Dear ,

Next Thursday, 30^th June 2022, SENscot ceases its current activities – and this, inevitably, is our last newsletter. For 20 years, the Senscot Bulletin went out each Friday morning and, over the last two years, SE Network News has gone out every Thursday afternoon. Together, around 1250 bulletins or newsletters have been circulated each week to a ‘readership’ of around 3000 subscribers. The purpose has always been to try to highlight and promote the work of frontline social enterprises in Scotland – and recognising the considerable challenges they have been facing in carrying out their work. It also sought to inform readers of new developments or trends here, across the UK or further afield - offering our own views on the benefits or otherwise of such developments or trends. Often, these views were met with approval – sometimes, less so!

The bulletin/newsletter, however, was only a small part of SENscot’s activities over the years. These activities were designed to try to support and develop the social enterprise community in Scotland – with a particular focus on frontline organisations working in local communities across the country. There have been some obvious successes along the way – but, in fairness, also a number of things that did not quite pan out as planned. Nonetheless, this work has contributed, in its own way, to the existing social enterprise landscape in Scotland today – and which is now held in pretty high regard internationally.

Similarly, the work of Social Firms Scotland (SFS) made its mark on the sector over the last two decades. SFS achieved considerable success in growing the social firm community in Scotland – and, in doing so, helping to create more employment opportunities for those people within our communities who experience significant barriers to work. This 15 Year Anniversary Report captures this contribution.

The last couple of years – following the merger of Social Firms Scotland and Senscot - have not been the easiest. The challenges presented by any merger were exacerbated by the pandemic and the continued uncertainty  that arose from Scottish Govt’s decision to only fund a single intermediary for the social enterprise community.  However, that uncertainty is now removed and, whilst SENscot itself will not fulfil that role, we are heartened that a number of SENscot staff will be transferring over to the new Enhanced Intermediary where, we are sure, they will continue to try and provide frontline organisations across the country with the kind of support they deserve.

We also would like to take this opportunity to wish Social Enterprise Scotland the very best of luck in its role as the new Enhanced Intermediary for the social enterprise community in Scotland. Obviously, things will take time – but with the work of the Transition Group helping to shape an organisation that truly reflects and speaks for the sector in Scotland – we are sure that the sector will be well served.

We’ll see what the future brings but, for now, we have to offer our thanks and appreciation to all our staff and trustees over the years – as well as to our members and countless other friends and supporters. These were the people who shaped not just the work of the organisation – but also, as importantly, the values and behaviours that underpinned this work. A few words here doesn’t really do justice to everyone.

So as we wind down our current activities, it’s only right to finish with the usual parting shot to all those who have followed Senscot’s fortunes over the years, from an old guy many folk will be familiar with. Adios, Amigos - and Good Luck with your Adventures!!

Tomorrow (Friday, 24^th June) sees our final Thematic SEN meeting taking place with a Sport SEN Session starting at 10am. This final meeting will focus on opportunities and support for members post June 2022. We will be joined by speakers from Sported, sportscotland and Social Enterprise Scotland. See link to register:

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Although SENscot ceases its current activities on 30^th June, our website will remain ‘live’ for the foreseeable future. The SENscot website has always intended to be resource not just for members but for anyone involved in the sector, and includes information and updates on place-based SENs; Thematic SENs; the various SENscot Newsletters; Projects in which SENscot is or has been involved; as well as numerous resources such as jobs, funding, events and core documents. Also, for information, SENscot will be transferring all its current online resources and documents over the new single intermediary.

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One of the particular projects that SENscot has been engaged with over the last 18 months has been Community-led Tourism. The Project, co-ordinated by Creetown Initiative, has been about providing direct support to the communities of Brechin (Angus) and Girvan (South Ayrshire) to develop their tourism offer and put community at the heart of the decision making process.  Here are two videos – one on Brechin, the other on Girvan – that highlight the lessons learned, as well as the challenges and the successes of the project from the perspective of both communities.

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SENscot, historically, has never been big on the ‘awards’ circuit - mainly because, in our view, how and who decides which organisations deserve greater recognition than others is a pretty subjective exercise. However, over the years, our view has mellowed – so, in this last newsletter, congratulations are in order to the dozen or so Scottish organisations who made this year’s NatWest SE 100 list. Special mention also to those shortlisted for particular awards – including Music Broth; Eat, Sleep, Ride CIC; The Edinburgh Remakery; and Firstport.

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With SENscot’s current activities coming to an end, the same, sadly, also applies to Senscot Legal. However, we can confirm that Senscot Legal Manager, Karina Macleod is setting up a new social enterprise -`Arachas3’ - to take forward the work of Senscot Legal. Arachas3, ‘strength or might’ in Scots Gaelic, will be supporting organisations to create a culture of good practice, collaboration and build capacity for both the organisations and the individuals within it. Arachas3’s specific objectives will be to: provide tailored advice, support and nurturing in order to develop skills, knowledge, build confidence and experience, in order to educate and empower; and to deliver a suite of products and services tailored to the challenges and business needs of third sector organisations, and the professionals working in their ecosystem.  For more information or to book in for a discovery call, please contact karina@arachas3.co.uk. 

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As Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) takes on the mantle of the Enhanced Single Intermediary from next week, they are planning a series of ‘community conversations’ covering all 32 local authority areas in Scotland. The purpose of the ‘conversations’ is, in part, to provide updates on the new Single Intermediary and the work of Transition Group but, more importantly, to reach out and seek the views of grassroots social enterprises on the kind of representative voice they want to see. Keep your eye out for events in your area - as they are advertised. Also, for those wishing to begin engaging with SES now, there is an opportunity to participate in their AGM – which takes place next Thursday, 30^th June at 10.30am.

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Appropriate, perhaps, that we round things off with highlighting one of the most popular events in the SE calendar in Scotland – celebrating work that, with respect to all the other initiatives and programmes over the last decade or two, could have the biggest long-term impact on social enterprise in Scotland - the Social Enterprise School Awards 2022. In its 15^th year, the Awards and its supporting programme, both run by the Social Enterprise Academy, has now engaged with over 1000 schools, covering each of Scotland’s 32 local authority area. The link (above) to the twitter feed gives a flavour of this year’s event.