Edition No. 97, Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Dear ,
SENScot held an online Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) last Friday, 27th May 2022 at 10.30am. The EGM was called following Scottish Govt’s decision to defund SENScot as of 30th June 2022 - in favour of a new enhanced Single National Intermediary. As well as an update on SENScot’s current situation and the latest information on discussions with Scottish Govt and Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) in relation to the new Intermediary, a special resolution was put to members to vote on. The resolution, “to seek members’ approval on the charity continuing after the main operations cease at end of June 2022”, was agreed unanimously by members. In effect, with no staff, the charity will be more dormant than active – but in terms of charity regulations, this is the most prudent measure at this point in time. It will rest with members to determine what will happen in the longer term.
The meeting also recognised the need and desire to support the work of the recently announced Transition Group in ensuring that the new Intermediary reflects the aspirations and support needs of all parts of our sector. The Group’s remit, over the next six months, is to come up with a series of recommendations covering the governance, representation and activities of the Single Intermediary.
Save the date: SENScot is planning to hold a celebration event on Wednesday, 29 June 2022 in the afternoon. It will be held at the Centre for Executive Education (CEE2 on 1st floor), Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA. We are grateful to our friends at the Yunus Centre for Social Business & Health at GCU for their support. This will be an opportunity for our current and former staff, board, members and partners to celebrate the significant achievements over 2 decades (pre & post-merger) of Social Firms Scotland and Senscot. More information over the coming weeks.
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The Transition Group (see above) is charged with helping to oversee the move towards a single body to represent social enterprises in Scotland over the next six months. Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) and Social Enterprise Networks (SENs) are separately represented on the Group – and in advance of the Group’s initial meetings, the TSIs and SENs, together, are carrying out this short survey (5-10mins) of members to help ensure that the new Single Intermediary supports the continued development of local and community based social enterprises.
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The final SE Health and Wellbeing Newsletter has been circulated this week. The Newsletter – along with the other thematic newsletters – has been going out monthly for a number of years, with over 100 editions being shared with SEN members during this time. This final edition includes the usual blend of members news and other information relevant to SEN members. It also includes feedback from last week’s final Health and Community Food SEN meeting. Mary Sinclair, our Development Manager (Health & Wellbeing), also shares news of her new job – with the Improvement Service, working on the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme. Mary has been an outstanding asset to SENScot over many years – and will be a huge loss to our sector. This is obviously a consequence of SENScot’s funding coming to an end at the end of June. We obviously wish Mary all the very best in her new role. She’ll be around for bit yet – as she doesn’t take up her new role until July.
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Free, specialist business support has been available to enterprising third sector organisations in Scotland since 2011 – and is now a key component within the SE Strategy and Action Plans. Over recent years, the contract to deliver this support has been in the hands of Just Enterprise – a sector-led consortium. With the current contract coming to an end in May 2023, Scottish Govt has now published a Prior Information Notice for potential bidders. Also, importantly, Scottish Govt is also carrying out this survey aimed at potential bidders and beneficiaries of the service to help shape the new contract to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the third sector going forward. The survey will be open until Friday, 24th June 2022.
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A couple of weeks back, we featured an article from the New York Times identifying Scotland as the centre of a ‘net zero’ land grab. On a similar theme, the Guardian, last weekend, carried this piece on Rewilding – and, once again, asks the question, who really benefits. For decades, campaigners have been clamouring for the restoration of natural ecosystems as an urgent response to climate breakdown. They also anticipated that such schemes should be led by local people and democratic institutions. However, as with the clamour to purchase the peatlands, big business and the wealthy are getting involved too – with the likes on Aviva, Standard Life and Brewdog all buying large swathes of land. The question is – are these folk really environmentally motivated – or is it more to do with ‘greenwashing’.
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Last week we published the Community-led tourism Lessons Learned Report from the Brechin and Girvan Pilot. This week we share our Scoping Study (carried out by Community Enterprise). This study examines community-led tourism initiatives across Scotland highlighting the vast array of work carried out and the positive social and environmental impacts that they have.
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It is exactly 4 years ago this month since the Social Enterprise Bridging Loan Fund was set up by Scottish Communities Finance Ltd. The Loan Fund was made possible by organisations and individuals from within the third sector purchasing Community Bonds which offer a financial return as well as a social return. It was a great example of the sector coming together to financially support each other. In the intervening years, the Loan Fund has been used by many organisations across Scotland to access affordable and small scale loans. The fund is still open to organisations looking to borrow money for a short period of time. Contact www.scotcomfinance.scot for more information.
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A quick follow up to last week’s piece on the World Economic Forum in Davos and the growing profile of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship globally. This short discussion, led by former SENScot chair, Mel Young, asks if ‘we are actually reaching a tipping point or is it just talk’. One of the points raised, and is as relevant to Scotland as anywhere, is the lack of political leadership – suggesting that real change requires social entrepreneurs to become political leaders. Another take on this is that many of the big corporations long ago figured out how to ’do well by appearing to do good’.
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Important information for SENs and their members: The 2nd round of Scottish Govt’s Investing in Communities Fund opened for applications this week (31st May). Round 2 will cover the period from April 2023 through to March 2026. Deadline for applications is 2pm on Tuesday, 28th June 2022:
Also, Round 2 of the UK Govt’s Community Ownership Fund opens on 10th June 2022 – with bids to be in for 19th August 2022. The £150m fund will cover the years up to 2024/25. See link for details:
Social enterprise in Scotland has its own Voluntary Code of Practice – and is recognised as the benchmark by which social enterprises recognise one another. The third sector in Scotland also has a Third Sector Governance Code, set up in 2018, and setting out the core principles of good governance. The Governance Code Forum is now seeking to review its code and is asking third sector orgs to fill out this short survey:
Glasgow Community Food Network is running this short survey to evaluate the work of the Network since it was set up in 2017. The survey takes 5-10 mins to complete - with responses being treated confidentially. Some comments may be used in the final report – but no names of individuals or organisations:
The Leap Project was set up in 1992, initially, to provide things to do for people in the Cambuslang area who were aged 50 and over. Today, its services are now delivered in 18 communities across South Lanarkshire. The Leap Project is now extending its services to East Dunbartonshire – and they are looking to appoint a Social Enterprise Development Officer - to explore and identify Social Enterprise opportunities within East Dunbartonshire. Closing date is Friday, 10th June 2022:
Tuesday, 7th 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 above for more info and to book your place.
