A slightly truncated edition this week as it’s being written on a Wednesday and then through the powers of the internet is scheduled to be published on Friday while I am in Manchester!  (Fingers crossed that this hasn’t backfired and we end up on a list like this).

Anyway, happy reading, and if you like it you can sign up at the bottom to receive it each week by email…

1.   I’ll start with a correction – the video I linked to last week explaining RSA’s involvement with the SSE was made by the fantastic Helen Cotton, not her mum (and also SSE Fellow) Ann!  If you didn’t watch it last week, it really is well worth a watch.  (If you’re interested, Ann Cotton founded the super Camfed).

2.  A really interesting article on Pioneers Post – “Social Enterprise: Do you dare call yourself one?”, looking at whether calling your organisation a social enterprise is a help or a hindrance.  It’s a conversation I’ve had with a  few SSE Fellows recently, and attitudes seem to vary widely. (My own opinion is that Belu’s Sophie McCready gets it right when she talks about tailoring messaging to your audience).

3.  Applications for the Clore Social Leadership Programme close on Monday 2nd June, so get applying if you would like to be considered for this year’s cohort.  It’s a year long programme of support (taken full time over 12 months or part time over 24), and everyone I meet who has done it speaks very highly of it.  There are some useful tips on their blog if you are thinking of applying.

4.  You’ve got slightly longer to apply for Unltd’s SEDA Catalyst Award, which is open until Monday 16th June -on offer is £5k plus further support.

5.  London+Acumen are hosting an evening examining ‘Opportunities and Challenges for Social Enterprises in East Africa‘ on June 3rd.  Hopefully there will still be a few tickets remaining by the time this gets to you, as it looks an interesting event.

6.  A super write up of SSE Fellow Mariama Kamara’s recent visit to Sierra Leone, working with local women to sell solar powered lamps, which offer a far cleaner, safer and healthier alternative to more widely used kerosene lamps.

7.  In a well measured article, Nick Temple asks “has the social investment flagship sailed off course?”

8.  Current SSE student Rianna Raymond-Williams is running a crowdfunding campaign for her organisation Shine Aloud UK, which aims to educate, empower & entertain youth about sex & relationships.   You can back it here.

9.  At the heart of everything we do at SSE is ‘action learning’, and we’re piloting a course in Action Learning Facilitator training.  Grab yourself a bargain as we’re offering at a special introductory rate.

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Our next one day workshop is Kickstart Your Social Media Strategy on June 14th.