Consider this an addendum to the round-up last Friday, seeing as I forgot to include the major news story….partly because I didn’t think it was ‘public’ knowledge yet. But it is, so I can belatedly report that Penny Newman is taking over as the new boss of the Fifteen Foundation….Formerly a hugely successful CEO of Cafedirect, of course, Penny will be taking over from fellow Social Enterprise Ambassador Liam Black who left, having published a warts-and-all report of the various successes, difficulties and challenges Fifteen had faced in the past few years. Will be interesting to see what happens at Fifteen next, both in terms of its expansion plans (it is in Amsterdam, Melbourne and Cornwall as well as London) and its approach to training and support. Congrats and best wishes to Penny on the appointment.
Other interesting things that have cropped up recently:
– article in the Independent on a school uniform social enterprise which provides (more) affordable uniforms to parents, locally sourced and supplied; intriguing and interesting, especially given that the price / monopoly of some school uniforms has recently been highlighted
– The Homeless World Cup, founded by the indefatigable Mel Young, grows ever bigger and better, with a dedicated Women’s Cup added this year; lest you think this is just a one-off event, Optimist World (I know!) reports that over 70 per cent of players that take part in the Homeless World Cup experience a significant life change
– Social enterprise can help those who are marginalised and under-represented in the workplace, according to a report by the Equalities Unit; yes, particularly if BAME / women (those under discussion here) are viewed as potential leaders, rather than beneficiaries, and if they are not treated as a special case, but given access and the personal support necessary to achieve their goals….
– I was reading this article about Labour having to return £15,000 that a charity had given them for lobbying purposes, and couldn’t remember why the organisation rang a bell; then I remembered that I’d seen them at an UnLtd replication seminar once; interesting that the debate has focused on this being a ‘new low’ for Labour, rather than a strange use of funds by a charity, who have responded by classing it an administrative error (i.e. they should have put the donation through their associated company).
– And now we know that we’ve made it: in the newly revamped Cluedo board game, Jack Mustard is a football pundit (gah!), Victor Plum is a self-made video game billionaire (ugh!), Diane White is a former child star (pah!) and….drum roll, Eleanor Peacock is a "vain social entrepreneur". One step forward, two steps back…..
