Dear members and friends,
In western developed countries, the migration of populations from the land to cities is more or less complete. The 5% of people who still `do` agriculture, do so by choice – and produce more food than our people can consume. But in the developing world, this rural to urban shift is just getting into its stride; It is estimated that across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, there are 5 million new city dwellers every month. The population of Chongqing in China is put at 30million – a mega-city. Every day, another 1500 arrive – and every day another 1.5million sq ft of floor space is constructed. Scientists project that during this century – humankind will become an entirely urban species. Because people in cities have smaller families than on the land, they also predict that, circa 2050, the population of the world will peak at around 9 billion – and thereafter – for the first time in history – decline.
My ancestors were subsistence level farmers from the mountainous Abruzzo region of Italy – who moved to Scotland after the Great War – economic migrants. The research shows that once such folk urbanise – they almost never return to the land – so it is with our tribe. True, some cousins have built smart holiday or retirement homes in our valley – they may harvest olives – grow some fruit and veg – even make (undrinkable) wine – but they’re just playing at it. Countless centuries, at the mercy of the land and the elements, are over. For better or worse, we’re all townies now.
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Announcing the current 3 year spending round (2008 – 2011), Scottish Govt made it clear to the Councils of Voluntary Service (£11m) and Volunteer Centres (£11m) that this would be the last such award – that henceforth Govt would deal only with a ‘Single Interface’ – representing the composite Third Sector – in each of Scotland’s 32 Community Planning Partnership (CCP) areas. These Single Interfaces will be expected to perform certain key functions – including “Social Enterprise Development” https://senscot.net/?viewid=9968 If these interfaces are to be ‘the only game in town’ – we can’t afford to ignore them – so alongside the Coalition (SSEC), Senscot is attending meetings – to ensure that the social enterprise community (particularly the Networks) get fair access to these new mechanisms – and the resources at their disposal. Here’s a note of the meeting on 30th August. Next meeting scheduled for 28th Sept. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9967
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Senscot is a keen supporter of the Development Trust Association (DTA) – and we played a humble part in the launch of its Scottish sister (DTAS) in 2005; so it is with great interest that we are following the current discussions around a merger with BASSAC (another English membership body for community organisations). Steve Wyler (DTA director) makes it clear that both organisations are in good shape – under no pressure to merge – but that: “A merger could create something exciting – not only to support community organisations nationwide – but also to shape national and local policy”. The idea of Third Sector intermediaries merging to form stronger and more strategic organisations is an inspiring example. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9960
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Many of us are convinced that the way children are raised these days is too risk averse – that wee people need to be helped to take and manage appropriate risk. The Scandinavians have pioneered adventure nursery schools in woodland – and the German govt has just passed legislation specifically to counter the smothering health and safety regs as they apply to children. Nearer home – at the Secret Garden nursery in Fife this issue is being played out in relation to washing of little hands in the woods – read on. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9962
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We mentioned last week that the English Regeneration body BURA is to go into voluntary liquidation. Andy Milne, CEO of SURF, writes to inform us that SURF has for some time been in discussion with BURA about making the most practical use of cross border remits and capacities – and that the same offer of collaboration has now been made with regard to discussions about a replacement English body. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9958
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NOTICES: We can’t flag all notices here, but more jobs, events and tenders available on our website. See http://www.senscot.net/jobsevents.php . This week:
JOBS: St Peter’s Edinburgh; Voluntary Arts Scotland; Wester Hailes Health Agency; Mayfield and Easthouses Youth 2000 Project; Gorgie City Farm; Gowrie Care Ltd; Turning Point Scotland
EVENTS: Next steps for social enterprise in Scotland, 2 Sep; Inspiration and Celebration, 8 Sep; Understanding Social Enterprise, 9 Sep; EVOLVE workshops, 23 Sep; Another Lost Generation? 28 Sep;
TENDERS: ITT for an Advertising Campaign – Dundee; Ground Maintenance Contract; Window Cleaning Contract; Collection and Reprocessing of Dry Recyclables and Collection of Food Waste;
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NETWORKS 1st: Colin writes: Big Senscot turnout for yesterday’s `next steps for social enterprise in Scotland` Conference in Glasgow. Great speakers – 240 delegates – an inspiring occasion. This was the gathering of a much more mature and confident community than even last year. As well as surviving the Q&A at the end, I particularly enjoyed Toby Eccles` (Social Finance) presentation on Social Impact Bonds and their potential to change the nature of investment in social enterprise. We’ll keep you posted on their progress. Congratulations are due to CEiS who organise this annual event – which has become unmissable. Here’s the list of delegates, https://senscot.net/?viewid=9739
For more Networks News, see http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showart.php?articleid=155
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Date for your diary: Senscot’s AGM will be held on Friday 1st October at EVH’s new premises at 137 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3EW between 1-3pm. We’re still finalising the Agenda and keynote speaker but will be able to confirm this over the next week. In the meantime, here are our audited accounts for 2009/10. http://www.senscot.net/docs/accounts2010.doc
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I support the notion of devolving some functions of the central state – the municipalist junta – in favour of community enterprises – mutuals with local accountability. But, Paul Gosling argues in this article, if the process is imposed from above – there are real pitfalls for the co-operative and social enterprise sectors. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9964
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Regen & Renewal Mag runs a good piece on the eviction by Edinburgh Council of Craigmillar community groups from their oldest community centre. It’s interesting that the Scottish press won’t touch the story. Municipalist Junta? https://senscot.net/?viewid=9963
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A new Mori poll (commissioned by SSEC) suggests that – in the last year alone – there has been a 15% increase in Scots` knowledge of social enterprise – in particular the poll reveals a mounting appetite for renewable energy enterprises. Nicholas Gubbins, chief executive of the charity Community Energy Scotland, said yesterday "This poll confirms our daily experience of working with hundreds of community groups across Scotland on their renewable energy projects. There is tremendous enthusiasm at community level. Scotland is leading the way in drawing in the benefits to communities from renewable energy. It’s vital that we keep this momentum going." See, https://senscot.net/?viewid=9970
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This week’s bulletin profiles a DTA Scotland member from Easdale Island (Eilean Eisdeal), located 16 miles south of Oban. The island’s Community Development Trust was set up in 1997 to carry out projects that would help the regeneration and sustainability of the local community. Its first major project, the renovation of a unique slate built hall on the island for use as an arts and community centre, was completed in May 2003. In 2005 funding was secured for the purchase of the island’s historic harbour. For more, see
http://www.senscot.net/view_prof.php?viewid=9959
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Vaclav Havel famously said in 1990; “ Either we have Hope within us or we do not. It is a dimension of the soul and is not essentially dependent on some particular observation of the world. Hope is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart.”
Compare this with the insight of Lu Hsun: “ Hope cannot be said to exist, nor cannot be said not to exist. It is just like the roads across the earth. For actually there were no roads to begin with, but when many people pass one way, a road is made.”
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your adventures
Best wishes,
Laurence
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