April 2022

Hi 

It remains unclear what aspects of the thematic SENs will be taken forward by Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) when it forms the new Enhanced Single Intermediary for Social Enterprise from 1st July 22. 

I’m therefore unable to provide an update to Health SEN and Community Food SEN members at this stage on future thematic activity.  However, before I finish up with SENScot in June, I’m organising a joint Health and Community Food SEN session (via Zoom) on Tuesday 24th May, 2.00-3.30pm.    

This session is open to all Health & Community Food SEN members and aims to provide an opportunity to consider the future of the Health and Community Food SENs moving forward.   

Chris Martin (SES Chief Executive) will attend the session to provide an update on what aspects of thematic work that will be taken forward. I am hopeful that this will also provide an opportunity for SEN members to share their views on how the Enhanced Single Intermediary for Social Enterprise should promote and support the valuable work of social enterprise in health & wellbeing, social care and community food. 

This session will also provide information to SEN members on other health and community food support, resources and networks available post June, with Public Health Scotland (Community Food Health Scotland), Scottish Communities for Health & Wellbeing, CHEX and Outside the Box also attending.  

If you would like to attend the joint Health & Community Food SEN session on Tuesday 24th May, please let me know. 

  
All the best, 

Mary 

SEN Sessions and Community Learning Exchanges

Social Enterprise Counselling Service Providers 
Following last month’s meeting, SEN members involved in the provision of counselling services have decided to exchange contact details with a view to continuing to meet up on a regular basis, recognising the value of discussing challenges and providing peer support to one another. If your social enterprise provides counselling services and would like to be included in this exchange of contact details, please get in touch with Mary. 

Rural SEN Session (Tues 10th May, 2- 3.30pm) 
Hosted by InspirAlba, this session will focus on ‘Community Insights’ and ‘Community Solutions’ following recent research produced by the David Hume Institute (DHI) and Outside the Box (OTB) respectively. Both organisations have kindly agreed to come along and discuss their research in more detail. There will be an update on recent Rural SEN activities and an opportunity for discussion on future SEN sessions.  Register here. 

Cultural and Creative SEN Session (Tues 10th May, 10.30am) 
The final Cultural and Creative SEN with Sarah is an opportunity for members to come together and explore if and how they would like to take the SEN forward. Jennifer Hunter from Culture Counts will also attend to outline the support that they can offer. Email Sarah to join the meeting. 

Joint Health & Community Food SEN Session (Tues 24th May, 2-3.30pm)  
Health & Community Food SEN session to hear from Social Enterprise Scotland on what aspects of the thematics SENs will be taken forward post June and to consider other sources of future support in respective areas of activity.  Email Mary to register.   

Employability SEN Session:  Opportunities and Support (Thu May 26th, 1-2.30pm) 
Join our final Employability SEN session to look at the opportunities and support available for Employability SEN members specifically in relation to employability.  Contact Jayne to book your place. 

In-person Community Learning Exchange with Cranhill Development Trust (Wed 18th May)   
Cranhill Development Trust will be hosting an in-person CLE, providing an opportunity for participants to learn about the development of their community shop and garden and recently opened Post Office.  This visit is now fully booked, but if you would like added to the waiting list, please contact Mary.  

In-person Community Learning Exchange with Eat Sleep Ride CIC (Thur 26th May)   
Eat Sleep Ride 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.  Programme here and book here. 

In-person Community Learning Exchange with 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. Places are limited and restricted to one person per organisation - more info and book here. 

Other Networking Opportunities  
 

Local Community Food Networks 
Community Food & Health (Scotland) has undertaken some valuable work in mapping local strategic and practical support for community food work across Scotland, including local Community Food Networks. Find out more.   

Meet the ALLIANCE – lunchtime virtual networking (Tuesday 10th May, 12-1pm) 
Join ALLIANCE staff members on 10th May for an online networking session to learn more about the various areas of work we deliver. The session will be opened by Chief Officer for Development, Sara Redmond.  More info. 

Health & Wellbeing News 
 

Community Food Health Scotland April bulletin 
The latest bulletin is now available with useful updates on national and local community food developments in Scotland.  Read here.  

Public Health Scotland and NatureScot: Activating greater use of greenspace for health and wellbeing (Tues 17th May, 2-4pm) 
This webinar is a ‘call to action’ on increasing the use of green spaces for health and wellbeing by raising awareness of the strategic links and sharing current practice. More info. 

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 (9th-15th May) 
Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s event will focus on Loneliness.  
The week will be raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it.  More info. 

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (4th-24th May) 
SMHAF is exploring the theme Gather as it returns to love audiences for the first time since 2019. The programme of events is available on the SMHAF website and in printed brochures available in community and cultural venues across Scotland. 

Scottish Learning Disability Week (2nd-8th May) 
Each year has a different theme that is important to the lives of people with a disability and this year’s theme is – ‘We all have human rights.  Find out more to get involved and to follow the various events and activities taking place.  

Tenders & Funding Opportunities
 

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

The City of Edinburgh Council - Home Based Care Re-design and Associated Services – Flexible Purchasing System. (Closing date: 11am, 25/4/22) 

Tayside Procurement Consortium - Flexible Framework Refresh - Counselling in Schools (Closing date: 12pm, 25/4/22) 

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

Self-Management Fund is now open  
The second round of the Self-Management Fund: Resilience, Recovery and Development is now open for applications. Third sector and community organisations in Scotland can apply for a grant of up to £60,000 for up to two years to support disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers to self-manage. (Closes 27th June 22)  More info.  
 
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) 
UK Govt has now published its full SPF prospectus.  In Scotland, delivery will be supported through the eight Regional Economic Partnerships (City & Growth Deal areas), however the 32 individual Local Authorities will each have a funding allocation with a total Scottish value of circa £212m over the next three years available to support three key investment priorities – Community & Place, Supporting Local Businesses, and People & Skills.  Unlike in England, funding will be available to support the People & Skills priority in Scotland from later this year with an outline timetable presented indicating first approvals & funding available from October ’22.  More info on SPF in Scotland here and allocations (by region and local authority) in Scotland here.  With an investment plan submissions window: 30 June 2022 to 1 August 2022, the timetable indicates that engagement sessions with local authorities & other partners to support development of investment plans should commence this month. 

Regional Food Fund  
Grants of up to £5,000 are offered to support projects and initiatives that promote the development of food and drink across Scotland.  Projects that celebrate locally sourced and produced food and drink are being encouraged to apply.  Deadline 5pm on 9th May. 

Inspiring Scotland: Workforce Wellbeing Fund  
Grants up to £10,000 funded by the Scottish Government are available for public, private and voluntary sector organisations to support the cost of activities that will improve the wellbeing of staff engaged in delivering adult social work and adult social care. Apply before 29 July. 

Drugs Services Funds Micro Funds 
These are for small community-based groups (income up top £50K) which deliver frontline services to support people who use or used drugs, people in recovery and families affected by someone else’s drug use.  Rolling programme.