Grey and a little bit gloomy on a summer’s day – this sort of weather always reminds me of eating picnics in a car as a child. If only I’d had this week’s round-up of social enterprise news to help occupy the time…
Photo Credit: kevin dooley via Compfight cc
First things first, some SSE admin- there is still space on our free evening taster session for Trading for Sustainability, next Thursday. The course is aimed at charities and social enterprises who would like to increase the amount of income that they earn selling products or services – this is your opportunity to find out more.
A late drop out has also meant we have a place left on our Measuring Social Impact course next week. It really is a brilliant two days, and will take you from why you should measure impact, through to how you can measure impact and then demonstrate it. It’s delivered in partnership with nef consulting and always gets great feedback.
Camfed founder and SSE Fellow Ann Cotton spoke at the US-Africa Leaders Summit, addressing an audience which included Michelle Obama and Laura Bush. Camfed is a remarkable organisation, having now worked with more than 3 million children across Africa.
Two articles that make similar (and sensible) points: Social Enterprises – and why we must stop romanticising them by Maria del Mar Maestre Morales, and Why social entrepreneurship has become a distraction: it’s mainstream capitalism that needs to change by Skoll’s Pamela Hartigan.
A fascinating, in depth article about Aflatoun, a social franchise which has grown out of Mumbai to now operate in a 103 countries. There’s so much good stuff in there I think it will become mandatory reading for participants on our own social franchising course!
Looking for flexble working space in Sheffield? Social enterprise Common People have a four-storey building and are ‘aiming to unite innovative, creative and socially enterprising individuals and organisations.’
The RBS SE100 awards have a prize pot of £30,000 this year across 5 awards, ranging from ‘Trailblazing Newcomer’ to ‘Resilience Award’.
Definitely the best named event of the year, The Unusual Suspects Festival takes place in London between 2nd and 5th September. It’s free, and there are some really interesting session taking place.
Tutors United, founded by SSE Fellow Joel Davis, are recruiting a Programme Officer. A great opportunity within an organisation going from strength to strength.
Agent Marketing has launched a new social enterprise; Agent Academy CIC – a community interest company designed to help young people (16-25) enter the marketing industry. They are looking to recruit 10 young people from across the Liverpool city region to take part in this, the first innovative training programme. Full details here. It looks like a cracking scheme.
Finally, a big thank you too Martin Hogg of Citizen Coaching for establishing that pinch punch most definitely is still a thing. (If you didn’t read last week’s post that will make no sense, I’m afraid).
Have a good week
Our next one day workshop is ‘Sources of Funding’ on September 17th. Book here.
Have I got social enterprise news for you… love it 🙂
Just found you on Twitter. Been thinking about whether CIC / Social enterprise status would suit what I do. I have spent most of my working life in the not-for-profit sector so it just seems right to consider it.