Dear members and friends,
Our society can be understood as comprising three different ‘systems’ – each with its own value base – namely, the Market, the State, and a ‘third system’ we can call the Community; in any successful society, these three systems will be in balance. Senscot is a network – both virtual and relational – of people working to advance the third system: “which is based on the principles of self-help and mutuality – of caring for others – and of meeting social needs rather than maximising profit”.
In 1999, a group of us met and agreed, that our isolated adventures would be more effective if we kept in touch with each other. Through featuring the leading-edge ideas and initiatives of Scotland’s social enterprise community, the circulation of our bulletin has grown to its present level – circa 4000. Just as significantly, Senscot supports the development of clusters/networks of active social enterprises all across Scotland. In this way, the shape of national policy connects to front-line experience.
But what about this 250-word intro-column – most often remote from Senscot’s mission; enjoying the challenge of concocting something new each week, I can wander a bit off-script. But does it really matter that there is no coherent blueprint – that we are sometimes a bit ‘rambling’? Perhaps our oddity helps us to ‘endure’; a thousand bulletins! Not bad eh?
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Referring to this article by Robin McAlpine, Andrew Marr, last Sunday, challenged Nicola Sturgeon – that she and a small coterie of friends make all important decisions in Scottish Govt – intolerant of dissent. The politics of McAlpine and Commonspace is way left of SNP – more comfortable at next week’s RIC Conference – but the article’s concerns are more with the process/style, than the politics of our Govt; Some of his criticisms are uneven, clumsy, hurried – but others ring alarms bells. Nicola Sturgeon is admirable – our indy movement needs her authority/charisma; but the scrutiny of Govt by dissenters like McAlpine – who get some stuff wrong – should be welcomed.
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The list of 48 signatories to the new ‘Declaration for Independence’, includes names like Richard Holloway, Neal Ascherson, Tom Devine etc – so it was no surprise to discover that its text is a serious attempt to articulate what kind of country Scotland wants to become: a country that works for everyone.
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I increasingly notice the American economist Mariana Mazzucato, who argues here that the main economic challenge of our time, is getting control of the platform-dominated market for personal data. Democratised, it could improve all our lives – but its present monopolistic governance is leading to digital feudalism. This is a longer piece about Mazzucato’s ‘Plan to Fix Capitalism’.
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On Tuesday, the Met’s deputy commissioner said: “We are not saying Extinction Rebellion cannot protest in future – we are saying that this demonstration must now cease”. In other words – your protest must have our consent. But, unfortunately, that’s not how ‘rebellion’ works.
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I loved the early novels of John Le Carre – the sympathetic George Smiley embodied the best of the English ‘ruling class’. In this excellent conversation with John Banville (another favourite), Le Carre says: “I think my own ties with England were hugely loosened over the last few years…the truth becomes what you can get away with… our concept of patriotism is now utterly mysterious” Smiley’s world has gone.
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Le Carre’s attitude to Brexit is pungently expressed by a character in his new novel ‘Agent Running in the Field’.
“It is my considered opinion that for Britain and Europe, and for liberal democracy across the entire world as a whole, Britain’s departure from the European Union in the time of Donald Trump, and Britain’s consequent unqualified dependence on the United States in an era when the US is heading straight down the road to institutional racism and neo-fascism, is an unmitigated disaster, bar none.”
As the Senscot Bulletin reaches a significant milestone with its 1000th edition – it’s only right to point out that the SEN Weekly Review is still a relative ‘nipper’. Now in its fourth iteration, this ‘newsletter’ was set up to have a specific focus on the work and activity of local and, later, thematic SENs and their members. It began as ‘Network News’ in 2006 – as SEN activity was in the early stages – as an additional paragraph or two in our main bulletin. By 2007, it evolved into ‘Networks 1st’ and became distinct and separate from the Senscot Bulletin. In 2013, it underwent another revamp – emerging as ‘The SENs’. And, more recently, in 2018, merging back in again with the Senscot Bulletin – and taking on its current name. Not wandering off script as much as our main bulletin, it will continue to promote the invaluable work and contribution of local and thematic SENs and their members in communities across Scotland. See brief overview of Senscot’s Story – so far!
NOTICES: We can’t flag all notices here, but more jobs, events and tenders available on our website.
P4P has been running a series of blogs over recent months covering a range of topics relevant to social enterprises and third sector organisations. Their latest blog comes from Just Enterprise’s Zahra Hedges, who writes about the launch of the new Just Enterprise programme. You may also want to sign up here for P4P’s next workshop on collaboration and tendering – taking place in Elgin on 7th November. The event is being run in partnership with TSI Moray.
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The Cultural SEN is a member of Culture Counts – the collective voice for the cultural sector in Scotland – which seeks to collaborate with the sector to provide guidance to decision-makers in Government and Parliament about how to achieve sustainable development goals through culture. Their Useful Facts page gives some insight into the significant contribution being made by our cultural sector to Scottish society.
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We have recently been made aware of the work of Workforce Scotland – set up to develop and support people – from the public, private and third sectors – engaged in the delivery of public services across Scotland. Recognising the complexity involved in tackling these issues alone – the need for effective collaboration is greater than ever. Workforce Scotland is holding a ‘taster session’ in Edinburgh later this year – that may be of interest to many in our sector. Here’s their booklet on Collective Leadership.
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Frontline News: Zero Waste Scotland is hosting a series of events across Highlands and Islands (through October and November) to present their Deposit Return Scheme to island communities – see full details;
SE Action Plan Consultation events over next week or so: – Wednesday 23rd Oct in Sanquhar; Thursday 24th Oct in Edinburgh; and Friday 1st Nov in Castle Douglas. See links to sign up. See Emerging Themes to date;
Glasgow SEN launches its SE in Glasgow 2019 Report – on 31st October. The Report provides a comprehensive insight into the SE landscape and its economic impact in the city. See full details;
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This week’s bulletin profiles a new social enterprise based in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders. Sea the Change looks to encourages the wider community to adopt new behaviours and attitudes that can create a healthier and more sustainable world. Through a series of events, activities and campaigns, they seek to engage and educate and encourage both children and adults to make small, but positive changes to raise environmental awareness through engagement and protection of the natural environment. Sea the Change’s impact is already being acknowledged via their listing as finalists in this year’s Borders Business Awards in both the Community Impact and Social Enterprise of the Year categories.
