Next week – Wednesday 2nd September – sees CEIS host its annual SE Policy and Practice Conference. Due to obvious circumstances, the event will be taking place ‘remotely’ – and, understandably, the theme this year is very much focused on ‘recovery’. The Programme for the day has three linked themes: the Wellbeing Economy; Climate Crisis; and Community Wealth Building – with keynote speakers including Aileen Campbell (Cab Sec); Katherine Trebeck (Wellbeing Alliance); Joe Cullinane (North Ayrshire Council); Neil McInroy (CLES); Teresa Bray (Changeworks); and Josiah Lockhart (Firstport); amongst others.
There have been numerous events over recent months looking at what recovery could/should look like for our sector – but few that bring together such a wide-range of politicians; public sector reps; national intermediaries and national delivery organisations. For this reason, the more frontline organisations who can participate the better – using the opportunity to make their own voice heard about what is required to support them in contributing to the ‘recovery’ in their own particular communities. The event is free to attend and places are still available. If you’d like to book your place – see Registration Form
Reminder: We, along with others, have been exploring the possibility of piloting a ‘collective purchasing’ initiative – in a specific locality. This would involve Social Enterprise Network Scotland signing up to purchase items which social enterprises commonly require through Scotland Excel’s frameworks. This could include PPE, cleaning products or a range of other items. We have had a pretty decent response – and are now making a final push before analysing the feedback to date. We would be grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete this survey – it would be a great help in assessing if there is demand for this service.
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Last month, we highlighted some of the events taking place to mark the 10th anniversary of the work of the Yunus Centre at Glasgow Caley. All 10 events – to mark each year of the Centre – are now available to view (click on 10th anniversary tab). Following up on this, a 10 Year Review Document has also been produced – which covers the Centre’s achievements to date – as well as its plans for the future.
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Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) is supporting a Scottish company providing PPE, workwear and safety equipment as part of its work in promoting the Circular Economy. The company involved is looking for opportunities to re-use equipment – and one of the opportunities identified is the creation of a PPE and workwear bank, on a similar model to a food bank. Ricardo Energy – who are carrying out the research on ZWS’ behalf – are looking for Scottish organisations that would be interested and would like to discuss this opportunity further. Ideally, the organisation would be located around the central belt and interested in a long-term partnership. If you are interested, please make contact asap with Julie Bonfait at Ricardo – julie.bonfait@ricardo.com
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As part of Ready for Business’ work, our Director, Pauline Gordon, was the strategic lead for Public Social Partnerships (PSPs) in Scotland (2012-18). One of the first was HMP Low Moss PSP – a collaboration between Scottish Prison Service, community justice partnerships and third sector partners – to pilot a new approach to ‘throughcare’ support to those not eligible for statutory throughcare. Sadly, despite positive outcomes, Scottish Govt withdrew funding for this service at Low Moss. This overview has been published to highlight some of the learning from Low Moss PSP – and the factors that made this model effective.
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Frontline News: SEN Members involved in the Events Industry will now have access to a £6m fund – to be administered via VisitScotland. Successful applicants will be eligible to receive a one-off grant of £10k:
SURF’s 2020 Annual Conference kicked off this morning with a session on Sustainable Climate and Economy. Further sessions are scheduled for Thurs, Sept 3rd; and Thurs, Sept 10th. See Booking Form:
Listen to this interview (47 mins) with Grassmarket Community Project’s Jonny Kinross – who shares his approach to leadership as well as his experiences in running innovative and successful social enterprises:
GCVS’ Our World Reimagined series begins on Wed, 1st Sept with Neil McInroy talking about Community Wealth Building’s contribution to a fairer Scotland with greater levels of wellbeing. See Bookings:
P4P’s latest Guest Blog is now available – Suzanne Orchard (Co-operative Development Scotland) explains potential benefits for social enterprises in adopting the Consortium Co-operative partnership model:
As social enterprises adapt their services in light of the Covid crisis, Edinburgh Remakery has already taken its own steps – discontinuing some and expanding others – to create the Leith E-Waste and Education Hub:
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Dates for your Diary:
Sport and Health SEN: Wednesday, 9 Sept (10am) – ‘Using Sport and Physical Activity to Promote Positive Mental Health’ will include various speakers about their approach and support which exists to help organisations develop programmes and initiatives on this topic. To book, email jude@senscot.net
Angus SEN: Wednesday,9th September – in partnership with Evaluation Support Scotland – will be hosting Learning to Tell Your Story – an introductory session on the basics of evaluation:
Aberdeen SEN: Friday, 11th Sept (11am) – looking at the 3 biggest challenges members face as they come out of lockdown; the support that is needed; and how the SEN can help. To book, email janice@senscot.net
Health SEN: Wednesday, 16th Sept (10.30am) – Anne Connor (Outside the Box) will talk about how smaller providers can play a bigger role in the world of health & social care. To book, email mary@senscot.net
Community Food SEN: Friday, 18th Sept (10.30am) – Opportunity for SEN members to discuss together challenges faced moving from Phase 3 to Phase 4 of Scotland’s Route Map. Contact mary@senscot.net:
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SE around the globe: There are numerous examples in Scotland where football clubs – both senior and others – are increasingly acting as community hubs – particularly, of late, in response to the impact of Covid on their local communities. This story, from Argentina, shows a similar approach from one of its most prestigious clubs – San Lorenzo – maybe best known here as the club of Pope Francis. As well as a long-standing relationship with its local community – providing jobs, youth grants and a soup kitchen – San Lorenzo has responded to the current crisis by providing space for testing for infection and providing beds for vulnerable groups in their community who need to isolate.
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SEN Spotlight: Edinburgh Social Enterprise was one of the first SENs to be established – back in 2005. Today it has almost 150 members – who are able to access a range of services, like other local SENs, that include peer support; information and signposting; and facilitation of joint working – amongst others. Over the years, Edinburgh Social Enterprise has become increasingly engaged at a policy level in the city helping to shape and develop a series of SE Strategies for the city; having direct involvement in the City Region Deal; hosting a series of city-wide events; promoting SE in the city via their Buy the Good Stuff campaign; as well as building a range of international connections. Staff are currently active in supporting members with the challenges being faced in response to the Covid crisis. Here is Edinburgh SE’s 2020 Annual Report.
In recent weeks, we have highlighted the difficulties being experienced by Sport SEN members – and other organisations running sport or leisure facilities – including particular concerns about the lack of any dedicated support funding for their sector – as has been seen with other sectors. We’re pleased to report that Scottish Govt has now produced guidance on re-opening procedures for both indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities. In addition, sportscotland has also updated its ‘Getting Your Facilities Fit for Sport‘ guidance – which should be used in conjunction with the Scottish Govt’s guidelines. We are still awaiting word on any dedicated funding stream being made available to support these organisations. In the meantime – for Sport SEN members and others running sport or leisure facilities – we will be hosting Sport SEN session on Wednesday, 26th August 2020 (10am) – where Graham Finnie and Kate Forbes (both from the Facilities team at sportscotland) will be providing an overview of the updated guidance and will also be participating in a Q&A session. To sign up for next Wednesday’s session, email jude@senscot.net
As we look to recover from the current Covid crisis, ‘Recovery Plans’ have been and are continuing to be produced from many different sources. One that has caught our eye this week comes from Dr Jack Barrie (Zero Waste Scotland). Jack has collated this compendium of nearly 270 recommendations – put forward by over 20 organisations and/or committees – for Scotland’s Green Recovery. The main themes focus on Wellbeing; Energy; Natural Capital; and the Circular Economy. This ‘labour of love’ is well worth a look but – for some bits – a magnifying glass may come in handy.
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Last month, Aileen Campbell launched a review of the 2013 Town Centre Action Plan. Part of the review includes this national survey (closing date 30th Sept 2020) – which is seeking to gather the views of local communities on the future of their towns. In addition to this, the Town Centre Review Group has also launched its Scotland Loves Local campaign – designed to encourage people to think local first and support their local town centres and high streets safely and in line with public health guidelines – see Herald article. On a similar theme, see this recent blog from DTA Scotland CEO, Louisa Macdonell on the contribution of DTA Scotland members to community-led regeneration.
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An event that many may wish to sign up for is GCVS’ online conversation ‘Our World Re-imagined: Community Wealth Building’ – Tuesday, 1st Sept at 14.00pm. Journalist, Penny Taylor will be interviewing Neil McInroy (CEO of CLES – and currently on part-time secondment to Scottish Govt). Neil will be talking about how community wealth building, as a new focused movement, is growing across Scotland and beyond. He will consider how it can be made relevant to people and communities struggling through current hardships and, above all, how community wealth building could contribute to a fairer Scotland with greater levels of wellbeing. See link above to book your place.
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In March 2020, Co-operative Development Scotland, Community Shares Scotland and the Plunkett Foundation hosted an event – ‘Community-owned Shops and Pubs – Making It Easy’. Community business ‘experts’ shared their knowledge and experience on things you need to know; such as fundraising, governance and community engagement. The organisers have followed this up with this blog and video capturing key issues from the day. Also, see this helpful map of community shops and pubs across the UK.
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Frontline News: Good to hear that Glasgow SEN member, the Glad Café will re-open on Friday 4th Sept. After months of uncertainty, the Southside-based café and arts venue will initially open 3 days a week:
Health SEN member, Twechar Healthy Living Centre is organising a petition to prevent the withdrawal of a satellite GP service that runs in the centre every Wednesday. You can sign up here to support their campaign:
Last is a new social enterprise which aims to end our reliance on single use plastics by helping the public take practical action and to inspire the next generation. Have a look at the products from their online shop:
News of another merger with the coming together of the Prep Table Scotland and the Scran Academy. Both have been working closely together providing over 100,000 meals to vulnerable families across Edinburgh:
Prep Table Scotland is also hosting a ‘virtual’ Community Learning Exchange (CLE) on Thurs, 17th Sept. The CLE is being jointly run by the Health, Community Food and Employability SENs. See booking details:
The Robertson Trust has announced the appointment of Dr Jim McCormick as its new CEO. Jim joins from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and will formally take up post in October 2020. We wish him well.
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SEN News and Diary Dates:
All SEN Session: Monday 24th August (3-4pm) – Flexible Working & Mental Wellbeing. This session will include contributions from Geoff Leask (Young Enterprise Scotland); Lisa Gallagher (Flexibility Works) and Claire Carpenter (The Melting Pot). To sign up, email mary@senscot.net :
Angus SEN: 9th September – in partnership with Evaluation Support Scotland – will be hosting Learning to Tell Your Story – an introductory session on the basics of evaluation:
Employability SEN: Wednesday, September 23rd (2-3pm) – Drew Reid from Skills Development Scotland will be talking about how their Skills for Growth programme could benefit members. To book, email Jayne:
Sport SEN: Wednesday 26 August (10am – 11.30am) – Graham Finnie (sportscotland) will be providing an overview of the updated guidance and will participate in a Q&A session. Email jude@senscot.net to sign up:
Angus SEN: second Procurement Skills Accelerator will be running on Tues 25th Aug (10am). This sessions – run with P4P – are for organisations with little or no experience of procurement or bidding for tenders:
Still on Angus SEN – Local social enterprises and third sector orgs have the opportunity to bid for small local grants (£500) towards embedding a new work practices or process developed during Covid crisis:
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SE around the globe: A couple of months back, we mentioned the formation of ASENA – a new national alliance of Social Enterprise Networks in Australia – covering seven states and territories – to provide a strong, united voice representing the interests of Australia’s social enterprise sector. Further news this week from down under, with the New South Wales (NSW) Govt reaching an agreement with Social Traders to make it easier for NSW Govt departments to secure goods and services from certified social enterprises.
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SEN Spotlight: This week’s SEN Spotlight looks at the Employability SEN. First set up in the summer of 2016, the Employability SEN now boasts around 230 members. Like all SENs, its purpose is to facilitate peer support, networking and learning & development opportunities for organisations and, in this case, delivering a wide variety of flexible, person-centred employability services. Many take the form of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISE) – a type of social enterprise that has a specific focus on helping people with a disability or disadvantage into employment. This would also include social firms or supported businesses. In light of Scottish Govt’s response to recommendations made by the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, the Employability SEN is seeking feedback from members and other social enterprises on their thoughts on the above-mentioned initiatives; how they will support and/or impact on what you deliver; and what you consider is needed for employability/employment support and your own work going forward. To share your thoughts and ideas etc, please email Jayne Chappell at jayne@senscot.net
Within our social enterprise community in Scotland, ‘growth’ has always been a matter of some debate. The sector has regularly been encouraged to grow – create more jobs; become more sustainable; demonstrate greater social impact etc. This approach is often at odds with a sector, made up, overwhelmingly, of small, locally-based organisations, whose view of ‘growth’ is often more to do with being able to provide better and more effective services within their own local community – either of place or of interest. Over the years, the language around ‘growth’ has also begun to be modified – couched in softer terms. First, ‘sustainable growth’; then ‘inclusive growth’; and now, most recently, ‘green growth’ and/or ‘growth for wellbeing’. The ‘wellbeing’ of society has rightly moved up the political agenda but, in truth, it has been at the heart of social enterprise and wider third sector activity for decades. However, people’s understanding of what ‘wellbeing’ means and how it can be achieved – clearly differ. This article by Rabia Abrar of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance – The Myth of Green Growth – addresses claims of the Scottish Govt’s Advisory Board for Economic Recovery that ‘growth is the best way to build a fairer, greener and more equal Scotland’. The article is not against growth per se – but argues that it should only be pursued in those areas of the economy that genuinely contribute to collective wellbeing and that, conversely, we should be shrinking those areas that damage it – an approach in keeping with the core ethos of social enterprise in Scotland.
Last Friday, at a general meeting of Social Enterprise Network Scotland, members formally approved the change of name. More information to follow in coming weeks. For now, see overview and organogram.
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In early June, OSCR published the results of their survey of almost 5,000 charities across Scotland – to try and assess the actual impact of Covid 19 on our sector. Whilst the true extent of the impact may not be seen for a few months yet, the stark picture painted surprised few people. This week, OSCR has provided further reflections – having studied their data in further detail. Whilst acknowledging there are many observations that can be made, they have highlighted the importance of not overlooking smaller organisations – who have played ‘a key role in leading community resilience which will be of even greater importance in the months ahead’. They have also picked out the cultural and sport/recreation sectors as in need of particular support in light of their contribution to our overall wellbeing. This chimes with this recent letter sent to Ministers on behalf of Sport SEN members – and, this week, a story in TFN on the bleak future of Scotland’s ALEOs.
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Last week’s publication of Scottish Govt’s Economic Recovery Implementation Plan – with its focus on supporting jobs, training and skills – was accompanied by another response from Govt – this time, to recommendations made by the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board. It listed a range of initiatives including £50m to support youth employment; embedding Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships as part of wider education provision; a Transition Training Fund to provide opportunities for people facing redundancy and unemployment, with a view to upskilling and transitioning into employment. We are inviting feedback from SEN members and other social enterprises on their thoughts on these initiatives; how they will support and/or impact on what you deliver; and what you consider is needed for employability/employment support and your own work going forward. No survey this time – please, just email Jayne with your thoughts/ideas.
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With social and community enterprises very much to the fore in leading local communities’ response to the Covid 19 crisis, Dundee SEN, this week, produced its own report on some of the work being carried out by members. Coming Together In A Crisis showcases some examples of the collaborative working approach being taken. Dundee has also seen the publication of its new Social Enterprise Strategy (2019-24) for the city – again a collaboration between Dundee SEN (see SEN Spotlight below) and the Dundee Partnership – which includes Dundee City Council and others.
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SEN News and Diary Dates:
Rural SEN: Tuesday 18th August (2pm). Following on from their last meeting on 30th June 2020. You can see notes from June meeting here. For info, contact ahiggins@inspiralba.org.uk – or sign up here:
All SEN Session: Monday 24th August (3-4pm) – Flexible Working & Mental Wellbeing. This session will include contributions from Geoff Leask (Young Enterprise Scotland); Lisa Gallagher (Flexibility Works) and Claire Carpenter (The Melting Pot). To sign up, email mary@senscot.net :
Angus SEN: 9th September – in partnership with Evaluation Support Scotland – will be hosting Learning to Tell Your Story – an introductory session on the basics of evaluation:
Employability SEN: Wednesday, September 23rd (2-3pm) – Drew Reid from Skills Development Scotland will be talking about how their Skills for Growth programme could benefit members. To book, email Jayne:
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SE around the globe: This week’s global focus comes courtesy of Pioneers’ Post – and looks at an all-female social enterprise in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) that has been re-inventing its work to support the community and strengthen women-led businesses. The work of Josefinas Colab , set up 12 months ago, was initially to create a safe space that would highlight women’s power, black people’s ancestral heritage and diversity. More recently, it has adapted its work to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19 in low-income communities and to support female entrepreneurs who have lost their source of income. See full article.
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Frontline News: CEIS’ annual SE Policy and Practice Conference is on 2nd Sept. This year’s event is virtual and will focus on recovery and rebuilding a better future. To book your place, see Registration Form:
SURF’s 2020 Annual Conferencewill take place via a series of three weekly sessions (90 mins each) – Thurs, Aug 27th; Thurs, Sept 3rd; and Thurs, Sept 10th. See booking form for all three virtual sessions:
CRNS’ August Newsletter is now available – including this article on the importance of supporting the sector at this time. Also worth a look is this helpful map to you locate CRNS members in your area:
P4P, with Angus SEN, will be running a series of interactive and informative sessions for Angus SEN members as an introduction to public sector procurement. The Procurement Skills Accelerator is a focused programme of 3 separate training sessions delivered over a 3-week period. First session on Tues 18th Aug:
Community Shares Scotland has launched its new website – with the aim of making it more accessible and user friendly. The interactive ‘community shares journey’ (on homepage) offers a helpful step-by-step guide:
New Research from Scottish Rural College suggests successful international models for re-populating islands and other remote communities could be replicated in Scotland – with adequate financial backing:
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SEN Spotlight: This week’s spotlight falls on Dundee SEN (DSEN) – first established in2007 – to help support and develop the social enterprise community in the city. DSEN offers direct, practical support and advice to existing and aspiring social enterprises in the city – including help to access funding and loans, procurement and tendering opportunities, business support, information and training. Currently, DSEN has over 50 members, employing over 730 people and a joint turnover in excess of £24m. They have been a partner in the local Third Sector Interface (TSI) for a number of years and have been active in working with the local authority on a number of initiatives such as the Tay City Deal; Tay City SE Awards; and , most recently and importantly, the Dundee Social Enterprise Strategy (2019-24). Always keen to encourage joint-working between members, DSEN, this week, published this report on some of the excellent work being carried out by members locally in response to the Covid 19 crisis in Dundee.
Community Learning Exchange and Thematic Network Meetings
Virtual Community Learning Exchange to Prep Table Scotland – September 17th (10-12, 1-3pm)
Prep Table (who recently announced their merger with Scran Academy) is a social enterprise aiming to make the food industry more open, fair and ethical for producers, suppliers, employees and customers. Join their founder Fiona Donaldson, as she takes you through her social enterprise journey, from being completely new to the sector in 2017 to running a successful business delivering social impact. Fiona will share her experiences – to help others be better placed to develop and strengthen their social enterprise sustainably, to navigate the challenges involved and to understand the importance of self-care to their social enterprise. More information attached – email Jayne to book your place (places limited to one per organisation).
Employability SEN Network Meeting: Wednesday, Sept 23rd (2-3pm) – Drew Reid from Skills Development Scotland will be talking about how their Skills for Growth programme could benefit members. To book, email Jayne
Sport and Health SEN Meeting: Using Sport and Physical Activity to Promote Positive Mental Health – Wednesday 9 Sept (10-11.3am) – This session will focus on how to use sport and physical activity to address mental health within communities. We will hear from various speakers about their approach and the support which exists to help organisations develop programmes and initiatives on this topic. Contact Jude to book
Aberdeen Social Enterprise Network: Friday 11th Sept (11-12.30pm) – For an informal chat and discussion around the subject of recovering from COVID19. Friday 11th September at 11am -12.30pm. to sign up, email Janice
Health SEN Meeting – Wed 16th Sept (10.30-12) – Anne Connor from Outside the Box will be talking about a series of local sessions coming up to explore how smaller and community based providers can play more of a part in the world of health & social care. Contact Mary to find out more.
Community Food SEN Meeting – Fri 18th Sept (10.30-12) – An opportunity for Community Food SEN members to come together and discuss the challenges faced as we move from Phase 3 towards Phase 4 of Scotland’s Route Map, what support is required and what they need from the SEN. Contact Mary for more info.
P4P event: Building an Inclusive Supply Chain (10th Sept 1.30-3.15pm) – hear from senior buyers in Morrison Construction on how Scotland’s social enterprise can contribute to building an inclusive supply chain as well as hear from Community Focus Scotland’s on their recent success; qualifying to become part of Morrison Construction’s trusted supply chain. More info and book here
We were involved in the Low Moss Public Social Partnership (PSP) as the Ready for Business lead for Strategic Public Social Partnership development in Scotland. The PSP was a collaboration between the Scottish Prison Service, community justice partnerships and third sector partners and piloted a new approach to throughcare support to those not eligible for statutory throughcare. An overview has been published recently to draw out some of the unique learning from the Low Moss PSP, considering the factors that made this model effective.
Community Learning Exchange
If you have experience, expertise or knowledge that you would like to share then you can apply to the re-configured CLE programme which is now allowing social enterprises to deliver their knowledge and expertise remotely. If you are interested in hosting a CLE, contact Jayne
Furniture Plus has updated its website with a ‘Get Help’ section and a referral form which can be completed to request help with sourcing furniture for individuals or families in need.
Ceangail, a social enterprise in Stirling which has delivered Stirling Highland Games since 2014, successfully delivered its virtual programme on Saturday called
The Best of Stirling with Stirling Highland Games.
Here’s the news and highlights from Scarf’s latest newsletter including information about their Heat fund and their partnership with another SEN member, CFINE.
Impact Arts are currently offering virtual programmes for young people across Scotland’s Central Belt – check our their autumn programme here
Listen to Jonny Kinross, CEO of Grassmarket Community Project chat with Rowan Morrison on The Lift podcast about running social enterprises, delivering social impact, valuing and empowering staff and the importance of showing vulnerability as a leader.
Check out this interview with MH Scot Workplace Wellbeing by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland about how to support mental health at work after lockdown.
Glasgow Wood Recycling is recruiting a Marketing Assistant through Adopt and Intern. More here
Disabled People’s Organisations Covid-19 Emergency Fund:aims to support DPOs to meet the needs of local Disabled people in 3 board areas: Independent Living, Isolation and Income
Fore RAFT Transition Fund 2 opens on 21st September, offering unrestricted grants of up to £15K to any registered charity, CIC, CIO or Community Benefit Society with turnover of under £500K in the last financial year. It is particularly looking to fund small organisations working with marginalised groups and led by people in the community that may have found it hard to access trust and foundation funding in the past.
To apply, organisations must first register some basic contact details at the start of each funding round (done via the link below when the funding round opens). The number of registrations accepted for each round is capped and registration is run on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the cap is reached, the round is closed, so please register early.
Volant Trust’s Covid-19 Response Fund. Registered charities, CICs and community organisations that ‘demonstrate a strong focus on alleviating social deprivation and helping vulnerable groups who have been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic’ can apply
Connecting Scotland: the second phase is now open, prioritising disadvantaged families with children and young people leaving care. These families will get a device, twelve months unlimited data as well as technical support to get online safely and securely.
Access to Work – People with a disability working from home or a workplace can now benefit from financial support due to an extension of the Access to Work scheme including support for special equipment, travel costs and mental health. (People who are clinically extremely vulnerable can get new applications for grant funding fast-tracked.
Comic Relief Change Makers -Themes are :- Children Survive & Thrive; Gender Justice; Safe Place to Be – Homelessness; Safe Place to Be – Migration; and Global Mental Health. Funding of £150K – £600K available for 3-5 years. Deadline extended to noon, 25th September
Events Industry Support Fund – a £6 million fund to help the events sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund will support businesses which have not received Scottish Government sponsored COVID-related funding from other schemes and which meet the eligibility criteria. Opens from noon on Monday 31 August until noon on Monday 14 September.
The Foyle Foundation – Small grants of between £1-10K for charities with a turnover of < £150K or main grants of between £10-50K available for charities that can demonstrate ongoing financial viability over the next 12 months. Ongoing programme
Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) – Loans between £100K – £1.5mn for social enterprises and charities that are improving people’s lives across the UK who are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of COVID-19. Deadline for applications has now been extended to Wednesday 30 September.
Independent Age Grants Fund – Reaching older people most likely to be missing out – now and beyond the coronavirus pandemic. Deadline 9am, September 11th
Job Start Payment (previously Job Grant) is a new payment to help young people (16-24 or 25 if they are a care worker) with the costs associated with the transition into employment, after a period of time out of paid work. It is a one-off payment of £250, or £400 if the young person has responsibility for any children.
The University of Aberdeen is offering hundreds of free places on online short courses in 2020 and 2021 to help Scotland’s workforce upskill and reskill. Free places are available on courses in a wide range of disciplines, including leadership, digital/data, energy, life sciences and health. You need to apply by 5pm on 4 September.
GCVS is holding an Employability COVID Catch Up on Friday 28th August at 10am. Whilst looking at the effect of COVID on the jobs market, people’s employability needs and how the sector can best respond, it will also take a wider view of the city’s significant unemployment and underemployment.
Everyday Computer Skills is a free, new course with the Open University – a beginner’s guide to computers, tablets, mobile phones and accessibility, a course designed with and for disabled learners, through Lead Scotland in partnership with The Open University in Scotland (OUiS)
Provisions contained in Part 2 of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 come into force on 30 November 2020 and will:
Check out Just Enterprise’s autumn learning programme here
What is social investment? How do loans work? These are just some of the most common questions that SIS’s Head of Credit & Compliance, Alistair Johnstone, answers in a video blog A Guide to Social Investment Loans.
2 events from Community Shares Scotland. Community Owned Businesses – Making it Easy (Sept 2nd) and Introduction to Crowdfunding and Community Shares (Sept 9th)
Applications are now open for innovative social entrepreneurship training programme, The Circle Academy – providing the tools and building blocks to launch and grow a More Than Profit organisation, alongside one-to-one support and guidance with industry experts. Apply by Friday 28th August
Public Health Scotland has developed a learning hub to raise awareness and understanding of how to make services more accessible for people with communication support needs
Public Health Scotland’s ‘Challenging Poverty Stigma’ learning hub provides an opportunity for those who work in frontline public services or management roles to develop their understanding of poverty, stigma and discrimination;
The Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution is running a series of free online training sessions focusing on conflict resolution as a means of early intervention;
The Scottish Government has updated its guidance on individual workplace risk assessment.
Scottish Enterprise has useful information pages on The Right Time to think about Ecommerceand Selling
This New World, Same Rules blog post explains how to simplify your thinking and nail what is important.
This DigiListen podcast, with the creators of DigiSafe, will explain how to get the best out of their step-by-step digital safeguarding guide.
Volunteer Scotland are offering FREE training on restarting your volunteer programme post lockdown, and keeping volunteers safe
The Curve is a series of free, 90-minute online workshops for third sector organisations, to build knowledge around best digital practices, raise awareness of digital tools and ultimately help increase impact with digital. View recordings of previous workshops here.
Deaf Scotland has produced some useful factsheets and toolkits here
Law firm Bates Wells have launched a new Crisis Decision tool to help charities and social enterprises that are currently facing financial difficulties, covering guidance around collaboration, merger, cost-saving measures, income generation and more
The Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory has published some stark research findings on the health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities
A new report from Glasgow Disability Alliance states that Covid-19 has supercharged inequalities for disabled people and has has called for disabled people’s involvement, rights and support to be supercharged in response.
NESTA’s Better Together report outlines the key benefits of collaboration between the third sector and start-ups such as co-working spaces, accelerator programmes and investment funds. The report also highlights key barriers of collaboration and provides recommendations to address the funding gap.. Find out more.
Scottish Community Development Centre has been commissioned by Sustrans to research how and why communities engage (or don’t engage) with active travel projects. Complete the short (ten-minute maximum) survey here.
Welcome to August’s Sport Social Enterprise Newsletter
July was a busy month for many social enterprises who were able to restart some delivery of sport and physical activity in line with Phase 3 of Scotland’s Route Map. However, not all sports and venues have been given the go ahead, and many, including sports centres, swimming pools and gyms are still waiting for timescales outlining when they might be able to re-open. These are expensive facilities to sit empty and many of the Sport SEN members are understandably anxious and concerned about the future of their organisations.
Social enterprises by their very nature are delivering programmes to address local community need and create positive social impact. Sport social enterprises are working with some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, tackling a variety of social issues, including community safety, mental and physical health and wellbeing, loneliness and isolation – issues repeatedly highlighted as significant concerns throughout this pandemic. Without satisfactory support during this prolonged period of closure, these organisations may fail, leaving a significant gap in existing service provision which would have helped to tackle the social issues facing the country as we recover.
Last week we submitted this letter to Joe FitzPatrick (Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing) and Aileen Campbell (Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Govt) highlighting some of the concerns voiced by members of the Sport SEN. We have also shared this with sportscotland to include within a collective response on behalf of the sport sector, and we are hopeful that the sector will receive the financial support it requires to ensure that vital community services, and organisations, are not lost.
Please get in touch if there’s anything at all I can help with, otherwise, hopefully August brings with it more opportunities to kickstart sport and physical activity again.
Take care,
Jude
M| 07495 925 388 E| jude@senscot.net
SEN’s and Social Enterprises
Virtual SEN Sessions
On Friday 10 July, Sport SEN members who are operating community swimming pools joined a peer support and networking session to talk specifically about issues affecting them and their planning for reopening when restrictions are eased. There was great conversation and information sharing and we intend to bring together this focused group on a more regular basis.
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In light of the Scottish Government announcement on Thursday 9 July and the delay in re-opening much of the sport sector, notably indoor sports centres, community swimming pools and gyms, we organised a Sport SEN session on Wednesday 22 July for members to share their concerns and talk about how this delay will affect them.
Part of the purpose of this meeting was to gather intel to inform the Ministerial submission mentioned above, highlighting the ongoing challenges and impact facing the affected sport social enterprises.
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As part of our focus on mental health, we hosted an All SEN Session: Supporting Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing. The Wee Retreat CIC provided a Mindfulness taster, and there were presentations from Grassmarket Community Project and Bridging A Gap/Rural Mental Health Forum. A recording of the session is now available here.
The mindfulness taster unfortunately isn’t included in the recording, however you can find out more about the services offered from The Wee Retreat here.
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As noted last month, the Sport SEN was joined by P4P and Scotland Excel to talk about support available around collaboration and procurement. The topic of collective purchasing was discussed, and it was highlighted that it may be beneficial to consider opportunities to join with other organisations to procure goods or services.
Since then, Senscot has been exploring piloting a ‘collective purchasing’ initiative in one locality, which would involve Senscot signing up to purchase items which social enterprises commonly require through Scotland Excel’s frameworks. This could include PPE, cleaning products or a range of other items. We would be grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete this survey, which will help us assess demand for the service.
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Upcoming Virtual SEN Sessions
You can find out more about all of the above planned sessions and how to book your space here.
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We are currently organising a joint Sport and Health SEN session around using sport and physical activity to promote positive mental health.
Physical activity has been shown to have a strong and positive impact on mental wellbeing. Many social enterprises are already using sport and physical activity as a tool to promote positive mental health, and many have indicated that this is something they would like to start or do more of in future.
This joint thematic session will focus on how to use sport and physical activity to address mental health within communities. Further details will follow in due course but we will hear from various speakers about their approach and the support which exists to help organisations develop programmes and initiatives on this topic.
There will also be an interactive Q&A, the opportunity for general discussion and to share experiences.
We would like to invite you to provisionally save the date of Wednesday 9 September at 10am for this session and for more information please email Jude@senscot.net
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Rural SEN
Hosted by InspirAlba the Rural SEN was recently formed and has a steadily increasing membership. They meet monthly to connect, collaborate and share learning. You can find a note of the previous Rural SEN meeting on the Rural Social Enterprise Digital Hub.
The Hub includes tools, resources and guidance to support rural social enterprise and has a focus on recognising and learning from the unique characteristics of social enterprise in a rural context. Contact Ailsa to find out more about the Hub or joining the Rural SEN – many Sport SEN members are located rurally so may find this additional network of support valuable.
The most recent meeting of the Rural SEN highlighted the importance of social enterprises in providing access and progression routes for young people, especially in light of unemployment challenges anticipated as a result of Covid-19. It is vital to provide young people with opportunities to remain in their rural communities, rather than migrate to urban centres. To better understand what social enterprises could offer, it would be appreciated if you could complete this survey.
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What the Social Enterprises are up to!
Animalia CIC are busy training for their Ben Nevis 24 Hour Challenge on 29-30 August this year. The event brings people together to raise awareness of mental health and this year they also want to raise awareness of two charities: Loveleigh Community who aim to help fight the stigma of mental health by encouraging openness, sharing and acts of kindness; and Go Gold Live to raise awareness for childhood cancer.
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Eat Sleep Ride CIC were able to re-open in July and start delivering some of their services whilst adhering to Scottish Government guidelines. They have continued with their online programmes, various accreditations and launched the Youth Borders Hi5 Awards. So far 11 young people have completed their Hi5 Challenge and feedback has been extremely positive. They have also remained focused on plans for their move to a new home which will be a purpose built, eco-friendly community hub.
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Get Active Coaching CIC are a new social enterprise promoting health and wellbeing through sport and exercise. Find out more about their latest programmes, including a new online exercise programme and family physical activity packs here.
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Mid Argyll Community Pool have had a huge boost to their plans to transform MAC Pool into a Health and Wellbeing Community Hub. They received the fantastic news that they have been awarded £700k from The National Lottery Community Fund towards their project. This takes them to 90% of the capital build cost! Read more here and find out more about TNL Community Fund here.
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Partick Thistle Charitable Trust in partnership with Progrez 1, NG Homes and Partick Thistle, has reached the incredible landmark of delivering 25,000 free meals to vulnerable people in the North of Glasgow. Throughout lockdown their programme has evolved and now offers packages of fresh food with simple recipe cards, hand sanitiser, weekend breakfast packs and self-help books. Find out more and watch their video here.
They have also launched a new health and wellbeing programme called Fit for Good and you can find out more about this here.
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Scottish Sports Futures has recently published their Annual Impact Report for 2019/20 which sets out their outcomes and fantastic achievements over the past year. They have also been busy delivering Wellbeing Workshops for young people and are offering their Education Through Cashback programme virtually and online. Find out more here.
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sportscotland
Following a recent series of webinars, the Changemakers consortium in partnership with sportscotland are delivering a further six sessions which focus on themes relating to the Clubs and Communities Framework and the Changing Lives through sport and physical activity approach.
The format is presentation based, with the Changemakers and sportscotland staff providing content and inciting reflection across the clubs, hubs and communities environment. If you wish to attend please complete the following sign-up form.
Audio and slide decks from the previous webinars can be found here.
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You can find updated information on their Covid-19 information and resources webpage, with sport based guidance being updated continually as further announcements are made from Scottish Government. https://sportscotland.org.uk/covid-19/
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Funding and Support
The SCVO website is still the place to go for the Coronavirus Third Sector Information Hub which is the key resource for the whole third sector in responding to Covid 19.
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The Senscot Resources Webpage has key information and signposting for Social Enterprise. We are still updating specific webpages for the thematic areas so you can find a new section called ‘Sport and Recreation Resources – Covid 19’ at the bottom of the Sport SEN Webpage. This includes various guidance, resources and funding opportunities.
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Scottish Community Alliance (SCA) has reconfigured their highly successful Community Learning Exchanges (CLE) programme to allow community groups to deliver their knowledge and expertise virtually to other community organisations. Contact Jude if you are a member of the Sport SEN interested in hosting a CLE.
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Scottish Community Development Centre plan to redevelop Communities Channel Scotland Communities Channel Scotland and refresh the Social Impact Pledge. SCDC wants to hear from you about how to make their content as useful as possible. Please complete this survey to provide your views by Friday 7 August.
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Just Enterprise are offering a packed programme of support including one to one coaching and online learning.
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Firstport have opened their Social Entrepreneurs Fund which supports individuals to test, start and grow social enterprise ideas. There are five different funds, three of which have now re-opened: Pounds for Purpose (PfP); Start It and Build It.
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Social Enterprise Academy continue to roll out their new learning resource, The Spotlight Series. The Learning Spotlight is a short learning experience such as a brief article, video or audio clip and can be used as a ‘talking point’ to keep everyone engaged. They are targeted at all team members, including furloughed staff, directors and volunteers.
The Learning Spotlight will:
For more information please contact Emily (emilyhouston@socialenterprise.academy)
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GSK and The King’s Fund have announced that the GSK Impact Awards are now open for applications. They recognise and reward charities that are doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Winners receive benefits including funding, training and development, publicity and national recognition. Closing date: Monday 14 September 2020.
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Zero Waste Scotland has a Covid-19 Adaptation Fund which is open for applications until 28 August 2020. Grant funding of up to £500 per site is available to support eligible organisations to implement control measures that will allow operational capacity to recover in line with recommended practices.
They have also launched a food redistribution matchmaking service aimed at rescuing food that would otherwise be wasted during this period of uncertainty. They connect suppliers with surplus produce to organisations who will benefit from it. With many sport social enterprises currently offering food provisions to those most in need, this might be of interest and you can find out more about reducing food waste here.
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Corra Foundation have opened the #ShiftThePower Coronavirus Response Fund. Grants of up to £10k are available to grassroots organisations in Scotland (with turnover under £250k) to support individuals, families and communities, including coping with the impacts of Coronavirus.
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People’s Postcode Trust open their People’s Postcode Lottery Fund for applications between 4 – 19 August. This is the last round of funding for 2020. See if you might be eligible and find out more here.
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Greenspace Scotland and The National Lottery Heritage Fund have launched a new guide to help manage parks, gardens and greenspaces during the coronavirus pandemic. Managing Scotland’s Parks and Greenspaces During Covid-19 brings together latest guidance from Scottish Government and advice from Public Health Scotland, sportscotland, Visit Scotland and a range of other organisations.
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Keep Scotland Beautiful manage the Climate Challenge Fund on behalf of Scottish Government. With organisations looking to make cost savings at this time, it might be worth having a look at this fund to see if you could help tackle climate change by reducing emissions through energy efficiency improvements, whilst also making long term savings on operational costs.
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And Finally:
Returning to where we began on the subject of re-opening the sport sector and the future for many organisations in the sport and fitness industry. Community Leisure UK has suggested that up to a third of its members will be unable to re-open. This interesting article in The Conversation online magazine puts forward the case – and the benefits – the community ownership can bring in protecting these important local services.
Welcome to the August newsletter.
I hope you’ve all managed to find some time to relax and be with the people you like best this summer.
Keep staying safe.
Please remember to send me updates for the next Newsletter and Senscot bulletins and remember you can post events and jobs on the Senscot website.
Senscot is currently exploring piloting a ‘collective purchasing’ initiative in one locality, which would involve Senscot signing up to purchase items which social enterprises commonly require through Scotland Excel’s frameworks. This could include PPE, cleaning products or a range of other items. We would be grateful if you could take 5 minutes to complete this survey, which will help us assess demand for the service.
Great news- Community Learning Exchanges have been re-funded by the Scottish Government. If you are interested in applying get in touch with me.
Check out Scottish Enterprise’s information pages on Getting started in ecommerce and How to sell effectively online.
NPC are collating publicly available information about redundancies in the charity sector, both those that have occurred and those under consultation. Arts and Culture is included as an individual heading. See here.
Scottish Community Development Centre has been commissioned by Sustrans to research how and why communities engage (or don’t engage) with active travel projects. Complete the short (ten-minute maximum) survey here.
Based on guidance being published by Scottish Government on re-opening indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and the imminent publication of updated guidance from sportscotland, Jude has organised a Sport SEN meeting. Wednesday 26 August, 10-11.30am. There will be representatives’ from sportscotland’s Facilities team there to discuss the guidance in more detail and answer any questions. If you are interested in joining contact jude@senscot.net
All SEN Session: Monday 24th August (3-4pm) – Flexible Working & Mental Wellbeing. This session will include contributions from Geoff Leask (Young Enterprise Scotland); Lisa Gallagher (Flexibility Works) and Claire Carpenter (The Melting Pot). To sign up, email mary@senscot.net
Employability SEN: Wednesday, September 23rd (2-3pm) – Drew Reid from Skills Development Scotland will be talking about how their Skills for Growth programme could benefit members. To book, email Jayne
Social Enterprises in Aberdeen are coming together for an informal chat and discussion around the subject of recovering from COVID19. Friday 11th September at 11am -12.30pm. to sign up, email janice@senscot.net
Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) are launching their Appetite for Change fundraising challenge. For more information see here
Ceangail, a social enterprise in Stirling which has delivered Stirling Highland Games since 2014, successfully delivered its virtual programme on Saturday called The Best of Stirling with Stirling Highland Games. See more here
Event Scotland has published an information page about planning and managing virtual events including- things to think about when planning a virtual event, case studies, resources and training.
HIE recently ran a series of digital heritage skills workshops which were facilitated by University of St Andrews. For more info and a link to the recordings see here.
The formal launch of the £14m Hotel Recovery Programme is expected at the end of August. Keep an eye on social media for more information.
Event Scotland and the Scottish Government are in the process of finalising the criteria for the £10m Events Sector fund. Keep an eye on social media for more information.
Read Malcolm Roughead OBE, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, blog Finding the right balance– looking at the increase in Scots taking staycations.
Traveltech– A University-led initiative is to help Scotland’s beleaguered tourism sector make a sustained recovery driven by technological innovation. t will build a support network for travel technology pioneers whose ingenuity could help turn the sector around. See more here.
Whale Arts have been reflecting on the work they’ve been involved in over the past months and have shared their Covid reflection report for you to see.
Check out this blog from Articulate Hub member Jade Kilkenny- My creative journey … through a pandemic!
Great news for Montrose Playhouse. After a delayed start due to Covid-19, work has officially started on site and they hope to open around Sep/Oct 2021
The Creative Entrepreneurs’ Club are running a variety of free events- check them out here.
Scottish Government’s Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund.
Volant Trust: COVID-19 Response Fund
Flying Your Zetland Flag, Falkirk Council
Hospitalfield Design Brief Aug 2020, Hospitalfield House
The MyMuseum Project – Digital Engagement, Culture Perth and Kinross
Don’t forget that you can view current and future tender opportunities on the P4P website and contact the P4P team for advice and support.
For events run by and for social enterprises See here
You can submit events to our website- links will be included in all the thematic newsletters and the weekly bulletin.If you have anything for next months newsletter email me at sarah@senscot.net
There are lots of opportunities to engage with other social enterprise via the wide range of virtual SEN sessions in the coming month listed below.
Up until earlier this week, the numerous SEN sessions we’ve held since lockdown have all taken place without incident. However, the worldwide Zoom down time experienced on Monday provided a powerful reminder of how quickly we can become dependent on the one system. Whilst we were unsuccessful in our frantic efforts to find an immediate alternative to bring 40+ people from across Scotland and beyond together the same afternoon, we were fortunate in having the goodwill of our participants and speakers in agreeing to schedule an alternative date.
The SEN Session on Flexible Working & Mental Wellbeing will now take place on Monday 14th September at 3pm. Some places are still available.
All the best,
Mary Sinclair
Social Enterprise Network Scotland
Sport & Health SEN Meeting: Using Sport & Physical Activity to Promote Positive Mental Health – Wed 9th Sept (10- 11.30am)
This session will focus on how to use sport and physical activity to address mental health within communities. We will hear from various speakers about their approach and the support which exists to help organisations develop programmes and initiatives on this topic. To book email Jude.
Angus SEN: Learning to Tell Your Story – Wed 9th Sept (9.30am-12.30pm)
In partnership with Evaluation Support Scotland, Angus SEN will be hosting ‘Learning to Tell Your Story’ – an introductory session on the basics of evaluation. Register here.
Aberdeen SEN Meeting – Fri 11th Sept (11am)
An opportunity to look at the 3 biggest challenges members face coming out of lockdown, the support that is needed and how the SEN can help. To book email Janice.
Health SEN Meeting – Wed 16th Sept (10.30am-12pm)
An opportunity to hear from Anne Connor (Outside the Box) and to explore how smaller and community-based providers can play more of a part in the world of health & social care. This will inform a series of sessions Outside the Box are facilitating in coming months. Email Mary.
Virtual Community Learning Exchange with Prep Table Scotland – Thu 17th Sept (10am)
Prep Table (recent merger with Scran Academy) is a social enterprise aiming to make the food industry more open, fair and ethical for producers, suppliers, employees and customers. Join founder Fiona Donaldson to hear about her social enterprise journey, from being completely new to the sector in 2017 to running a successful business delivering social impact. More info.
Community Food SEN Meeting – Fri 18th Sept (10.30am-12pm)
An opportunity for Community Food SEN members to come together and discuss the challenges faced as we move from Phase 3 towards Phase 4 of Scotland’s Route Map, what support is required and what they need from the SEN. Contact Mary.
Employability SEN: Wednesday, September 23rd (2-3pm) – Drew Reid from Skills Development Scotland will be talking about how their Skills for Growth programme could benefit members. To book email Jayne.
All SEN Session: Mental Health & Wellbeing Needs in Communities – Fri 25th Sept (TBC)
An opportunity for SEN members to come together and discuss the mental health & wellbeing needs identified within their communities and to explore social enterprise response to this need, alongside the challenges and accompanying social enterprise support needs. Contact Mary.
Community Learning Exchange Programme 20/21
If you have experience, expertise or knowledgethat you are able and willing to share with other groups in any health & wellbeing related area please get in touch to discuss a potential Community Learning Exchange. Contact Mary.
Impact Arts new well-being programme ‘Make Space’ gets the best feedback from one of the young people participating “Thank yous very much! This project came along at a really scary part in my life and the support, projects, delivery and genuine self-care from guys helps 10000%” More info.
Respite Now have been hard at work developing their product base to help you prepare for re-opening your business. More info on their shop and Crowd Funding activity to support the Peace of Mind programme here.
Scottish Communities for Health & Wellbeing (SCHW) has produced “A Blueprint for a Healthier Scotland” which will be presented to the Scottish Government in the near future. One of the directors, Peter Taylor, has produced a document “Communities in Lockdown” to support this and is a report on the inspiring responses of 8 SCHW organisations to tackling the impact of the pandemic on their communities.
Thriving Survivors core service, the ‘discovering me programme’, is now being delivered online and taking referrals for the next round of programmes. They also have digital survival packs (part of Connecting Scotland initiative) available for people struggling to access services including an electronic device and internet connection. Get in touch.
Saje Scotland have their Freedom Programme starting up again. This 10-week programme is for women interested in learning more about the effects of domestic abuse and, in particular for women who experience or have experienced domestic abuse. More info.
Talking Mats – details on their latest training opportunities to support you to have better conversations.More info.
Movement Evolution Scotland CIC are looking for a new home in the Grampian region to further develop competence and confidence through movement. Find out if you can help and learn more about them here.
Street Soccer Scotland are a clear winner in the Barclays Entrepreneur Awards – huge congratulations from all of us at Social Enterprise Network Scotland! Read more.
BikeTown’s Bike Around Town campaign has encouraged communities to enjoy all of the benefits of cycling and has been a huge success locally. More info on the benefits of this and the ‘Bike Tag’ game here.
Projekt42’s latest service developments include affordable counselling for all and a whole variety of online community classes including yoga and kung fu – there’s something for everyone! More info.
Roar’s Nicola Hanssen (Chief Executive) shares powerful insight into the practicalities of a key barrier to many older people regaining their confidence and getting mobile following recent months. Read blog.
Eat Well Age Well’s Raising the Issue of Malnutrition training is now virtual, plus they have a series of interactive Twitter chats coming up. Read more and view dates.
Edinburgh Community Food have been running a series of REHIS Eating Well for Older People courses and details of all the latest dates are available here.
CFINE’s most recent challenge to tackle food poverty in Aberdeen – try living on £2 a day! Read more
The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee is calling for views on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on social care services at home. Read more.
Vision: Reimagining the future of health and care (7th-11th September)
Annual conference from The ALLIANCE. More Info.
First SFC Food Stories workshops tomorrow night, 5.30pm! see email.
10 Year Anniversary of the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health at GCU
A note of the celebrations and their 10 year review document and plans for the future, as they look forward to continuing to contribute to research that focuses on the Social Economy; Economics of Health and Wellbeing and Community, Citizenship and Participation.
Historic Environment Scotland have published their COVID-19 Policy and Minimum Operating Standards.
These outline the requirements that must be met before HES sites will be able to reopen in line with official government guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed from a range of sector and industry advice, guidance and best practice, they set the benchmark for the safe reopening of sites and resumption of operational activities. More info.
Go to Partnership for Procurement (P4P) and Public Contract Scotland to check current and forthcoming tender opportunities. In the meantime, here are a couple that may be of interest:
· Wellbeing Training by Scottish Police Authority.
Some current relevant funding opportunities highlighted below, but for fuller listings go to SCVO-funding.
GSK IMPACT Awards: Winners receive core funding of up to £40K and access to training and development, your organisation must be at least 3 years old and working in a health-related field. Deadline – 14 September
In June 2020, Scottish Govt published the Report of the Advisory Board on Economic Recovery – ‘Towards a Robust, Resilient Wellbeing Economy for Scotland’. The Report, written in response to the Covid crisis, included specific reference to the central role our sector plays – citing its importance in contributing to Scotland’s social capital and its critical importance in maintaining a level of community resilience, particularly during these times of crisis. This week has seen publication of the Govt’s response – its Economic Recovery Implementation Plan – with a primary focus on supporting jobs, skills and training. Folk will have differing opinions, in view of the current circumstances, as to whether the measures go far enough. Many initiatives mentioned are already underway – initiated before, or in response to, Covid. Here’s the BBC’s take. The ‘response’ cites a raft of initiatives that will include or require significant third sector engagement. Some worth noting include: a new Third Sector Recovery Fund – to be announced later this month; a longer-term commitment to addressing the barriers facing the sector via a new Partnership Agreement between the Scottish Govt, Local Govt and the Third Sector; re-stating its commitment to longer term funding; an ambition to see a new partnership address challenges of the Third Sector; and confirmation of its intention to roll out the Community Wealth Building model across the country.
Our new name, Social Enterprise Network Scotland, has now received formal consent from OSCR. One final hurdle remains – via a special resolution – which is to seek formal approval at a general meeting of members. This will be held virtually (by Zoom) tomorrow, Friday 7th August 2020 at 9.30am.
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Not sure how many people are familiar with the People’s Energy Company – based in Dalkeith. Set up in 2017, on the back of a crowd-funding campaign that attracted over 2,000 ‘investors’, the People’s Energy Company operates as a social enterprise – that re-directs any profits back to members, customers, or to charities of their choosing. This week, the People’s Energy Company announced that it is to create 100 new jobs as it expands into the Scottish Borders.
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Over the years, we have regularly featured the work of What Works Scotland whose funding has now, sadly, come to an end. Some of the key contributors have now produced a final discussion paper – to support development of the ‘community economy’. Their report – Building the Community Economy in Scotland – identifies emerging opportunities for the community sector to engage with, and challenge, the state, including community empowerment, community ownership and land reform, social enterprise, public service reform and sustainable development and climate change This blog accompanies the report – and highlights not only the complexity of the sector – but also its potential and critical role in bringing about change.
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In June 2018, a deal was reached to conclude the buy-out of the Ulva Estate on behalf of the island’s community and the neighbouring Isle of Mull. Around £4m was contributed by the Scottish Land Fund towards the buyout – and, last year, Wendy Reid (formerly of DTA Scotland) took up post as Development Manager. This week, we hear of further progress from the Mull and Ulva communities with the announcement of further grant funding to build four affordable homes at Ulva Ferry on the Isle of Mull.
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SEN News and Diary Dates:
Rural SEN: Tuesday 18th August (2pm). Following on from their last meeting on 30th June 2020. You can see notes from June meeting here. For info, contact ahiggins@inspiralba.org.uk – or sign up here:
All SEN Session: Monday 24th August (3-4pm) – Flexible Working & Mental Wellbeing. This session will include contributions from Geoff Leask (Young Enterprise Scotland); Lisa Gallagher (Flexibility Works) and Claire Carpenter (The Melting Pot). To sign up, email mary@senscot.net :
Employability SEN: Thursday 13th August (10.30-11.30) – Covid-19 Labour Market Insights with Skills Development Scotland. To join in, contact jayne@senscot.net . See further details of all sessions:
Angus SEN: 9th September – in partnership with Evaluation Support Scotland – will be hosting Learning to Tell Your Story – an introductory session on the basics of evaluation:
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Frontline News: We are currently carrying out a Collective Purchasing Questionnaire (5 mins) to gauge interest in purchasing collectively on behalf of groups of social enterprises – both to test how much value for money can be achieved as well as to support organisations to re-open. See link to complete questionnaire:
Holding the Conversation is a new book (free to download) by Jackie Scutt (formerly Chief Exec at Social Enterprise Academy) – an easy-to-follow manual for experienced practitioners – and those new to the role:
Foundation Scotland, this week, launched its new Response, Recovery and Resilience Fund – offering grants of £1k-5k to charities, social enterprises and community organisations working with vulnerable groups:
Angus SEN and P4P are running the Procurement Skills Accelerator (all free) during August. This series of sessions is designed for organisations with little or no experience of procurement or bidding for tenders:
Sport SEN Newsletter is now available – including this letter sent on behalf of Sport SEN members to Joe FitzPatrick (Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing) and Aileen Campbell (Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Govt) – as well as information on SEN members’ activities and other sector news:
Iain Cunningham (Engage Renfrewshire) discusses his work with local authority procurement teams and local contractors to ensure that social enterprises can make the most of any community benefit available:
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SE around the globe: This week we look at a social enterprise in Ghana that is selling bikes made from bamboo. Ghana Bamboo Bikes was set up to as a way to create local jobs and, at the same time, promote low-carbon transport. More than half of its employees are women and, for every bike sold, one is given to a schoolchild to help that child save time getting to school. For every bamboo plant that is cut down to make a bike, Ghana Bamboo Bikes plants 10 more. Bamboo is stronger than steel in terms of tensile strength and is a cheaper, more sustainable material – plus the frame is completely recyclable.
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SEN Spotlight: This week’s spotlight looks at the Tourism SEN. Originally set up in 2016 as a sub-group of the Cultural SEN, it emerged as a discrete SEN in 2017 and now has over 100 locally-based organisations engaged. Its activity has grown in recent years – presenting opportunities in areas such as accessible tourism, activity tourism, marketing, events, ancestral tourism, coupled with an ever-increasing demand from visitors to spend locally. Tourism-focused social enterprises can empower communities to grow their individual tourism markets by putting local people and community assets at the heart of a collaborative approach to growing visitor numbers – and can be used as an important tool for regeneration – connecting local people and local businesses in the development of their area. This importance has been reflected in a series of strategic development – both locally and nationally – including, principally, Scotland Outlook 2030 – a partnership involving Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. If you would like to sign up to the Tourism SEN – or to find out more, email sarah@senscot.net. See link to sign up for SEN newsletters,