Dear ,

Senscot Legal (SL) was set up as a subsidiary of SENScot back in 2010. During that time, SL has provided affordable legal services to over 1500 third sector organisations all across Scotland. The first few years were difficult financially – due, in part, to the impact of a significant change in legislation – but SL managed to ‘steady the ship’ after those challenging early years and, with the ongoing support of the parent charity, Senscot, has continued to provide a valuable and important service to the sector. Following Scottish Govt’s decision to cease SENScot’s funding at the end of June, however, the SL board has taken some time to consider its future position and, following discussion with the ‘parent’ board, has sadly decided that SL shall cease trading on 30^th June 2022.  Final redundancy notices have been issued to the SL staff. On a more positive note, Karina Macleod (Legal Services Manager at SL), has set up a social enterprise to take forward some of the work of Senscot Legal as well as offering a fuller service to better support third sector organisations.   `Arachas3 Ltd’ will be launching soon – watch this space!  

The Senscot Story provides a timeline, charting significant milestones and developments across the Scottish SE community over the couple of decades.

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Over the last 18 months, SENScot has managed a Community-led Tourism Pilot, delivered by Creetown Initiatives Ltd, that has sought to provide support to the communities of Brechin and Girvan in developing their respective tourism offers. The gist of community tourism is putting local people at the centre of the decision-making process to produce a tourism offering which benefits the whole community – and allowing small, local organisations and businesses to capture the footfall of visitors who are attracted to larger, popular local assets. It was great to hear, therefore, of last week’s launch of SCOTO - a new network of community tourism enterprises located across the country. See SCOTO’s Launch Video.

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One of the priority areas within the SE Strategy for Scotland – and its supporting Action Plans – has been about ‘Realising Market Opportunity’ and ‘the ambition is to increase the number and range of social enterprises involved in the delivery of Scotland’s public services’. SENScot, itself, received funding for P4P to ‘support the formation of new partnerships or consortia; strengthen existing collaborations and ensure organisations build their capacity to better secure contracts or funding’. This Report, from down south, suggests that, over the last 5 years, third sector organisations and social enterprises in England have won less than 5% of public sector contracts. As we reach the halfway stage of our own Strategy in Scotland, it would be interesting to see how we are faring in comparison.

With local elections taking place across the country next Thursday (5^th May), a number of third sector organisations have been publishing their own manifestos. One that catches our eye – and of relevance to the work of so many frontline social enterprises – comes from the Poverty Alliance which includes measures such as prioritising poverty as an issue, boosting incomes, improving local services, and strengthening communities:

Scottish Community Alliance’s Community Learning Exchange Programme has proved a great success in helping to build levels of  mutual support across the sector – both by encouraging communities to support one another and by supporting our national networks and intermediaries to collaborate and to share resources to best effect. The Programme continues to welcome in applications for the year ahead – through to March 2023. See Guidance Notes for Applicants. Also, below, see Dates for your Diary, for details on up-and-coming CLEs:

Scottish Learning Disability Week is about awareness raising of learning disabilities – and takes place, every year, in May.  Each year has a different theme that is important to the lives of people with a learning disability – and his year’s theme is, ‘We all have human rights’. The week runs from 2^nd-8^th May. See this link to get involved and to follow the different events and activities taking place across the country:

The National Lottery Community Fund is currently carrying out a UK-wide survey in order to find how they can best help local communities prosper and thrive. You can see further details and fill in the survey at Putting Communities First:

Employability SEN member, Silver Stag of Scotland’s Cookery School, based in East Dunbartonshire, is looking to recruit a Cookery School Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for the daily teaching of its commercial Cookery School courses, includes the creation of recipe content. Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 9^th May 2022 at 9am:

Thursday, 5^th May 2022 1.30pm – 4.30pm) – Edinburgh Social Enterprise is hosting a Women in Social Enterprise event. As well as explore successes, challenges, barriers, peer support with other women, attendees will also hear from Zoe Hunter, Masters student at Edinburgh University Business School about the findings of her dissertation research on ‘Women in Social Enterprise’. See links to book your place:

Thursday, 5^th May 2022 (10.30am -2pm) – The Plunkett Foundation is hosting a Free Networking Event for Scottish community pub groups at all stages - for attendance either in-person or online. The event will allow participants the opportunity to meet other community pub groups, share ideas, network and learn about the journey of the Black Bull in Gartmore - purchased by the local community in 2019 and today is at the heart of village life. See links for more details:

Wednesday, 18^th May 2022 (10am-3pm) – Cranhill Development Trust is hosting a Community Learning Exchange - providing an opportunity to hear about their range of community-based support services and activities. In addition, people attending this ‘in person’ event will also learn about more recent developments including the community shop, garden and post office. See link for details and to sign up:

Tuesday, 24^th May 2022 (2pm) - Health & Community Food SENs session – looking at opportunities and support for members post July 2022. Speakers, so far, will include Community Food Health Scotland / Public Health Scotland, SCHW, CHEX, Outside the Box Development. Contact mary@senscot.net to book your place:

Thursday, 26^th May 2022 (11am – 4pm) – Eat Sleep Ride CIC is hosting a Community Learning Exchange, titled Creating Conversations for a Diverse and Inclusive Community, See links for more info and to book you place:

Thursday, May 26^th 2022 (1pm) - Employability SEN Session:  Opportunities and Support: Join us at our final Employability SEN session to look at the opportunities and support available for Employability SEN members specifically in relation to employability.  There will be a range of speakers who will outline their role in employability and the support they can offer.  There will be time for questions and for members to highlight the support they require going forward.  The session will also take the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the impact of our Employability SEN members. To book your place, email jayne@senscot.net:

Tuesday, 7^th June 2022 (10am-2.30pm) – The Larder, in West Lothian, is hosting an ‘in person’ Community Learning Exchange that will focus on three particular learning outcomes: how to create a diverse funding base; how to create meaningful opportunities for individuals with barriers to work; and how to develop an economic and socially sustainable model, particularly in relation to food-related enterprises. Place are limited to one person per organisation. See link for more info and to book your place: