (pictured with the visitors and Mike Harland, of the British Council) said: "It was a pleasure to show this group round our community and explain the various initiatives we have going on here.

"It would be nice to think that there could be an on-going connection into the future and I'm sure we have much to learn from each other."

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