APPLES:
A downturn in the financial markets means that what looked like a sustainable financial model is now very unstable. Reductions in the availability of credit lead to it requiring support from the Bank of England. Investors had made money from the stock market flotation, arguably cashing in on what previous responsible members has built up. But the shares lose 90% of their value, before Apples is nationalised in 2008, with the shares valued as worthless.

ORANGES:
A global private equity fund values the business at $625m and takes a 50% stake, at the same time as agreeing to respect and protect the organisation’s philanthropic work. However, fundamental questions emerge about its 'buy one, give one' model. Criticisms include its ineffectiveness as a public health measure compared to proper sanitation (a more durable and cheaper alternative), damaging local industry and reducing local employment, its creation of a donor culture and inability to deal with the root causes of poverty, and allegations that it discriminates in favour of Christian groups. Oranges is now seeking to address criticisms, including distributing its supply chain across more countries with a commitment to produce one third of its gifted shoes in the places the shoes are distributed and a move away from the buy one, give one model for glasses to investing in eye care.

LEMONS:
The mission continues to evolve. Young people remain a central focus, but there is an additional stream around families. The core organisational values include care, honesty, respect and responsibility, with some variation in the different countries of operation. Although a Christian charity in name and governing principles, many of its service users are largely unaware of its origins.

Its work with young people includes leadership development opportunities, including placements for volunteers, at the same time as balancing multiple social enterprise streams, some serving broad groups and others helping the more excluded, including vulnerable or homeless young people. With 8000 spaces of safe, supported accommodation in the UK, the organisation is a major provider for these groups, using accommodation as a starting point for personal support, social integration, education and training.

Lemons is one of the largest young people’s charities in the world, serving 58 million beneficiaries in 119 countries.