February 2022

Hi 

If any SEN members interested in being listed as a supplier on www.communitywellbeingexchange.scot haven’t yet got in touch, please do so asap. 

The 20 community organisations with access to £1000 to spend on activities and services to address mental health and wellbeing needs identified within their communities will be viewing the listings from next week, so if you want to be included give me a shout as soon as you can. 

All the best, 

Mary 
Development Manager
Social Enterprise Network Scotland 

SEN Sessions and Community Learning Exchanges

Virtual Community Learning Exchange with EnvironMentalHealth CIC (Wed 9th Mar, 1-4pm) 
This session with EnvironMentalHealth CIC will provide insight on how community focused Mental Health First Aid can support a collaborative approach to identifying and addressing mental health issues within their local community. With the Covid19 pandemic having a huge impact on the mental health and wellbeing of Scotland’s communities, this exchange offers an important resource for community based social enterprises to increase their collaborations and empower individuals to support one another in relation to their mental health and wellbeing.  Register here.  

SEN Session: Social Enterprise: Sustainably tackling poverty through employability (Wed 16th Mar, 10.30-noon) 
Poverty is a growing problem, with around 1 in 5 people in Scotland living in relative poverty. Although there is no single solution, fair employment is seen as one of the most effective ways of alleviating poverty - and this includes supporting the employability of people furthest from the labour market.  This session will hear from speakers from The Poverty Alliance who will outline the overall context and policy landscape of poverty in Scotland; Joseph Rowntree Foundation will examine research relating to poverty through an employability lens; and social enterprise, FARE Scotland, will demonstrate how they create pathways into employment, providing industry-led training and work experience for people who experience poverty.  With time for Q&A and discussion on the role of social enterprises in tackling poverty, with a specific focus on employment and employability. Register here.   

SEN Session for Social Enterprise Counselling Service Providers (Thu 31st Mar, 10.30- 12pm) 
With SEN members reporting a continuing increase in demand for counselling services, we are providing another opportunity for social enterprise active in this area to come together to share their thoughts on what opportunities and challenges this is currently posing and how they are responding to this. For more information email mary@senscot.net.  Register here.  

Health SEN Meeting (Thu 7th April, 2-3.30pm)  
An informal session to connect with other social enterprises who have a health & wellbeing focus, discuss common issues, and relevant policy areas/developments and share your successes.  Register here.   

Interested in hosting a Community Learning Exchange? 
We are always keen to facilitate members sharing and supporting each other, and are happy to organise community learning exchanges to help with this.  If you would be up for hosting a visit and sharing with others or if you have an organisation in mind that you would like to visit get in touch and we can try and make it happen.  Visits can be face to face or virtual and all costs are covered. Email Mary with your ideas. 

SEN Member News 

Solutions: helping people get the care they need and taking pressure off health and social care 
Outside the Box, as part of their ongoing work with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, are facilitating a series of digital drop-in sessions to continue the conversation on the importance of community solutions in relation to social care and wellbeing. The sessions will provide an opportunity for people in community sector to raise issues, ask for information and to hear from other people working with similar situations and challenges. More info here. 

• Monday 7 March 2 – 3pm on Zoom Eventbrite Booking Link 

• Monday 21 March 2 – 3pm on Teams Eventbrite Booking Link 

• Monday 4 April 2 – 3pm on Zoom Eventbrite Booking Link 

They are also gathering examples of where the community and HSCP services are working together and having good outcomes for people, so more places can learn from their experience. If you have examples you want to share, or know about, please get in touch with anne@otbds.org or freya@otbds.org.  

Health by Science opens new gym for stroke survivors in Edinburgh 
Health by Science, a social enterprise that provides rehabilitation services for stroke survivors have opened up a new gym in Leith, Edinburgh. The gym will offer exercise after stroke classes and activities to survivors who were discharged from the NHS after rehabilitation.  Physiotherapist Stuart Maytham said, "A lot of people are nervous about what happens next when they're released from the hospital, so this is an opportunity just to get back into doing things and meeting the minimum health guidelines.".  

Into Work launch their new Wellbeing+ Podcast  
Launching it earlier this month, Into Work’s first installment of the podcast is a short teaser episode which explains what they plan to achieve, who they will be speaking to, and how people can get involved.  Their Wellbeing+ podcast is an accessible, creative and informative co-produced resource that aims to share people's stories of lived experience, supported employment and wellbeing management to support anyone thinking about their own employment journeys and wellbeing practices as well as promote Into Work’s service and approach. If you are interested in the podcast and would like to get involved please email wellbeing.podcast@intowork.org.uk.  
You can tune in on  Anchor: https://anchor.fm/into-work and Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NdumqVPwZEIxFpOmKNrve, Google & Apple podcast set up is pending. 

Respite Now CIC - from little acorns their services continue to grow! 
Respite Now CIC are pleased to announce that their New Allowance Employer Bid in Fife has been successful, and they are able to offer 3 paid training positions meeting No One Left Behind criteria for their innovative Peace of Mind Fife community groups program.  The social enterprise has also been included in the National Databank initiative and will offer approximately 30 FREE O2 and Vodaphone sim cards per month to people experiencing data poverty. As this runs through 2022, they’ll be able to help 300 people. Lastly, as part of the successful East Ayrshire community renewal fund consortium, Respite Now will be supporting a target of 100 people on their employability training journey.    

SAMH is providing a new, free service which frontline workers can access right now  
The Time for You service offers instant access to free mental health and wellbeing support for frontline workers in Scotland. There are three levels of support to choose from, ranging from online self-help to one-to-one therapy. 

Other News

Healthy Minds Healthy Communities: CHEX Conference 2022 (Wed 16th March, 10am-12.45pm)  
This year’s conference (via Zoom) will explore the role that community-led health plays in supporting good mental health. With the impact of the impact being felt across the country, the conference will highlight how community-led health organisations have brought together the skills, knowledge and insights of their communities to offer innovative, effective and essential mental health support across Scotland. Register interest. 

Tackling poverty for good mental health is a new partnership between The Poverty Alliance and Mental Health Foundation to carry out an ambitious research and policy programme to address poverty as a fundamental driver of mental ill-health. Mental health problems are not evenly distributed across the whole population. Poverty, inequality, and discrimination place some people at a much higher risk, and this research will look at the source and impact of poverty stigma on mental health. 

The Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Survey - See Me and the Mental Health Foundation, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University, have created Scotland’s first national survey on the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with complex mental illnesses. They want to hear from people aged 18 and over who have experienced longer term, enduring mental illnesses which have seriously impacted on their lives. The survey runs until Friday 4th March and full details of eligibility and how to take part can be found here.  For more info or questions about the research contact Jo Finlay. 

Considering mental health within the National Care Service – blog from Craig Smith (Senior Policy & Research Officer, SAMH) reflecting on the need for change and the importance of including input from people living with mental health problems in the NCS. This opinion is part of the ALLIANCE’s Future of Social Care Series. 

Social care briefing from Audit Scotland published on the 27th of January highlighted that urgent action is needed to address critical issues in delivery of social care services so that it meets the needs, and improves the experience of people relying on care and support. 

National Care Service: Consultation Analysis Earlier this month analysis of stakeholders’ responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a National Care Service was made available. 

Commissioning & Procurement Resources – Big Ideas for Renewal 
The Independent Review of Adult Social Care 2021 made recommendations for the reform of commissioning and procurement of social care, including the move away from price based, time and task procurement and competition towards more collaborative commissioning involving support providers and supported people and more of a focus on outcomes. CCPS Commissioning and Procurement Programme have developed some practical resources and guides for commissioning and procurement of social care that can be accessed here. 

Joint statement: put people at the centre of social care reform 
The ALLIANCE is inviting individuals and organisations working for disabled people, people living with long term conditions, and unpaid carers across all of Scotland’s communities to join them by signing and promoting this Joint Statement. This calls for the voices of lived experience and the third sector to be at the forefront of the proposed National Care Service. The deadline for signing is Friday 25th February. Survey link. 

Put your money where your mouth is - Investing in Sustainable Regional Food Systems and Communities through Public Procurement (Wed 16th March, 9.30-12pm) 
Jointly hosted by Sustainable Food Places and Food For Life Scotland, this event will examine public procurement's role in the creating better food systems and will look at its power to build strong and resilient local food systems, and to invest in the people that work and live in those regions. More info. 

Dignity in Practice learning events from Nourish Scotland and Poverty Truth Community  
In this series of events Nourish Scotland explores ways in which rights-based approaches to food insecurity are already underway, in Scotland and elsewhere. Join them in March to learn more about: 

1. Affording the food we need to be healthy and well and the lessons from Our Right to Food project (Thursday 10th March) 

1. Progressing the right to food in Scotland, including national and local strategies to reduce the cost of living (Thursday 17th March) 

Trellis Seminar Series 2022 – This second seminar series draws ‘gardening for wellbeing’ experts from around the world. Read More.  

NHS Scotland Event 2022 - 21 / 22 June 2022 
This yearly event provides the opportunity for those working in and with the NHS in Scotland to come together to consider the challenges, to share best practice and the most innovative approaches to delivering the highest quality of care, and to take away tools and techniques that will support them in their various roles. More info. 

Tenders & Funding Opportunities  

Go to Partnership for Procurement (P4P) and Public Contract Scotland to check current and forthcoming tender opportunities. Some relevant examples below:     

Prior Information Notice: Dundee City Council – Community Wellbeing Centre Dundee (Published 15th February) 

Prior Information Notice: Capital City Partnership – Edinburgh Early Years Intensive Family Support Service (Published 21st February) 

Contract Notice: Scottish Prison Service – Parenting Interventions for Young People (Deadline 16.3.22)  

Some current relevant funding opportunities are listed below, but for fuller listing go to SCVO-funding.  

National Lottery Communities Fund & Awards for All Scotland have provided a simple guide to their main funding programmes for Scotland. These are: 
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland (up to £10,000) for community or sports projects. 
·  Young Start (up to £100,000) for projects with children and young people where they play an active role in development, design and delivery. 
·  Community Led (up to £150,000) for broad community wellbeing activities, in a local area, led by local people. 
·  Improving Lives (up to £200,000) to tackle specific needs, local or regional projects. 
·  Scottish Land Fund (up to £1 million) for community-led organisations that want to take ownership of land assets, land rights or buildings important to their local community. 

The Catalyst Fund - a new type of social investment offering loans through a flexible, revenue-based repayment model. The fund is open all year round for social enterprises looking for social investment of over £50,000 to help them start and grow their business.  There is a new schedule of information webinars organised for the coming months. 

Social Enterprise and Net Zero - designed to support social enterprises and the wider third sector to make the transition to carbon net zero.  Loans are available from £10,000. Organisations who have a particular circular economy focus or are proposing specific projects with a focus on re-use, repair and leasing/sharing models, may also be eligible for a small grant award. 

Firstport’s Boost It - helps social enterprises that have been trading for up to three years to strengthen their businesses so they can successfully sustain trading. It can also help social enterprises at the start-up stage if they need an injection of capital to be able to get their idea started. You can apply for any amount between £30-50K as a repayable grant. 

Support in Mind Scotland's Rural Community Engagement Fund allows local groups and organisations across Scotland’s Rural* Communities to apply for micro-grants of up to £2,500 to support and promote mental health recovery following the pandemic in rural communities through community engagement and support approaches.  Round 1 of this Fund will close on 31 March.