Hasn’t that felt like a long week? I’m pretty confident that the first week of January has extra days in it, it’s the only rational explanation for why it feels like Christmas took place about six months ago.
January is of course the time for new year resolutions. Here are mine, which rather fortunately tie in with everything in this week’s social enterprise news. Spooky.
I will read more.
But what to read? Luckily the Guardian have compiled ‘five must-reads for charity workers‘. It’s a fairly insistent headline so I suppose I had better start there.
I will learn something new.
And where better to do it than at this year’s Social Media Exchange, organised by SSE Fellow Jude Habib. It takes place in London on Monday 8th February and is for people with an interest in the power of storytelling and the impact it can have – to raise awareness, change perceptions, inspire action, recruit volunteers, engage supporters and generate funds.
I will get a new job.
Only joking boss. No-one would have me. So I won’t be applying to be a non-executive director for social enterprise Evenbreak, founded by SSE Fellow Jane Hatton. But you could – Evenbreak’s mission is to help create a world where disabled people enjoy the same opportunities in the workplace as non-disabled people. You can download the spec here: Non-Exec Directors specification
I will wake up to a new way of doing business.
Because that’s what Dan Gregory of SEUK told me to do in this rather good article looking at the impact that social enterprise could have in 2016.
I will get to grips with Social Investment Tax Relief.
Because I need to let loose and have a little fun in 2016. Conveniently Big Society Capital have just launched ‘Get It’, providing free support to charities and social enterprises that want to raise investment using SITR. You can find out more here.
I will get my hair cut more regularly.
My default hairstyle is a sort of scruffy mess / dragged through a bush look. This needs to change. Fortunately SSE Fellow Greygory Vass has just completed a successful crowdfunding campaign for Open Barbers, an affordable hairdressing project open to all genders and sexualities. There’s still time to help them reach their stretch target.
I will become more interested in the arts.
Once again, SSE Fellows can help me to achieve this. First, I can attend a rehearsed reading of Abhi Arumbakkam’s play ‘Splinter’ at London’s Tristan Bates Theatre on January 15th.
Then, I will be voting for Mirjam James’ organisation Music For Open Ears to win Best Classical Music Education Initiative Award’ category at the 2016 Music Teacher Awards for Excellence.
I will be awarded something.
Current favourite for this is a P45. Hopefully not. Two SSE Fellows have been rather more successful however: Claire Hodgson, founder of Diverse City, was awarded an MBE for services to inclusion in the New Year’s Honours list. Huge congratulations from everyone at SSE.
In Cornwall, Nikki Markham and her organisation Battling On picked up the VSF Award for Innovation, Partnership and Enterprise at the Cornwall VSF awards. Battling On support members of the British Armed Forces who have retired from the services and are struggling to readjust to civilian life.
I will give away lots of money.
This is very much a pipe dream at the moment, because I don’t have lots to give away. I do have a lottery ticket for tomorrow so you never know. One organisation that is in a position to give away some money at the moment though is Lloyds Bank Foundation, who are currently accepting initial applications to their grants programme.
What’s on at SSE
- Devon Social Enterprise Programme, SSE Dartington, starts 13th Jan
- Kickstart Your Social Media Strategy, SSE London, 21st January
- Crowdfunding for Social Enterprises, SSE London, 27th January
- An Introduction to Legal Structures, SSE London, 28th January
- Leadership Development, SSE London, starts 17th February
- Action Learning Facilitator Training, SSE North East, starts 11th February
- Measuring Social Impact, SSE London, 11th-12th February
- Replication and Social Franchising, SSE London, starts 25th February
