Dear members and friends,
When I read obituaries now, I always check what age they died – if they were born before 10/5/40 I calculate how long I’ve got to go. Someone born in 1930 means I’ve got 10 years left – (1920s births are getting rarer). If they’ve died younger than me, I congratulate myself for having outlived them – it’s a win/win situation. I’ve also found a website called ‘dead.atyourage.com’, where you enter your D.O.B and it tells you all the famous people you’ve outlived. For instance today, I’ve lived 68 years and 328 days – whereas Josephine Baker, the dancer, lived only 68 years and 313 days – and Dimitri Shostakowich, the composer, only lived 68 years and 318 days.
In spite of these games, the prospect of death bothers me less than it did when I was younger – which could be for various reasons. I like to think it’s spiritual maturity, equanimity – accepting death as the inevitable (and fitting) end to life. But it could also be a general cooling off of the ability to feel anything – the emotional equivalent of planet death. Somerset Maugham said that the tragedy of life is not that men perish – but that they cease to love. It’s a bit like supporting Hibs – I once went to all the games – then only Easter Road – then only the big games: now I listen to the radio, pottering in the garden. My investment is less, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care – and hope, ever ready, awaits her day of glory
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The main umbrella for the Third Sector in Scotland is called SCVO (Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations) – a quick glance at its 65 year history shows a continuous adaptation to events within civil wider society. https://senscot.net/?viewid=7995 SCVO’s origins, are closely entwined with those of our Councils of Voluntary Service (CVS’s) and their recent departure to form the new Voluntary Action Scotland (VAS) is a significant break with the past. Other events also presage change; Scottish Government’s call for a new unified ‘interface’ with the Third Sector at Local Government level; the general shift of emphasis towards social enterprise activity. These and other trends call for a fresh look at Third Sector infrastructure – perhaps embracing NCVO’s (the English Umbrella) dialogue with wider civil society institutions like the churches, unions etc. Mrs Harry Whiteside, who chaired the VAS Steering Group, informs us about its first meeting in Perth on 16th April, including the new directors. See link, http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=8000
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During a brief period when Scotland had a differentiated Social Enterprise Strategy, Senscot was one of the main actors (partnering Scottish Government) in creating the necessary infrastructure for the new movement: SE Academy, SE Networks, SE Coalition, Firstport etc. We need to ask if our Government sees an ongoing role for these agencies, now that we are deemed part of the generic Third Sector. In the wider UK, there are no signs that political support for social enterprises is diminishing – the slipstream of English (and Welsh) activity could keep our movement alive – but it would be sore to lose our independent infrastructure. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7997
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The Glasgow Housing Association was set up in 2000 for the sole purpose of transferring housing to locally run organisations – but some very ambitious bureaucrats took over – said second stage transfer was too expensive – that they could do better if they kept the stock. The fact that Glasgow City Council has now moved against the GHA is, unfortunately, not to enforce tenants` rights – it’s because GHA shafted the Glasgow Labour Party over a building contract – serious mistake in the part of Scotland where municipalism still reigns supreme. This led Nicola Sturgeon to ‘doubt GHAs understanding of the environment they operate in`. At a ceremony last week celebrating the transfer of 1700 GHA tenants to 4 local housing associations, Sturgeon said ‘ This is the opening of the flood gates – the breaking of the dam’. http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7993
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NOTICES: We can’t flag all notices here, but submit jobs and events and we’ll post them on our site. See http://www.senscot.net/jobsevents.php. This week:
JOBS: incl. posts with The Melting Pot, The Engine Shed, North Glasgow Community Food Initiative
EVENTS: Funding surgeries, CRT, 6 Apr; Community Sector Trading, DTA, 5 May; Fintry Renewable Energy Show, Fintry Development Trust, 9 May; Facilitation Training Day, Talk Action, 15 May; Social Capital and Community Resilience, Edinburgh, 4 June; Peas vs. Pills Health Workshop, Edinburgh, 6 June;
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NETWORKS 1st News: Colin writes: Yesterday, I attended the first meeting of the Social Enterprise Procurement Forum at the Scottish Parliament. We heard about the Scottish Parliament’s refreshing approach to purchasing which is backed up by their ‘Responsible Purchasing’ Policy. This will focus on reducing environmental impact through; Delivering ethical and social improvements within contracts; communicating effectively; being innovative and pursuing excellence. To find out more about their contracts, see Networks News, http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showart.php?articleid=81
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Three weeks to go till S2S, Scotland’s main trade fair for our sector. Numbers are filling up so book now to make sure you get a place. We’re told there are now only 7 stands available. For more, see http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7994
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Senscot is commissioning two pieces of research on social enterprises in the field of health and social care. The first piece will be an update of last year’s `Fit for Purpose` case studies. The second piece of work will explore opportunities that exist for social enterprises to engage with Scottish Govt`s `Healthy Working Lives` initiative. The research will be carried out by DTA Scotland’s new consultancy service – The Pool. See last year’s case studies, http://www.senscot.net/view_res.php?viewid=7155
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£125 per day available for freelance fieldworkers offering advice and support to community and therapeutic gardening projects across Scotland. Great opportunity available through Trellis Scotland. See more http://www.senscot.net/view_job.php?viewid=8002
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Support to social enterprises is more widely available than ever. Two current examples include the `Aspire to Enterprise` Programme as well as the `Starting Your Social Enterprise` Programme – a collaboration between the SE Academy and Firstport. Both programmes are offering courses that are worth looking into. See more, http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7992
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Recently, we mentioned the Social Innovation Camp event in Glasgow in June. Their `call for ideas` is now open. If you’ve got ideas that use the web to create social change – in education, health care or the environment – apply now. See details, http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=7996
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This week’s bulletin profiles one of Scotland’s newest and most innovative social enterprises – Hebridean Chocolates. Set up by Voluntary Action Lewis, the chocolate factory operates from an old bakery in Stornoway and will provide training placements and employment for 14 local people including a number with learning difficulties. For more, see http://www.senscot.net/view_prof.php?viewid=7998
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From ‘Soliloquies of a Hermit’ by Theodore Frances Powys.
‘In the old days I thought something wonderful would happen to me – now I believe that the most wonderful thing is that nothing wonderful happens. We are just as we are – nothing else – are we not wonderful enough? By only hearing the wind howl in the chimney, I am filled with all the harmony of music. By eating bread I am fed with the whole goodness and fullness of the earth. And when the silent mood comes, the calmness of immense seas and eternal spaces fills me…I know now that the things of greatest value can be had for the asking – that the centre of life is always near.’
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your adventures
Best wishes,
Laurence
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