Dear members and friends,
I was only thirty hours in hospital but it was a powerful experience. First shock is the loss of privacy – sudden enforced intimacy with 5 strangers – who, following the admission interview, know everything about me including toileting. Then comes the realisation that I’m not in control of what happens here – that I’m being ‘processed’ by a dozen assorted operatives – who are variously skillful or fumbling – gracious or grumbling. Going with the flow is not my strength. Looking back, the physical discomfort was less than I anticipated. My memory is of us six old guys in that room – moving between fear, relief, distress, courage – only one thought, “Get me out of here!”.
Hilary Mantel is a beautiful writer (2009 Booker Prize for ‘Wolf Hall’). This year she had a prolonged spell in hospital when her ‘routine’ operation went wrong. This is from her diary: “Illness strips you back to an authentic self, but not one you need to meet. Too much is claimed for authenticity. Painfully, we learn to live in the world and be false. Then all our defences are knocked down in one sweep. In sickness we can’t avoid knowing about our body and what it does – we see things that never should be seen.” I think I know what she means – that without falsehood, life would not be tolerable. The human unconscious disregards the fact that it faces an end – a healthy denial – necessary to keep us going forward. But the occasional reminder of life’s fragility, is no bad thing. (The end piece is the great Carl Jung’s take on this.)
————————————-
A thriving civil society is dependent on free, strong and critical media; news media in particular must not be dominated by a small number of powerful interests – or democracy itself is compromised. For 30 years, no British political party has won an election without the approval of Rupert Murdoch – who now seeks to further extend his influence through the acquisition of B Sky B. The UK govt. has a legal obligation to uphold ‘media plurality’ – but such is the power of this man that we need to remain alert. The integrity of journalism is defined by values such as truthfulness and accuracy. From illegal spying at News of the World – to the hate filled Fox News empire in the USA – Murdoch has done more than any other person to trash these values. Regulator OFCOM must be left in no doubt that civil society will not tolerate any expansion of News Corporation in the UK. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10440
————————————-
The ‘socio-economic duty’, which the UK Govt. has decided to scrap, was simply a duty on public bodies to consider the impact of their policies on the poorest people. It was a small acknowledgement by Labour that they failed to make any progress against inequality – one of the most corrosive forces in society. By scrapping it, the Coalition sends the wrong message. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10441
————————————-
For the next year, alliances and mergers are going to be a feature of the Third Sector. In England, the Development Trust Association and Bassac have agreed to merge (new name to be announced) with the aim of becoming a more influential voice for the community sector. More so in Scotland, there’s a need for community organisations to form some kind of alliance, to better make their case to govt. In this interview with Regen.net, our community minister Alex Neil says that the govt’s regeneration/empowerment policy is under review. It’s time for our community sector to get more assertive. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10443
————————————-
In England, the private members bill to make social impact a consideration in public sector procurement, now has govt. backing and stands an excellent chance of getting through. This would be a significant advance for our movement. Scottish Govt. (with community benefit clauses) has also made steady progress in bringing social enterprises closer to public contracts. Gradually more social business are stepping up to the mark. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10447
————————————-
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: Glasgow Homelessness Network, Advocacy Matters (Greater Glasgow), Izzy’s Promise, Garvald Edinburgh, Advocacy Matters, Route 81 Youth Project Ltd, Argyll & Bute Social Enterprise Network EVENTS: EVOLVE workshops, 23 Nov; Follow the Thread Storytelling Session, 26 Nov; The Write Way to the Wild Woman, 27 Nov;
TENDERS: Short Break and Respite Services for Adults – Bearsden, UK-Edinburgh: apparatus for sound, video-recording and reproduction, Business Support to the Enterprising Third Sector
————————————–
NETWORKS 1st: Of late, Senscot has been collecting information (Vital Stats) on the economic impact of the Social Enterprise Networks and their membership. Our findings were officially launched at the Social Enterprise Ceilidh last week and show that in 7 of the 20 SENs – representing 30% of over 240 individual SEN members – members are thriving and providing vital jobs despite the challenging economic conditions. During the financial year 2009/10, of 70 social enterprises surveyed, had a combined turnover just under £60m – with 67% of their income generated through sales and contracts. The research indicates that if the current figures were to be extrapolated across all 20 SENs, this could show a community of businesses with a turnover exceeding £150 million, employing over 4,000 people and providing almost 9,000 training and volunteering opportunities. http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/shownotice.php?articleid=361 For more Networks News, see http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showart.php?articleid=167
————————————-
There is a real buzz and expectation around the subject of Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) – full house at Monday’s seminar in the Scottish Parliament. I was impressed with the presentation from Lisa Barclay (socialfinance.org.uk). No flannel. But I remain a SIB sceptic. The intent is exactly right – but the mechanism is too cumbersome to catch on. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10450
————————————–
The idea of measuring happiness or wellbeing, instead of GDP, has been part of the counter-culture agenda for many years – as readers of this bulletin will be aware. It now seems that David Cameron has picked up the idea – all credit to him. But more significant for Scotland is Alex Salmond’s recent recruitment of Noble Prize-winner Joe Stiglitz as an economic adviser – a man with a huge international reputation. Stiglitz chairs a commission for the French Govt which is looking for alternatives to GDP. This commission’s recommendations suggest that he is no ordinary economist. Changes ahead for Scotland? https://senscot.net/?viewid=10449
————————————-
I always read Ian Jack’s column in Saturday’s Guardian – this week he discusses Sandy Campbell’s Working Rite project down in Leith – gives it the thumbs up. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10444
————————————-
Here’s a great story about a social entrepreneur Dipal Barua – inspired by Yunus and Grameen – who has brought solar energy to 2 million poor people. https://senscot.net/?viewid=10448
————————————-
This week’s bulletin profiles a new social enterprise in the east end of Glasgow that provides a distinct experience by offering accessible sailing opportunities to suit people of all abilities and backgrounds. East End Endeavour Ltd sail a Rival 21 yacht that was fitted out at Dalmarnock on the Clyde as part of the Youth Opportunities Programme in the mid-1970s and owned for many years thereafter by Glasgow City Council. Later, she was managed as a sail training vessel by the Clyde Sail Training Trust (CSST). East End Endeavour Ltd purchased the boat in 2005 and began trading this year offering services to both community and corporate organisations. See more, http://www.senscot.net/view_prof.php?viewid=10452
————————————-
In October 1959, Carl Jung was interviewed for the BBC Face to Face programme. He was 84 – I remember seeing the programme. Near the end, John Freeman asked him what advice he gives to older patients regarding the prospect of death. This is what he said: “I have treated many old people and it’s quite interesting to watch what the unconscious is doing with the fact that it is apparently threatened with a complete end. It disregards it. Life behaves as if it were going on, and so I think it is better for old people to live on – to look forward to the next day, as if we had to spend centuries – and then we live properly. But when we are afraid, when we don’t look forward, we look back, we petrify, we get stiff and we die before our time. But when we’re living on, looking forward to the great adventure that is ahead, then we live – and that, I think, is about what the unconscious is intending to do.”
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your adventures
Best wishes,
Laurence
Subscribe to this bulletin: http://www.senscot.net/bsubscribe.php
To unsubscribe or change subscription address/ e-mail mail@senscot.net