Dear ,

This newsletter, over the coming weeks, will continue to try and keep readers up-to-date with what is happening at SENScot, following last month’s announcement by Scottish Govt to cease our funding as of the end of June 2022. As we have been reporting, the SENScot board has been trying to address a number of internal responsibilities – while, also, continuing to engage with Scottish Govt and Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) with regard to the setting up of the Single Intermediary as of July 2022. Wider discussions are also ongoing – with representatives of local SENs and TSIs meeting with Scottish Govt and SES to begin to explore the nature of their future relationship and, in the short term, the possible make-up of the Transition Group which will oversee the formal establishment of the Single Intermediary.

SENScot will continue to host further meetings, in the weeks ahead, with the constituted SENs as well as with our wider membership. Subsequent to these meetings, a General Meeting (EGM) will be scheduled for early/mid-May. As a membership organisation, the final say on SENScot’s future lies with our members. Options will be made available in advance and the EGM will take the final decision.

Again, between now and then, if there are any significant developments, we will share them via this newsletter.

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 couple of years, SENScot has worked closely with Health SEN member, Outside the Box (OtB) – which provides development support to groups and people across Scotland who want to make a difference in their communities. One particular project has been Community Solutions – a collaboration that is looking to increase the learning and options that can give people more access to social care and health care in their local community. Part of the Community Solutions project involves building a library of online resources (see link above). This week, Outside the Box has added a number of new resources – all geared to giving people more information on how they better access to health and social care.

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A reminder for readers that the Scottish Food Coalition (SFC) has organised a Good Food Nation Day of Action on 26^th April 2022 (10am-3pm) at the Scottish Parliament. With the Good Food Nation Bill moving closer to becoming law, the event can provide an important opportunity for frontline voices to be heard and to support a final push towards a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system in Scotland. SCF sees this as being more than just tackling food insecurity – and believe that the Bill also provides an opportunity to address issues regarding health, environmental sustainability, fair trade and workers’ rights. If you’d be interested in participating, see link above for more details.

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Last week’s piece on Community Land Scotland’s research on ‘community land cold spots’ – which produced this Briefing Paper - proved popular; se we’re running it for another week. Also worth a look is this short video produced by the Scottish Land Commission that offers guidance to public bodies on Community Wealth Building. The video lays out the benefits to the local economy when local assets and resources are in the hands of local people.

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Over recent months, we’ve been covering Pioneers Post’s serialisation of Freer Spreckley’s new book - Essential Social Enterprise. Last week saw the publication of the fourth instalment - Why regenerative eco-action must guide every single decision – which addresses the importance of social enterprises exercising their environmental responsibility. Freer looks back to the social enterprise eco-pioneers of the 1970s; and goes on to reference a 1972 report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the Limits to Growth. In short, he reiterates that ‘growth does not equal more’. If you’re interested in the previous instalments, see following links: Financial Viability; Common Ownership and Why true social enterprises reject hierarchy and embrace democracy.

Community Shares Scotland is supporting Northton Heritage Trust on the Isle of Harris with their community share offer campaign, where they are looking to raise funds to re-develop Seallam Visitor Centre - Hebrides People. The upgraded visitor centre will celebrate the history, heritage and culture of Harris & St Kilda. They are hoping to raise £100K to complete the purchase of the land and buildings at the centre, taking it into community ownership and enabling them to prepare detailed plans for redevelopment, adding student accommodation, exhibition space and a café. If you’d like to support their campaign, see full details:

Award-winning Glasgow SEN member, Locavore is in the news again, following an agreement with Glasgow City Council for a 20 year lease for Bellahouston Nursery. Previously run by the Council as a plant nursery, Locavore will be using the site for community and individual growing plots, as well as for “scaling up” its own commercial growing of flowers, fruits and vegetables:

This Newsletter has regularly reported on the progress being on the Midsteeple Quarter project in Dumfries – a community-led initiative looking to breathe new life into the town’s High St. The community-owned enterprise has spent years raising funds to buy up shops close to the Midsteeple landmark to bring them back into new use. It’s good to hear that the first major works on the project are now getting underway:

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:

Final Reminder: Tomorrow (Friday, 15^th April) is the deadline for applications for the Nature Accelerator Programme. The 6 month programme is aimed at early-stage nature-based ideas and enterprises, based in Glasgow, that could create positive environmental, social, or economic change in the city:

The Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Leith – next to Victoria Quay – is developing into a bit of a hub for a growing number of third sector organisations. New occupants over the last year or so include Street Soccer; The Leith Collective; The Edinburgh Remakery; Sense Scotland; and Projekt 42. The newest arrival is The Wee Hub – part of the Living Memory Association (ThelmaScotland). The Wee Hub is a new social enterprise, based in the old Debenham’s store – that will bring in a variety of arts, drama and sports organisations to make use of the space, and has also constructed areas dedicated to dance and theatre, children’s play, crafts, a library. Good luck to them:

Cranhill Development Trust, based in Glasgow’s east end, is looking to recruit a Shop and Post Office Assistant. Closing date for applications is Friday, 22^nd April 2022 at 12 noon. See full details:

With various SEN meetings scheduled over the coming weeks, we’ll be listing core details – dates, times, guest speakers etc – to keep people up to date with what’s on and when

Wednesday, 18^th May (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:

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: