It’s been an exciting year for the Coalition, and as we prepare this Christmas bulletin it takes a bit of discipline to take stock. Against a back drop of deepening recession and the looming tsunami of public spending cuts, the Coalition has worked hard to communicate effectively just whatsocial enterprise can offer – keeping a firm grip on reality as opposed to hype and expectation. We have looked to up our game in terms of research and web based media coverage and a much more strategic partnership with the Scottish Government, while procurement and local authority engagement remain the big political challenge, unlikely to lessen as commissioners’ instincts to buy big can only intensify, without political will. Encouragingly, however, there are signs that the private sector is looking to engage and could prove a decisive ally.The Coalition’s 2009 intro guide to Community Benefit clauses ‘Winning New Business through Sustainable Procurement’ has definitely been our 2009 publication ‘bestseller’. As for the wider third sector, at present we are witnessing a quiet revolution as organisations now look to become social enterprisesor at least more enterprising. Teeth may be gritted in some cases, but the Coalition will continue to engage, not least in the third sector Community Planning Partnership single interfaces.
The Coalition 2009 events diary has certainly had some highpoints– unbelievably just since August we have entertained over 900 guests - and it has been a joy working in partnership with our members to produce these events. They include S2S 2009, our House of Commons receptions for our- now published – UK electoral manifesto, the Tim Smit Masterclass and our Awards evening in the Scottish Parliament. Never content to be mired in the central belt, high points include our BaxtersVillageCommunity of Business lunch and the HISEZ day out at DornochCastle. The Board has worked very hard in all this and I would pay tribute them. My colleagues Donna, Kate and Callum and I very much look forward to working with you next year, and may we wish you and your families a very happy, peaceful Christmas and a thoroughly prosperous 2010!
Best wishes
Antonia Swinson, Chief Executive
Future Coalition Diary Dates
Wednesday 21 April 2010: S2S Social Enterprise Fair, Edinburgh Corn Exchange
- The 5th annual fair offers the biggest platform for social enterprises in Scotland to trade, participate in workshops, network and make new business connections. Please email or visit to book your early bird tickets.
- Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities are available for S2S; ranging from £175-£3,000. For further details contact
- REMEMBER TO BOOK BEFORE 1 JANUARY 2010 TO AVOID THE IMMENENT VAT RISE
Social EnterpriseUK Awards
The winners of the inaugural UK Social Enterprise Awards were announced earlier this month in London. Scotland was well represented by Alloa Community Enterprises, the Breadmaker and Social Enterprise Clydebank, but unfortunately they were pipped at the post. Amongst the overall UK winners were Pack-IT (Cardiff), Brighter Future Workshops (Liverpool) and Bikeworks (London) – all social firms. To read more about the evening click here
Manifesto Launch
The Coalition launched its General Election manifesto in Westminster earlier this month and called for the UK Government to shake up its support for the sector in banking, employment, procurement and the environment. The launch, sponsored by Cornerstone, was attended by around 40 guests including the former Defence Secretary Des Browne, Lord Andrew Mawson and the Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, Sir Clive Booth. A copy of the manifesto will be sent out to all members and associates in the new year but if you cannot wait until then click here.
State of Scottish Social Enterprise
Last month saw the publication of the first ever ‘State of Social Enterprise' survey. Commissioned by the Social Enterprise Coalition (England) and the Scottish Coalition. We have now received the data from the Social Enterprise Coalition (England) showing the differences between the Scottish and UK social enterprise markets. For more information click here.
Third Sector Budget Meeting with John Swinney
Monday saw a constructive, solutions focussed meeting with the Cabinet Secretaryto discuss the budget – shared services, commissioning and the quality of leadership and evaluation were among the topics covered. One key outcome is that he has asked for a briefing on the current reality of the single interface to which we will be contributing.
Third Sector Interface
Last week, the Coalition met with representatives of Senscot, SCVO, Volunteer Development Scotland and Voluntary Action Scotland to discuss the representation of social enterprise on the single interface. There are wide divergences of understanding about the needs and capabilities of the movement and we look forward to a further meeting in the New Year. Thank you to all the members who offered to be a local point of contact. We will be in touch with you on this when the picture becomes clearer.
Intermediary Members’ Christmas Gathering
Whenever our Intermediary members get together, they form an instant extraordinary picture of social enterprise in Scotland and our last event was no different. While the Hebridean Chocolate truffles, from Third Sector Hebrides, helped smooth our discussions about sustainability across the sector.
Membership Survey
Thanks to all members who completed and returned this year’s member’s survey. The results will be available early in the new year however in the meantime we can announce that the winner of the prize for the return of your completed members’ survey, a 2 night stay at Six Marys place, is... Community Enterprise Limited. The winner was drawn at random by John Fellows from the Big Lottery Fund.
Photographic Bursary
Members may have seen some of the staggering coverage of this bursary in both local and national press. The recent Coalition photographic bursary winner Becky Duncan has already been out and about snapping social enterprises and social entrepreneurs’. Click here and use the password “ssec awards” to view the images.
Board Changes
We are delighted to welcome Louise Scott to the Coalition Board. Louise is a director and founder member of workers' co-operative mediaco-op, an ethical company specialising in film production and media training with the third sector. However we are sad to say goodbye to current Board member Jacqui Watt, CEO of the SFHA, who has been recruited to a top housing job in Victoria, Australia and will be stepping down from the Coalition’s board in due course. The Coalition thanks Jacqui for all her support and wishes her every success in her new post in Australia.
Gardening Scotland
As members may remember from previous bulletins, the Coalition has been talking to Gardening Scotland about procurement opportunities for their 2010 Show. If any member involved in horticulture, environmental & recycling, renewables, garden furniture or the food sector is interested in exhibiting as part of a Coalition stand,please let Antoniaknow.
Parliamentarian Visits
Arranging visits for Parliamentarians is an important part of our work – the very best way to communicate just what social enterprise can achieve. Please contact if you would like to host a visit.
Parliamentary Update
News, Motions and Questions
Scottish Parliamentary Motions
Please contact your local Parliamentarians and encourage them to sign the following:
- Iain Smith MSP:Toward a Royal Bank of Sustainability. To read the motion click here
- Jim Hume MSP asked the Scottish Executive what its position is on replacing PFI with a new tripartite form of financing involving government, private and cooperative partners. To read the response click here.
- Johann Lamont asked the Scottish Executive what organisations have applied for funding from the Third Sector Resilience Fund and how much has been sought in each case. To read the response click here.
The Coalition has recently made a number of submissions to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament. For details of our latest policy positions, on amongst other issues our General Election Manifesto, please visit
Members’ News and Events
New Members
A warm welcome to the Coalition’s newest member:
- Alloa Community Enterprises (ACE)
Bookdonors have paid out over £142,000 in the last four years to it’s not for profit stakeholders.
FirstPort’s cash boost to Scottish social entrepreneurs
A Glasgow based recycling mobile can crusher, a film and media initiative aimed at youngsters in Lanarkshire and Highlands based recycling enterprise – Glad Bags – have all just benefited from a share of the latest awards made by FirstPort. For more information click here.
Community Enterprise Ltd research into marketing social enterprises
Community Enterprise Ltd is researching the feasibility of a new trading subsidiary that will focus on the marketing, advertising and promotion of social enterprises and their products and services. As part of their research, they are carrying out a survey looking at the successes, challenges and best way forward for social enterprises who engage marketing agencies. To share your views go to:
Caring Christmas Trees 2009
Bethany Christian Trust and Coalition members Impact Arts and Kibble are, once again, selling good quality, fresh Scottish Christmas Trees ahead of the festive season. All profits made from the tree sales go to support these organisations in the work they do with local people and are available all across the country. For more information click here
Melting Pot Assisted Places Scheme
The Melting Pot is offering free membership to ten start-up social innovators / enterprises. Their assisted places scheme offers ten people access to the workspace, office resources and a chance to join in various skills-sharing and networking events. The closing date for the first round of applications is Monday 11 January 2010 and you can find further details here .
Developing Future Leaders, Thursday 14 January 2010, Edinburgh
ACOSVO’s Developing Future Leaders is designed for those aspiring to become a Chief Officer. The course is a combination of experiential and educational learning about the role of the third sector Chief Officer. For more information click here
20:Twenty Leadership Residential, 26 - 29 January 2010, Oban
The SocialEnterpriseAcademy’s 20: Twenty is a unique opportunity for those working in the social economy to come together to share the challenge of leadership within a vibrant sector doing business for good. For more information, click here
Voice10, 1 & 2 February 2010, Cardiff
The Voice10 programme isavailable onlineand the names signed up to speak at the event in Cardiff on 1st and 2nd February 2010 include Nigel Annett, CEO of Welsh Water, Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Co-operatives UK ,and Caroline Mason, CEO of Investing for Good.Group bookings of 5+ receive a 10% discount. For more information clickhere.
Social Auditor Workshop, Tuesday 2 February 2010, Edinburgh
SAN's Social Auditor workshops are aimed at people who wish to become SAN approved social auditors and chair social audit panels.The workshop will be run by John Pearce and the cost will be £150. To find out more or make a booking please email
HISEZ Conference, Friday 26 February 2010, Centre for Health Science, Inverness
With the chance to discuss issues facing social enterprise as well as visiting the trade stands, workshops delivered by the best facilitators around and a lively panel discussion, it is going to be another great conference and HISEZ would love to see you there! View the agenda and sign up online at
Sector News, Events & Resources
News
Third Sector Skills Partnership – Chairperson needed
Applications are invited from experienced practitioners with knowledge of both the third sector and the skills sector in Scotland to be an independent Chairperson of the Third Sector Skills Partnership. For more information, click here.
Nesta seeks Scotland's silver social entrepreneurs
Enterprising over-50s in Scotland are being urged to think of new ways to help over-70s lead healthier and happier lives. Nesta this week announced that its Age Unlimited programme will offer 20 community ventures up to £10,000 each to pilot projects tackling social isolation among elderly people. For more information click here
National Economic Forum
Over 200 public sector and business leaders (as well as the Coalition) turned up to meet the First Minster, John Swinney & Jim Mather at the National Economic Forum held earlier this week. Apart from the encouraging news that unemployment numbers in Scotland have fallen by 2000 in the last quarter and that special 42% proof Scottish whisky was proving the surprise hit at the Copenhagen conference, the big discussion centred on the economy and sustainable energy. Key points made were the role of community ownership and the contribution social enterprise can make to the human supply chain, training installers of renewable equipment. To read the updated Economic Recovery Plan click here.
Brown backs social impact bonds pilot
A new form of social investment, the social impact bond, will be piloted by government in 2010. Gordon Brown said 'We will pilot a new way of funding the third sector to provide such services. What we call social impact bonds - money paid out now to deal at root with the causes, not the symptoms of a problem. For example, seeking to lower the reoffending rate.”
Third sector has been 'kicked into the long grass', say Liberal Democrats
On the back of the Pre-Budget report, the Lib Dems responded that although they welcome the announcement of a social investment wholesale bank, it was tempered by the fact there was no indication of when it might start operating, how it would be funded in the long term indeed any mention on helping the third sector to effectively compete for public sector contracts. To read more click here.
GlasgowCity Council efficiency savings
Glasgow City Council is looking to make savings of up to 20% in its £84m budget for third sector organisations delivering services.
Firms to bid for Edinburgh council services
Edinburgh City Council wants to transfer many of its services to private companies to help save £90m. Refuse collection, school meals and street cleaning are included among a raft of departments in the review. If councillors back the plans next week, adverts inviting firms to apply will go out early in the new year.
Aberdeen's Glencraft factory update
Blind and disabled workers who are fighting to save an Aberdeen factory from permanent closure took their fight to Holyrood last week. Four members of staff from Glencraft presented a petition with nearly 2,500 signatures to First Minister Alex Salmond, which urged him to ensure the facility continues to trade in some capacity, to safeguard jobs. For more information click here.
The Climate Challenge Fund
This is a £27.4m fund (2008-2011) which was set up by the Scottish Government to provide grants to empower communities to take action to reduce their carbon footprint. The next deadline for applications for funding is 13 January 2010. For more information click here.
First ‘hostile’ community buy-out on the cards
Residents of an area of Lewis in the Western Isles have voted in favour of launching Scotland's first hostile community buy-out. Households in Pairc voted 195 to 87 in favour of lodging a formal application with the Scottish Government to buy the 25,000 acre estate on which they live. To read more click here.
BIG seeks feedback on funding process
The Big Lottery Fund in Scotland is seeking feedback on the application materials and processes which were used for the Investing in Communities programme. You can read more about their plans and submit your comments here .
Funding for short-term projects
The People's Postcode Trust has funding of between £500 to £10,000 available for three-month projects. Applications to the current round of funding need to be submitted by January 15th 2010 and you can find further information here .
Mapping exercise of projects working with Minority Ethnic communities on food issues
REACH Community Health Project have been commissioned by Community Food and Health Scotland to undertake a mapping exercise of voluntary sector organisations and projects working with people from Minority Ethnic backgrounds on food issues. If you wish to take part, please email
Free Mentoring and Support
Realise Mentoring Programme provides mentoring support to leaders of third sector organisations. To find out more about the Realise Mentoring Programme, either as a mentor or a mentee, please visit the website at
Events
Remember you can always view our Events calendar here...
Holyrood Conference: Public Sector Budget Cuts, 23 January 2010 , Edinburgh
Holyrood Magazine is hosting a conference examining the painful and divisive actions which will be necessary to fill the gap in public finances. For more information click here