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May 2022
SEN News
Final Employability SEN meeting (via Zoom) – May 26th (1.00-2.30pm)
Before we finish up with SENScot in June, Janice and I are have organised a final Employability session to highlight the support for social enterprises going forward, specifically around employability.
Chris Martin (SES CEO) will provide an update on what thematic work the new enhanced social enterprise intermediary will take forward This session will also highlight other employability-related support, resources and networks available to SEN members, with speakers from TSEF, Skills Development Scotland, GCVS and Fedcap, alongside a local example (North Lanarkshire Council) about the approach they are taking to No One Left Behind. There will also an opportunity for SEN members to share their views on how the new Intermediary for Social Enterprise should support and promote the valuable work of social enterprise in employability, fair work and employment. If you would like to attend, please let Jayne
know , it would be really lovely to see you there.
Final joint Health and Community Food SEN session (via Zoom) - 24th May (2.00-3.30pm)
A final joint Health & Community Food SEN meeting to look at the support available to social enterprises. Speakers, so far, will include SES, Community Food Health Scotland / Public Health Scotland, SCHW, CHEX, Outside the Box Development. Contact mary@senscot.net to register
SENScot EGM - 27th May (10.30am-12)
To provide an update on SENScot’s current position and the latest information on discussions with Scottish Govt and Social Enterprise Scotland in relation to the new Single Intermediary. A special resolution will also be put to members to vote on – ‘to seek members’ approval on the charity continuing after the main operations cease at end of June 2022’. Book here
Community Learning Exchanges (in person)
- The Larder (Livingston) – Tues 7th June - The Larder is a successful social enterprise that uses food as a catalyst for change. It provides real solutions to poverty through needs-led transformational learning opportunities for young people with multiple and complex barriers and access to high quality affordable food. More info and book here .
- Eat Sleep Ride CIC (Thurs 26th May) - ESR CIC is an approved horse riding school offering lessons and hacking to the public and work with people experiencing mental health problems, those that have suffered abuse, lived in areas of high deprivation and other challenges such as drug/alcohol addiction. More info and book here .
Members News
Edinburgh Remakery recently celebrated being among 12 other Scottish winners of one of the UK’s most prestigious business awards, Queen’s Award for Enterprise, recognising its excellence in sustainable development.
In more news, customers can now shop at Edinburgh Remakery’s furniture and electronics in person once more. ‘Not only will you be able to come into the Remakery to see and buy any of their beautifully refurbished furniture, you’ll also be able to browse the full range of electronics using a fancy tablet (Argos style!) and take them away with you that same day!’ Shopping available 11am – 3pm Monday to Friday. 98/28-30, Ocean Drive EH6 6JJ.
As the real impact of the cost of living begins to bite as a primary provider of energy advice, information, and support services across North East Scotland, Scarf are well positioned to support households in identifying what help and support is available to them. Read more about the support Scarf can provide – also the jobs they’re currently recruiting for.
Move On Wood Recycling is still looking for voluntary van drivers to support its ongoing projects. If you volunteer with Move On Wood Recycling, you can also get involved in wood collections, working with customers, making upcycled products in the workshop and de-nailing timber.
COPE Ltd celebrated Scottish Learning Disability Week earlier this month. Check out their twitter to see wonderful quotes from staff in supported employment and skills development with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, about what working with COPE means to them.
Live in or around Aberdeen? Instant Neighbour are now delivering, and you can view its collection of furniture and household goods online from the comfort of your own home.
Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) and ApparelXchange (AXC) have launched a collaborative project to gather unwanted sportswear before it reaches landfill. This collaboration brings together both strengths of the organisations, SSF enabling young people to be active through sport and physical activity, and AXC, reusing clothing and reducing impacts on the environment. Throughout this month, they are running a Donation Drive from 1 – 31 May 2022 to gather unwanted active / sportswear or footwear. For more info, contact jude@ssf.org.uk
Eat Sleep Ride CIC recently announced their official opening date and move to their new site. Saturday June 18th will be a full day of fun and celebrations planned and would be delighted if you could join them! ESR are creating a sustainable, accessible space for the community to thrive physically and emotionally through the power of nature and of animal-assisted interaction.
Employability & Fair Work
Government published the analysis to responses of the Fair Work Consultation yesterday. The consultation sought views on the action needed for Scotland to become a Fair Work Nation by 2025.
The consultation and responses will inform the refreshed Fair Work Action Plan. You can see the response SENScot submitted here
GCVS Employability Network - GCVS sits on the Glasgow LEP partnership, if you are interested in keeping updated on the LEP, please join the GCVS Employability Network, a network of organisations interested in employability. The network shares information, enables collaboration, consults with organisations and ensures the third sector maximises the employability support on offer across the city. To get involved contact Donna Mackinnon, Partnership Manager (Employability).
Young Person's Guarantee Programme for 2022/23 - GCVS are continuing to work with Glasgow Life to support 16-24 year old's facing barriers with the opportunity of a supported volunteer placement within a Third Sector organisation. The programme is designed to help increase confidence, develop transferable skills and help participants feel positive about their future. If you are interested in being a host organisation or referring a young person please email YPG@gcvs.org.uk - more info here
Understanding the difference you make: An evaluation toolkit for adult learning and career change programmes- Learning & Work toolkit provides a simple step-by-step guide to developing realistic, proportionate and high quality evaluations.
Learning & Work Institute’s latest labour market analysis – May 2022
Close The Gap Blog - The Child Poverty Delivery Plan maintains a strong focus on work and earnings, but the need to address women’s poverty is less visible
Funding/Finance
Investing in Communities Fund - ICF Round 2: 2023-2026 is expected to open for applications in May 2022, closing approximately four weeks thereafter working to a fixed funding window. Grants up to £350,000 over three years will become available for registered charities, SCIOs and Community Councils for community-focused activity that will support recovery from the pandemic. Priority will be given to fragile or disadvantaged communities where support is needed most for projects that meet all four of the following areas:
(1) Tackling poverty and inequality, including child
poverty
(2) Developing and sustaining place-based approaches
(3) Community-led regeneration and
(4) Ensuring a just transition to net zero.
The Glasgow Communities Fund (expected to open summer 2022) is Glasgow City Council's core grants programme, worth around £20 million per year. The Council and GCVS are offering multiple events designed to provide an update on the next round of the Communities Fund and to gather feedback from the third sector. Multiple dates are scheduled to choose from in May
Nationwide Building Society - grants of up to £50,000 Available to Support the Housing Needs of Vulnerable People (UK). The program will fund between 50% to 100% of the total cost of projects lasting up to two years. The grant will help prevent people from losing their home, help people into a home or support people to thrive within the home environment. Deadline: 27th May 2022.
The Edge Fund – 40 grants of £1000 for small grassroots UK organisations, that may struggle to find funding elsewhere, that are taking action for a just, equitable and sustainable world and seeking to end imbalances of wealth and power. Deadline May 31st
Abdrn Financial Fairness Trust - funding seeks to improve financial wellbeing; they want everyone to have a decent standard of living and feel in control of their finances, improving the lives of those on low-to-middle incomes. Deadline June 3rd
Stand With Us - to support the many organisations run by and for women who stand up and take action every single day to address violence against women and girls. One-year grants of up to £25,000 available to fund organisational development work (orgs with an average annual turnover over the last 3 years of between £100,000 - £500,000). Deadline – 4pm, June 9th
PwC Social Enterprise Building Public Trust Award 2022 – the Award for Impact in Social Enterprise 2022 is now open. This award, in collaboration with the School for Social Entrepreneurs, recognises excellence in social enterprises demonstrating a positive social or environmental impact. The winner will receive a £5,000 donation and two runners up will each receive a £2,500 donation from the PwC Social Entrepreneurs Club, to help them continue to grow their impact. Closes 5pm, 17th June
The Happiness Fund: Supporting grassroots, neighbourhood-based community projects throughout the UK, by providing awards of £2,500 per quarter. The project must improve mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development in local communities, creating happier people in neighbourhoods! The current funding cycle is open until 17June.
Start It: Do you have a business idea that addresses a social, environmental and/or community issue? Do you need grant funding to cover the start-up costs of your social enterprise idea? Our Start It Fund is open all-year round, and offers up to £5000 to help get your idea up and running.
Big Give's Christmas Challenge 2022 - up to £25,000 in match funding is available to charities that are working to improve the lives of vulnerable, disadvantaged or underrepresented women and girls in England and Scotland. Closes Friday 1st July
Greenshoots Foundation Trust - Small grants are available to non-profit organisations for projects that will deliver carbon reductions and economic benefits to minimise environmental impact. Open to applications from projects based within Scotland, preference being given to projects which are local to our area of operations – Fife, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Accepts applications on ongoing basis.
The Robertson Trust – open to constituted community groups and registered charities who are working to alleviate poverty and trauma in Scotland, and who have an annual income of under £2 million. Provides funding for organisations and initiatives that address:
- Financial security: tackling the financial and material effects of poverty on people and communities.
- Emotional wellbeing and relationships: ensuring people have emotional wellbeing, and confidence and strength in their relationships with others.
= Educational and work pathways: equipping people for the future by supporting learning and skills.
To check whether your organisation could be eligible for current funding, see their easy, step-by-step funding checker.
Garfield Weston
Regular Grants for applications below £100,000 reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Major Grants for applications of £100,000 or more are reviewed at one of the Foundation’s eight Board meetings a year and are carefully planned in advance to be fair to all applicants. If you are considering applying for a major grant, please start by sending a one page summary to their Grants Officer, Ciara Molloy outlining what you are raising funds for, the total cost and fundraising target. The Foundation tends not to support more than 10% of the total budget. The Trustees expect an organisation to have secured around half the funding required before applying to them.
Support/Resources
Upcoming webinars from Social Enterprise Scotland – including events on equality and inclusion in social enterprise, cyber security, net zero and more
The Curve is a series of fully funded 90-minute workshops for third sector professionals which aim to build knowledge around best digital practices, raise awareness of digital tools and ultimately help increase impact with digital.
So you want to set up a Development Trust? (2022) - a guide for those looking to set up a trust, that answers some of the main questions such as: What is a development trust? How can a development trust benefit your community? What steps can you take to start a development trust?
Barclays Black Founder Accelerator - 40 ambitious Black founder-led businesses to take part in this 12-week programme. The programme will be delivered virtually and includes a series of expert-led masterclasses as well as one-to-one mentoring and professional coaching from business growth experts. There will be optional face to face networking sessions too. Closes 25th May
Community Catalysts have launched a new simple marketing guide for community enterprises. All the basics like social media, business cards, flyers, websites, local directories and ads are covered.
SCVO has produced a page providing information and support How to start your organisation’s journey to net zero (scvo.scot) - Here you will find a useful guide and an easy to use carbon calculator.
Book your place on the Community Wealth Building - special joint meeting of CPGs (Wednesday, 22 June, 6.30-8pm) Social Enterprise, Co-operatives, Fair Trade, Credit Unions and the Wellbeing Economy!
Information/News
Community Enterprise has commissioned an independent evaluation of their work, to find out the difference it has made/is making and, importantly, how it can improve upon this. To participate, there are two distinct surveys – one for partner and stakeholder organisations, and another for clients or beneficiaries (past or present).
Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) is conducting research to assess the extent to which the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Scotland sought to reduce inequalities and foster collaboration with the third sector – to hopefully make future vaccine programmes more inclusive and establish the third sector as a valued partner in public health initiatives. The survey takes around 15 minutes and closes on Friday 27th May
A new Centre of Expertise in Equality and Human Rights to put human rights and equality at the heart of economic policy development is being established. The Centre, an action from Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, will see government working with leading experts to build knowledge and skills among policy officials to address injustice and economic inequality.
Hundreds of thousands of adults in Scotland experience loneliness that negatively impacts our mental health, but many are unable to talk about it according to new research from Mental Health Foundation (MHF) for Mental Health Awareness Week.
