Case Studies

LaunchMe: Earth In Common

About Earth In Common

Founded by Evie Murray, Earth In Common is a community-focused organisation tackling one of society’s biggest challenges: inequality. They address this through active participation in the food system, believing that food can be a powerful tool for social change.

What They Do

Based on a two-acre site in Leith, Edinburgh, Earth In Common operates several interconnected programmes:

Market Garden & Food Production

• They grow fresh produce in their market garden
• Food supplies at their on-site café and farm shop
• Focus on local, sustainable food production

Community Hub

• Recently refurbished building serving as their operational centre
• Houses their café and farm shop
• Acts as a community gathering space

Minecraft Programme

• Popular educational programme for school-age children
• Uses engagement with food and farming to teach valuable skills

The Challenge 

When Earth In Common joined the LaunchMe programme, they were at a critical juncture. They had just completed an ambitious building refurbishment project, but this had forced them to shut down operations for over 18 months. Essentially, they were starting from scratch again.

The organisation was also navigating a significant structural change – transitioning from operating as a charity to trading as a social enterprise. This shift required new ways of thinking about their organisational structure, funding, and sustainability.

How LaunchMe Helped 

LaunchMe arrived at exactly the right moment, helping Earth In Common relaunch their activities after the long building closure.

Organisational Restructuring

The programme provided crucial support in helping the organisation transition from a charity to social enterprise.

This included:

• Making the organisation more investment-ready
• Developing new organisational structures
• Preparing for the different challenges that being a social enterprise brings

Peer Learning and Community

One of the most valuable aspects of LaunchMe was bringing together diverse organisations facing similar challenges.

This created opportunities for founder Evie to:

• Learn from peers doing comparable work
• Build a sense of community beyond their own project
• Reduce the isolation that organisation leaders often feel

A Successful Relaunch

Earth In Common successfully restarted their operations within their new hub building, integrating their market garden, café, farm shop, and community programmes.

Transitioning to a social enterprise model has positioned them to be more sustainable and take on new challenges while continuing to deliver tangible social impact.

While building valuable connections with other social entrepreneurs and organisations, has created an ongoing support network.

What Made the Difference

• Timing and Context – LaunchMe’s support came at a crucial moment when the organisation needed to rebuild and restructure
• Practical Support – Tailored support to enhance organisational development and investment readiness
• Community of Practice – peer-to-peer learning environment helped address the isolation that social entrepreneurs often experience

Earth in Common’s Lessons For Other Social Entrepreneurs

Integration is Key – Successful social enterprises often integrate multiple activities (like food production, retail, and education) to create sustainable impact

Strategic Timing Matters – Accessing support programmes at key transition points can be transformational

Organisational Structure is Crucial – Moving from being a charity to a social enterprise requires specific support and planning

Peer Learning is Powerful – Connecting with others facing similar challenges reduces isolation and accelerates learning

Looking Forward

Earth In Common’s journey through LaunchMe demonstrates how targeted support can help social enterprises navigate complex transitions while staying true to their mission of addressing inequality through food system change. Their integrated approach – combining food production, community space, and educational programmes – offers a model for how social enterprises can create multiple forms of value while building financial sustainability.

Their experience shows that with the right support at the right time social entrepreneurs can successfully rebuild and restructure their organisations to create greater impact in their communities.

Find out more about Earth in Common on their website, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.