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March 2022
SEN News
A wee message from Janice and Jayne
Whilst this won’t be our last employability newsletter, it feels like a watershed moment, and we just wanted to say a few words.
As many of you will know, our bid to Scottish Government was not successful so as of June 2022, SENScot will no longer be funded. See statement from our Board.
Janice and I have worked at SENScot (and previously Social Firms Scotland) for over 36 years between us and we care passionately about the social enterprise sector and in particular our employability members. We’ve been incredibly lucky to share your journeys with you and to be able to provide support, encouragement, information and connections when required – and we’re hugely saddened that this is coming to an end.
We are still open for business until the end of June so please get in touch if we can help at all.
Employability SEN Meeting – Tuesday 5th April (10.30-11.30)
An informal session, connect with other social enterprises who have an employability focus, discuss common issues, and relevant policy areas/developments and share your successes. We are also keen to hear how you are (or are not) engaging with No One Left Behind and your Local Authority. Email Jayne to register
SENScot is hosting a Community-led Tourism week (21st-25th March) – which includes a series of online conversations on community-led tourism and the opportunity to connect with industry, communities and policy makers to talk about the opportunities and barriers facing community-led tourism in Scotland. Here’s the list of sessions
Monday 21st March
- What can urban Scotland learn from rural Scotland? Book here
- Accessible tourism – communities leading the way Book here
Tuesday 22nd March
- Models for community-led tourism Book here
- Democratic finance Book here
- Tourism as a tool for preserving culture and heritage Book here
Wednesday 23rd March
- Community Wealth Building meets community-led tourism Book here
- Community-led tourism showcase Book here
- Outdoor tourism in Scotland (Book here)
Thursday 24th March
- Tourism leadership showcase Book here
- Collaboration for tourism Book here
Friday 25th March
- Outlook 2030- delivering for Scotland’s communities Book here
The Senscot Story - In July 2020, Social Firms Scotland merged with Senscot to form Social Enterprise Network Scotland. Prior to this, Senscot had agreed to donate its ‘records’ to the SE Collection Archive at Glasgow Caley. A document has been developed charting a timeline of the organisation’s activities from its founding in 1999 up to the merger with Social Firms Scotland in July 2020.
Volunteering and Social Enterprise in Glasgow Survey - a short survey designed to assess the role, value, scale and contribution of volunteers to your social enterprise and the wider social enterprise sector in Glasgow, and to provide intelligence to inform and contribute to the development of a new Volunteering Strategy for Glasgow which prioritises services, programmes and activities that best serve the city’s needs.
Members News
Great article on All Cleaned Up Scotland (ACU), part of Apex Scotland, who have been tidying up Alloa town centre, removing weeds and stickers while repainting bollards, lampposts and gates. The initiative has been part of the e Pre-Employability Clackmannanshire Programme (PEC) project, offering training and employability opportunities to people who may otherwise be left behind.
Grassmarket Community Project is currently looking to recruit a Service Manager. Closing date for applications is Monday, 4th April 2022.
Grace Chocolates is also recruiting, they are looking for a Service Delivery & Development Worker. Closing date is 9am, Monday 28th March.
Take a look at Edinburgh Community Food’s latest newsletter, highlighting their latest projects, offers, news and community cooking classes!
Employability & Fair Work
Latest joint communications update from Scottish Government and COSLA on No One Left Behind including next steps from April 2022.
Skills Development Scotland: Flexible Workforce Development Fund - up to £15,000 worth of free training is available to all Scottish employers and up to £5,000 to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access training opportunities with colleges and the Open University in Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government, this opportunity supports businesses in Scotland to up-skill and re-skill their employees to support inclusive economic growth in Scotland.
Funding/Finance
Investing in Communities Fund application questions are now available. The fund is not open until April 2022 but organisations can have a look and start to prepare their proposals and prepare to answer to key questions before it opens. It is a three-year fund, delivered over the period 01.04.23 to 31.03.26. The ICF is a revenue fund, with availability of a small amount of capital funding of up to £20,000 per application for small scale capital costs, where this is directly linked to the revenue project, with activity to start as soon as possible after the 01.04.23, and no later than 30.09.23.
People’s Postcode Trust – is offering unrestricted funding for the first time (either up to £2500 or £25K) under their themes: Improving mental wellbeing; Enabling community participation in the arts; Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty; Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality; Improving biodiversity & green spaces; Enabling participation in physical activity; Responding to the climate emergency & promoting sustainability; and Increasing community access to outdoor space. Competition is expected to be high, so applicants have to be ready to apply when the next round opens on the 1st of April – only a certain number of applications are accepted each round (the last round was closed by noon), so applicants have to act quickly on the day.
SportScotland: Sports Facilities Fund - up to £100,000 are available for sports clubs, community organisations and social enterprises to provide or upgrade community sports facilities. Priority for activities that will encourage people from under-represented groups into sport and physical activity. Apply by 1 April
Firstport’s Build It - social entrepreneurs can apply for up to £25,000 of funding towards living costs, so they can turn their tried and tested idea into a full-time job, with up to £20K available to fund a single salary and up to a further £5,000 for additional essential costs. Typically, successful Build It applicants have been up and running for around one year and can demonstrate a strong track record of both income generation and measurable social impact. Deadline – noon, 7th April
Supporting Rural Communities - grants of up to £25K over two years, for projects that will create a long-term difference in rural communities across the UK. Applicants must be from properly constituted, not for profit organisations with an income of less than £500,000 with applications particularly welcome from groups and organisations with projects in hamlets, villages and small market towns. Deadline – midday, 12th April
Edinburgh Airport Community Fund – Applications considered from groups across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk that are impacted by their operations, up to £7K. Priority will be given to those applications relating most to the pillars of the airport’s Greater Good sustainability strategy - Zero Carbon, Enhancing Scotland, Scotland’s Best Business and Trusted Neighbour. Applications will close two weeks in advance of each Community Fund meeting date (next meeting is 29 April).
Baillie Gifford Multi-Year Awards - Up to £15K, over three years, is available to community groups in Scotland who will deliver projects that support the most vulnerable in our society. The fund's priorities include reducing isolation, supporting people financially through food and work poverty initiatives, and tackling homelessness in communities. Deadline - 28 April.
Thomas Wall Trust - grants up to £5K available to registered charities (turnover below £500K, with a preference for match funding) that empower disadvantaged adults to gain critical life skills necessary for employment. Priority for projects supporting people experiencing multiple deprivation, women, disabled people, refugees and asylum seekers. Deadline for 1st stage applications is 2nd May.
The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund - small grant programme (up to £5K) to UK registered non-profit organisations supporting grassroots projects in diverse and deprived communities. Themes are: education; health & wellbeing; social inclusion; environment; countryside; heritage and conservation. Rolling programme
Support/Resources
Just Enterprise Spring learning programme details here including free business skills and startup workshops
SURF Award Shared Learning Workshops - the 4 workshops from SURF award winners and highly commended projects cover the themes of Housing and Regeneration, Youth Employability, Place-based Regeneration and Creative Regeneration. These workshops are planned as physical events in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Talking Heads – Retail for Change – new series from SIS, looking at how social enterprises and mission-driven businesses continue to make a measurable contribution to the economy and the Covid-19 recovery of the UK.
UK Acumen Fellowship 2022: Applications are now open. Each year, Acumen Academy selects 20 bold and generous leaders from across the sector, place and background, and equips them with the practices and community needed to deepen and sustain their impact. Join a community that can accompany you on the path of moral leadership. Deadline to apply is 6 April.
Scottish SMEs can access eLearning on demand - for free. eLearning modules are shortened versions of SDP's tender training courses, and topics available include Quick Quotes Made Easy, Working with the Public Sector - All You Need to Know, Using Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) - How to Find and Bid for Opportunities, and Getting Your Business Tender Ready – The Checklist.
Plunkett supports all types of community business but have recently received funding from Scottish Government to create a network of community pub groups in Scotland to enable peer to peer learning and provide groups with free bespoke business advice and training. They are running a networking event on 31 March – book your place here
Scottish Enterprise: How to develop a successful innovation strategy and sustainability-driven innovation
The Diana Award celebrates young people who are standing up to change the world around them and are on the search for a new generation of inspiring young people from around the world, going above and beyond to make a difference. From tackling issues around mental health, education and gender equality, through to supporting migrant workers, cancer patients and refugees, the change makers are the young people stepping up today to change the world for tomorrow. Nominate your young hero for the #2022DianaAwards
Information/News
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Social Enterprise published 'Rising to the Challenge', an independent inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the social enterprise sector and HM Government’s response. It's a very interesting read, looking back over the pandemic and making recommendations for the future. One line stood out: 'The nation should be proud of our social enterprises, their commitment to communities, the efforts that their staff have made and the resilience they have shown.' Quite. Read the report here.
