Dear ,

SENScot will be holding an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Friday, 27^th May 2022 (10.30am) – online – save the date.  Formal notice will go out to members shortly with full information and booking details available next week.

With regard to the new Intermediary body, discussions are ongoing about the make-up of the Transition Group and, importantly, what status it will have. Hopefully, there will be more to say on this next week.

Also, following up last week’s piece, a reminder that the board of Senscot Legal (SL) has agreed that, as things stand, it intends to cease trading on 30^th June 2022. The decision has been taken following discussions with the parent charity, SENScot, and is a consequence of the Scottish Govt’s decision to defund SENScot as of that same date. Since its establishment in 2010, SL has provided affordable legal services to over 1500 third sector organisations all across Scotland – offering a valuable and important service to the sector. On a more positive note, Karina Macleod (Legal Services Manager at SL) is setting up her own social enterprise, Arachas3 Ltd, to take forward some of the work of Senscot Legal as well as offering a fuller service to better support third sector organisations. More news on this in the coming weeks.

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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Newsletter readers will be aware that SENScot has sought to promote the Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach over recent years. In 2019, the focus of our SE Conference and Ceilidh was on CWB and included presentations from two of its major proponents - Neil McInroy and Joe Cullinane (North Ayrshire Council). Last Week, SCVO carried this article by Neil – which gives some background on CWB, its historical relevance to Scotland, reference to the work currently being carried up by a number of local authorities, and highlights the important role the sector can play in building a wellbeing economy. Also, on the same theme, CEIS’ Martin Avila provides this short video – An introduction to Community Wealth Building.

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At the end of 2020, SENScot and SCVO, together with a number of other national and local third sector partners, launched the Third Sector Net Zero Strategy. The aim of the Strategy was to provide a pathway by which the sector in Scotland could play an ‘inspirational and leading role in delivering Scotland’s Net Zero Strategy by 2045’. Further support for the sector is now becoming available through a new video and webinar series – Circular Economy 360. This initiative, supported by Social Investment Scotland and Zero Waste Scotland, draws on the experience of a number of international circular economy experts - who will look to provide practical and pragmatic solutions to help social enterprises on the journey towards net zero. The series gets underway this week – see link above for details.

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Caledonia Cremations is Scotland’s only not-for-profit funeral directors – and provides a service across mainland Scotland - and was set up specifically to address funeral poverty. Its vision is for a Scotland where everyone can afford a dignified funeral, personal to their needs. The last two years have been difficult for everyone, especially those who have lost someone during this time. The mental health of the bereaved has particularly suffered during these uncertain times, so, in response to this, Caledonia Cremations has established a new bereavement support service, Caledonia Funeral Aid, which aims to provide an extra support system for recently bereaved people. This service, initially, will be available in Edinburgh, with Caledonia Funeral Aid being supported by the Edinburgh Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.

With so many social enterprises involved in the health and social care sector, the launch this week of Voluntary Health Scotland’s new three year Strategy (2022-25) will be of interest. VHS has sought to make the Strategy as clear, concise and accessible as possible – and sets out four key aims, four core health themes and five priorities for development and delivery. VHS CEO, Claire Stevens gives this overview.

It was sad to hear this week that Leith-based Projekt 42 has announced plans to close in early June 2022. Since closing its fitness warehouse in November 2020, it has not been able to find a suitable venue that is big enough to bring together its fitness, yoga and mental health activities. Without income-generating activities, it cannot continue to fund free and low-cost counselling. A particularly sad side to this is that, once again, a much-lauded, award-winning social enterprise has, perhaps, not had access to the support it needed from our much-lauded support infrastructure. See full statement.

Over recent weeks, we have continued to highlight the Scottish Community Alliance’s Community Learning Exchange Programme. The Programme continues to welcome in applications for the year ahead – through to March 2023. The SE Rural Hub has hosted a series of CLEs – and has produced these short videos (both about 20 mins) on the theme of Community-Led Tourism with Assynt Development Trust and Portsoy Community Enterprise. See Dates for your Diary, for details on up-and-coming CLEs.

Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN), with funding support from Scottish Govt, is recruiting a number of Network Co-ordinators to nurture and support regional community climate action hubs across Scotland. Tow vacancies currently being advertised are for a Network Co-ordinator in Glasgow (f/t) and in Lanarkshire (p/t). Closing date for both is Wednesday, 18^th May 2022.

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.