Green Gown Awards 2014 - Enterprise - Plymouth University - Winner

The Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise

The Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise (PDSE) is a Community Interest Company that has been set up by Plymouth University’s Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry to oversee the education of its dental students, and the provision of treatment and outreach services to the local community.

Undergraduates provide treatment, under supervision to 16,000 NHS patients at four Dental Education Facilities in Devon and Cornwall, making a significant contribution towards addressing one of the key indicators of health inequality in the region. In total last year, 235 students delivered 39,957 clinical procedures across 84,810 appointments.

The PDSE also oversees a direct community engagement programme, with both staff and student-led projects, working with community groups to address particular societal needs. These include projects with local schools; elderly groups such as Age UK; the Salvation Army; and charities dealing with vulnerable members of society such as the homeless and drug abusers.

Top 3 learnings

1 That it is possible to provide a clinical teaching and learning environment using an existing sustainable business model
2 That student community-based intervention projects, which focus on the social impact and value of effective engagement and communication, can influence community health and well-being agendas
3 That a dental social enterprise company can be an exemplary model for providing social investment into communities (in this case, Devon and Cornwall).

What the judges say ...

An outstanding example of innovation, enterprise and collaboration with communities through curriculum and structure. The project had real impact on students and the community for the benefit of all those in the community.

What it means to win ... 

“Our Dental Social Enterprise is a national first, and an exemplar of how a university can address health inequalities in its communities. This Green Gown Award is wonderful recognition for the ground-breaking work it is achieving.”

Professor David Coslett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor