SENSCOT MEMBERS’ BULLETIN No. 160, FRIDAY 10th
JANUARY 2003
Dear Members and friends,
Partner Anne and I were in Spain over the break- got back
yesterday. Surprised by the power of simple sunlight to soothe the body and
soul. Out of the breeze it got quite hot and most days we sat in Pedro’s Beach
Bar reading or watching people:
Like the
black saxophone player whose pitch was nearby – one of the best-looking guys
you’ll ever see in a white vest – every day he’d take half an hour to lovingly
assemble his sax – muscles rippling in the sunlight. We watched the women’s
faces as they passed – looking at him – then each other – ‘Wow! Let’s see
this!’ – Unfortunately that was the best bit – he couldn’t play the damn thing
– collected good money though – more to do with physique than technique.
One day,
small older guy comes by carrying shoeshine kit. Swigs from brandy bottle –
dishevelled – probably rough sleeper – Ages with me – feel sorry for him. Soon
regret it. He’s drunk – smells horribly – something scary about his eyes. In
minutes my shoes are buffed – give him 3 euros – ‘No,’ he says, ‘5 euros.’
‘No,’ I reply, ‘3 euros.’ He starts to get abusive – ‘That’s your lot’ I say,
raising voice – in a flash he whips off my left shoe – backs away. ‘Hey!’ Jump
up after him. Everyone is laughing – sit back down. Hand over 5 euros for my
shoe – folk cheer – smiles all round – I was raging.
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New Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, seems a
‘live one’ – a refreshingly turbulent priest. In his recent Dimbleby lecture he
referred to a new book, ‘The Shield of Achilles’, which argues that the
function of government is no longer to shape our lives in every aspect –
health, welfare, education, employment – but rather to clear a space for
individuals and groups to do their own negotiating to secure the best value for
money in pursuing ‘what they want’. The archbishop rightly points out this new
‘market state’ leaves a space where public morality, local loyalty, and a sense
of community used to be. Furthermore, “In these environments where there is
acute deprivation – including deprivation of everyday habits of mutuality and
respect – the institutions which carry the culture – which help you shape a
story for your life – are simply not there.”
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David Blunkett, none less, vigorously took up the debate in
last week’s Spectator, accusing Dr Williams of misrepresenting the reality of
our deprived communities. “Historically, he should remember that our most
deprived areas are those in which the most profound non-government mutuality
developed in the 19th Century, and that the spirit of mutuality is a
live and well in many of our poorest areas 100 years on”. The home secretary
wrote of the importance of building capacity in our communities for the
creation of decent public services. “Providing such services while helping
local communities rebuild themselves is the challenge of the 21st
century”. As Senscot’s been saying for some time, our Scottish government has
not signed up for this community empowerment agenda and Scotland needs more
open policy debate on this and other related issues.
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Last week saw the publication of the long-awaited Scottish
Cities Review, which we haven’t had time to look at yet. It was predicted to be
a ‘damp squib’, but Professor Grey Lloyd from DundeeUniversity is quoted as
saying that it is ‘more exciting’ than had been predicted, and that for the
first time recognised Scotland’s cities as ‘city regions’ – drivers of change
in their own areas. (http://www.senscot.net/LD/Articles/Scot_Cit_Review.asp)
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Glasgow Housing Association has appointed a group of banks
and building societies to arrange funding of £850m to modernise the city’s
housing stock. The City Council has given the go-ahead and the plan now just
awaits Jack McConnell’s stamp of approval.
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NOTICES: See Hot Pages at https://senscot.net/LD/Menu.asp for
more on these and other items and job vacancies. If you have a relevant notice
you’d like posted, send it to mail@senscot.net
Earthship Fife work recommences with the aim of finishing it
by the end of April 2003. You can get involved. For details of working weekends
and volunteer days (starting Fri 17 Jan), contact Paula Cowie of Sustainable
Communities Initiative: inquiry@sci-scotland.org.uk;
www.sci-scotland.org.uk.
3 remaining regional workshops on developing Internet
strategies for organisations. Advice will also be given on funding sources:
Inverness 6th Feb, Aberdeen 12th Feb, Dumfries 18th Feb – still some free
places available. Cathie Rowell: cathie.rowell@scvo.org.uk,
0141 225 8003.
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Scottish Charities are doing well in terms of self-generated
income and public-sector grant-funding, a new Scottish Council for Voluntary
Organisations report reveals. At the same time, income from investment has
continued its slide (from a high of £250m in 1992 to £200m in 2001). In 2001,
32% of Scottish Charities income was self-generated from trading, rents and
investments, 19% from public donations, 11% from public sector contracts; 1%
from corporate donations. (http://www.senscot.net/LD/Articles/Charities_healthy.asp)
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Meanwhile, news comes this week that the Community Fund and
the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) have started merger talks. This would create
the largest lottery distribution board, funnelling half of all funds raised.
Luke FitzHerbert of the Directory of Social Change (DSC) expressed concern: “We
are opposed to this merger because we do not believe it to be in the best
interests of an independent voluntary sector. If it does go ahead, the
completely independent allocation of charities’ existing percentage of lottery
funds must be fully enshrined in the arrangements.” NOF, which currently
receives a third of all lottery money, follows strict government guidelines on
funding, while the Community Fund has considerably more freedom.
(http://www.senscot.net/LD/Articles/Lottery_merger.asp)
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Member Eddie Harkins point us to an Observer article by
Labour’s Ian McCartney. It’s from December, but it makes a germane and unusual
argument: namely, that NHS foundation trusts aren’t elitism, but instead are
‘the rebirth of socialism’. (http://www.senscot.net/LD/Articles/NHS_trusts.asp)
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The development of the Scottish Canal System has presented
an opportunity for the establishment, expansion and diversification of a number
of enterprises based around the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals. Included
amongst these is the Camelon Boat Company Ltd, a local co-operative providing
luxury boat hire on both canals. The Camelon Boat Company Ltd has been set up
by a group of local people who were anxious not only to enhance tourist
perceptions within Falkirk District but also to generate local employment
within the Camelon area. Located in Camelon, this community business currently
provides a boat hire service stretching from Kilsyth to Linlithgow. At present,
they have three boats but have plans to expand their fleet to ten. For further
information, see www.senscot.net, (Project Profiles).
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Archbishop Rowan Williams spoke of our need to “shape a
story for our lives”, and where to find it. Christianity and socialism – the
inspirations of recent generations – have both lost their vigour – conviction –
and it’s difficult to discern the visions which shape people’s lives today.
Endless information is available – endless choices, and the search for ethical
value is becoming the greatest contemporary dilemma:
Carl Gustav Jung wrote “I have
treated many hundreds of patients. Among those in the second half of their life
– that is to say, over 35 – there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a
religious outlook on life”.
That’s all for this week. May this be a prosperous year for
social entrepreneurs in Scotland.
Best wishes,
Laurence.