“Hello gorgeous, how you doing?” Not my words, reader, but the words of my two year old son when I returned from work the other evening. I was more than a little surprised, as a) he’s only two b) neither his mother or I greet people like that and c) I don’t think that he drives a van with a copy of The Sun perched on the dashboard (refer to point a). I’m looking forward to seeing how his language evolves – maybe in eighteen months or so he’ll have gone full Danny Dyer. I’m half tempted to encourage it further just to mix things up around the Christmas table with the rest of my family.
Anyhow, there’s nothing more boring than people banging on about what their children have been doing so with that in mind, let’s crack on with the wooden pews (news)…
Captain. Leader. Legend.
After last week’s Alastair Wilson special edition he’s dominating the headlines yet again this week, as Ali has been given a well deserved honorary Fellowship of Social Enterprise UK at this year’s Social Enterprise UK awards for his contribution to the social enterprise movement. Now, Ali, please stop hogging the newsletter. I don’t care if you’re announced as the next King of England, next week’s news will be an Ali free zone.
You’re all winners in my eyes
Well done to all those who picked up (and were nominated for) an award at the SEUK bash. Elsewhere, SSE Fellow Neelam Heera was given a Points of Light Award by Theresa May. Neelam founded Cysters, a charity based in Birmingham which tackles the taboo of women’s reproductive and mental health in marginalised communities. You can find out more here.
Jolly good fellows
If you fancy becoming (or know someone who might) a Fellow of SSE we’ve just opened applications to our Fellowship programme in London. Starting in May 2020 the course will support you as you start up a social enterprise, charity or business to help people. If you are interested in the course come along to a free workshop in January where we can tell you more…
Panic level: medium
If, like me, you are at a complete loss when it comes to buying Christmas presents each year The Guardian have put together ‘The feel-good gift guide: 12 ethical Christmas presents with a conscience‘ which might have some helpful ideas for you. (I’ll still end up buying my dad a bottle of whisky and my mum some flowers).
Funny money
Before you launch into your Christmas shopping it might be worth your while taking part in the second of our webinars with RSA. ‘Planning your finances’ on December 4th will walk viewers through the essential tools needed to plan their finances in the short and long-term, including the crucial forecasting required to help predict cash flow problems and the strategies for avoiding them.
It’s free to take part and don’t worry if you missed the first webinar. You can sign up here.
Reach for the stars
Four of the UK’s largest housing associations have partnered to create the Community Impact Partnership launch. Clarion, L&Q, Peabody and Orbit will be offering blended grants and loans to help charitable organisations, social enterprises and community businesses to grow and innovate in the communities served by the four associations.
You can apply for investment through the Reach Fund here.
Requires immediate action
An exciting looking programme of support is available from Acevo. The Jane Slowey memorial membership programme will ‘provide expert support, guidance, advice and mentoring for women who are aspiring CEOs, or are in their first two years as a CEO for a charity or social enterprise. Priority will be given to women who are under 45, from BAME backgrounds and/or who have a disability’. You’ve got to be really quick, the deadline to apply is today.
Bake off
It’s not just steak bakes, pasties and sausage rolls that you can get from Greggs – they are offering grants of £2,000 to not-for-profit organisations (with an income of less than £300k) across England, Scotland and Wales. They are interested in ‘projects that improve resilience within your community’ and the application period for the next round of funding opens tomorrow (1st December).
Trading places
SSE Fellow Chloe Meineck is looking for a part time operations manager in Bristol (£22k pro rata) to help her launch Music Memory Box, a product for people living with dementia and their families. Deadline to apply is 20th December.
Breath Arts Health Research, founded by SSE Fellow Yvonne Farquharson, are looking for a part time Communications & Engagement Coordinator (£30k pro rata) based in London. Deadline to apply is December 12th.
If you know anyone aged 18-60 who would like a guaranteed job as a barista, social enterprise Well Grounded (founded by SSE Fellow Eve Wagg) are recruiting for its next Specialty Barista Traineeship. It’s a free 8 week course with a paid work placement and a guaranteed job. More info on their website.
It’s the last couple of days to apply to be SSE’s communications coordinator (c.£25k). Based in London, most of your work will be focused on helping to attract social entrepreneurs to our learning programmes, and helping SSE improve our communications. Apply by midday on Monday.
Top of the class
Nice to SSE Fellow Temi Kamson’s organisation GT Scholars get a mention in a Guardian article examining how student Micheal Olorode has funded his way through university without a loan. “I worked hard at school though and, with the help of GT Scholars…I got some of the best A-level grades in my class.” You can read the article here and find out more about GT Scholars on their website.
Last but by no means least
Finally, congratulations to SSE Fellow Barbara Burton who has just been named in the BBC 100 Women 2018, a list of the most influential and inspirational women of 2018. Barbara runs Behind Bras, a social enterprise which empowers serving and former women prisoners to build skills through meaningful and aspirational careers.
You can read Barbara’s story here
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What’s on at SSE:
- Measuring Social Impact, London, 14th and 15th Jan
- Crowdfunding for Charities and Social Enterprises, London, 18th Jan
- How to Create an Authentic Mission Led Brand, London, 22nd Jan
- Handling Difficult Conversations, London, 5th Feb
- Writing Successful Bids, London, 13th Feb
