Dear members and friends,
Clachan is a Scots word for a hamlet – usually with a church and a few cottages; six years ago, I visited one on a remote part of the Hopetoun estate near South Queensferry – I’ve lived here happily since. The affinity I feel with the natural world still surprises me – also, how much I enjoy being alone. Solitude used to be an occasional respite from people – now it’s the other way round – occasional people. My present lifestyle suits me – almost too much; I sometimes wonder if there’s another version of myself trying to get my attention – so I’ve decided to head off for the whole of September – see what happens. I find that travel – especially after 3/4 weeks – cuts me loose from the habitual – allowing all manner of wild imaginings.
My plan is to simply load up my wee Panda – overnight boat from Queensferry to Zeebrugge – meander south to the tribal homelands in Italy – the magic of being ‘on the road again’. But now I’m getting resistance from voices of reason – my own and others; you’re too old to drive all that way yourself – you’ll get lonely – you’d be more comfortable pottering at home. In ‘Poetry of Departures’, Philip Larkin reflects on how we become trapped by ‘home’ and ‘having to be there’; the security of our ordered life and routines; our familiar room – with its specially chosen junk – the good books – the good bed – the pictures – the china: “a life reprehensibly perfect.” https://senscot.net/?viewid=9829
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Next May, we Scots will decide whether to give the SNP another term in office (they’re willing to try things) – or to bring back the Labour Party; I’ll be influenced by which lot I believe better understands the importance of the Civil Society. Front line communities – particularly our poorer ones – depend on a whole tier of services which are led by volunteer citizens. These are the play schemes, OAP clubs, crisis centres, youth clubs etc – thousands of small scale enterprises, run on a shoestring. When it comes to the crunch (and its coming) which of the parties understands that this activity is the very fabric of our society – which party will protect the front line. See more https://senscot.net/?viewid=9817
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The Prime Minister has stated in Parliament that the Third Sector merits being called the First Sector – and that it should be funded in the same favoured way as public bodies – (able to reclaim VAT etc). Both civil servants and political commentators are beginning to realise just how serious this govt. is about Big Society. In my lifetime there has never been a political climate as committed to empowering citizens. I know its mostly just talk and ideas so far – but when the ideas are right we should say so. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9818
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Whichever of the Miliband boys becomes leader of the Labour Party – they both have excellent credentials extolling the merits of the Community Empowerment. The Senscot archive records their stirring speeches during periods with the Cabinet Office – but the arrival of Gordon Brown – the ultimate statest – curbed this enthusiasm. Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian, believes that the whole Big Society agenda sits more credibly with the traditions of the Labour Party and that following the leadership election – ‘Whichever Miliband’ should move quickly to reclaim it. See https://senscot.net/?viewid=9815
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Thanks largely to the efforts of the Development Trusts Movement (among others), the transfer of assets (mostly buildings) from Councils, to community ownership, is gathering momentum. Around 700 such transactions are currently underway in the UK. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9819 But news reaches Senscot that Edinburgh City Council is going to court (4 days in November) to take a community centre FROM a community. The building at Niddrie Mains Terrace was given to the Craigmillar community in 1938 by the Edinburgh University Settlement. The council says it needs the building to house its social work office. The court case will cost tax payers around £30k. Edinburgh Council has long had a bad reputation for bullying its communities – but this must be a low point – even for them.
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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: Penumbra, Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, The Big Issue in Scotland, Firstport, Gorbals Healthy Living Network, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Stepping Stones for Families, Comas
EVENTS: The BIG KIC, 15 Aug; Getting Ready to Buy, 23 Aug; More Than Furniture, 24 Aug; Hatches, Matches and Dispatches, 25 Aug; Realising Potential – next steps for social enterprise in Scotland, 2 Sep;
TENDERS: ITT for an Advertising Campaign – Dundee – One City, Many Discoveries; Ground Maintenance Contract; Window Cleaning Contract; Collection and Reprocessing of Dry Recyclables and Collection of Food Waste; Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment; Provision of Amenity Grass Cutting Services
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NETWORKS 1st: Colin writes: The SVA Learning Events, run by the Social Enterprise Academy, for the Single Interfaces, kick off in Aberdeen on Friday 27th Aug (first of four). The events aim to develop Business Plans for the Single Interfaces. See contact info, (http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/shownotice.php?articleid=260). All costs will be reimbursed. So far, we know that Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee SENs have been invited to attend. If your SEN would like to be involved but has not been invited, get in touch and book places. For more info’, contact colin@senscot.net For more Networks News, http://www.senscot.net/networks1st/showart.php?articleid=150
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The first issue of ReadyforBusiness.org’s online ‘Brief’ is available this week. The quarterly ‘Brief’ aims to give news updates and background on RfB. Issue No.1 highlights the success of Unity Enterprise in winning a large catering contract for the Commonwealth Velodrome. See RfB ‘Brief’, http://www.readyforbusiness.org/downloads/rfbbriefJuly10.pdf
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Late in 2009, a Vital Stats ‘pilot’ was carried out with members from Aberdeen, Dundee and Clacks SENs. We are now extending the survey – revisiting the three above and including another five SENs, focusing on 4 ‘city Networks’ and 4 ‘regional Networks’. In doing so, we believe Vital Stats will demonstrate, in quantifiable terms, the growth and development of the Scottish social enterprise community in recent years – in employment terms, trading percentages and as significant contributors to the local economy. Community Enterprise Ltd will be assisting us. See more, https://senscot.net/?viewid=9827
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In a recent interview, Andrew Haig, a partner with private bank Coutts and Co. said that “Many wealthy individuals looked after by the bank are keen to give something back to society, but aren’t necessarily keen on philanthropy. When you explain the concept of social enterprise to them, their eyes light up.” https://senscot.net/?viewid=9830 The pamphlet ‘The Rise of the Social Entrepreneur’ was published by Demos in 1997 – but it’s only now, 13 years later, that the private business sector is starting to ‘get it’. Here’s a private sector take on the profiles of 12 current social businesses and their founders. https://senscot.net/?viewid=9820
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A study of over 300,000 people has shown that having good networks of friends and neighbours boosts survival chances by more than 50%. The US researchers found that, “When someone is connected to a group and feels responsibility for other people, that sense of purpose and meaning translates to taking better care of themselves. We take relationships for granted as humans – we’re like fish that don’t notice the water. That constant interaction is not only beneficial psychologically but directly to our physical health – friendship is essential to human survival.” https://senscot.net/?viewid=9831
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This week’s bulletin profiles a social enterprise that was initially set up as a recreation facility for the employees of the Patons and Baldwin Factory in Alloa. When the factory closed in 1999, the Company gifted the pavilion and adjoining land to nominated trustees to be used for the good of the local community. The Patons and Baldwins Recreation Club has taken on this mantle and has become 100% self sustaining through income generated by its various activities. It is now going through a re-launch to attract wider membership from the local community. See more, http://www.senscot.net/view_prof.php?viewid=9813
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The following is an extract from a speech given by the Nigerian writer Ben Okri – on 15th April 2003. “In Iraq, the need of the Americans to protect oil fields, but not hospitals, museums and libraries, is a catastrophic failure of imagination and a signal absence of a sense of the true values of civilisation. The end of the world begins not with the barbarians at the gate, but with the barbarians at the highest levels of the state. All the states in the world. The real war always has been to keep alive the light of civilisation everywhere; to keep culture and art at the forefront of our national and international endeavours.” The full speech is at https://senscot.net/?viewid=9816
That’s all for this week. Good luck with your adventures
Best wishes,
Laurence
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