Social Entrepreneurs Network

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Comment by Adrian Ashton on September 1, 2011 at 10:48

great article in the Guardian that shows how the co-operative development movement has directly informed the emergence and growth of social enterprise... http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2011/sep/01/soc...

Comment by David Floyd on August 31, 2011 at 11:38

Polly Toynbee's not keen on social impact bonds. I think there's some questions to be answered: http://beanbagsandbullsh1t.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/toynbee-savages...

Comment by Sarah Tucker on August 25, 2011 at 13:09

Just a reminder about tomorrow's Friday social breakfast starting from 9am in the Gerard bar. You can find out more about it here.

Thanks to those who came to the July breakfast - you can see a summary of the meeting and who attended below in Alex Watson's post.  Attending tomorrow are Fellows' with start up projects that need input and support; one of these projects is looking at working with major performing arts organisations and how they can diversify audiences.  If you can offer advice and ideas to this or if you have a project you'd like help with, please join us tomorrow from 9am!

Sarah    

Comment by John Parman on August 20, 2011 at 1:43

Hi Alex,

 

Sounds like a very welcome breakfast! I hope you will consider having one in Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester or Nottingham soon so we in the Midlands can attend a breakfast. As to your questions.

Voluntary Carbon Offsetting: "Voluntary" is a strange word in the case of doing away with products and services that produce pollution but often provide comfort. I am sure that many liberals will agree with me that the strange way of saying it, but you have to work out a way to make the idea of seeking alternative forms of those same comforts seem safe and unquestionably, a good idea. You might start entirely about something that is neither food or a car, such as less complicated appliances or activity groups for young adults and children inspiring them to lead pollution-free lives. Macadamia trees don't ever produce fruit in this climate. Would it not be better for the environment and for the people if you sought to inspire them to plant a fruit or nut tree that bore flowers for them to see and food for them to eat? We may be cutting down rain forests to plant macadamia trees in another country, a practice of agriculture that creates more carbon in the atmosphere.

The volunteer base question is tricky. I would first suggest that if someone volunteers for your project, you call them a volunteer. Of course volunteering is experience, but that is more often than not what volunteers want out of it. Most volunteers genuinely want to help. Certainly, some volunteers can be territorial if you give them seniority. I would recommend doing a review of your volunteers every 90-120 days if they are involved in any project. You have to be really judicious about taking on volunteers in an expansion mode. Have you dealt with your current group of volunteers? Did you make promises to any of them? Will they revolt or quit if you take on a group to assist them in the work they perform? Will the hierarchy change? These are all questions that cannot be missed and do so at your peril. Volunteerism is not the same as philanthropy. Philanthropy is not about sharing: it is about giving selflessly without getting anything back. The difference is that there is not always complete satisfaction for either party. In volunteerism satisfaction is a natural component. If you cannot give satisfaction word will spread and people will start declining your requests. I will try to get to the next breakfast and look forward to meeting the group there.

 

Comment by Alex Watson on August 19, 2011 at 17:13

There were some really interesting conversations coming out of the last breakfast session of the Social Entrepreneurs Network a couple of weeks ago. Can you provide input for these Fellow-led projects?

Voluntary carbon offsetting has failed to grow as quickly as some thought it might. There are many reasons for this but one fair trade company is already seeking an alternative. They start from the question, are there not more economically beneficial ways of offsetting carbon? For example, instead of offsetting one’s consumption by planting trees to negate its impact, why not plant macadamia trees that can provide sustainable income for decades – and simultaneously reduce carbon in the atmosphere. This suggestion was proposed by the MD of Twin Trading at the last session. Fellows gave input ranging from the perspective of the Climate Change Manager at M&S to mentioning a project using QR codes to link consumers who have smart phones directly to the stories.

Another question raised concern how a volunteer-run project can expand its participant base whilst maintaining the same level expertise among those volunteers? Indeed the project leader of Guerrilla Hugs questioned whether they be called ‘volunteers’ in the first place when an integral part of the project is that these participants get a great deal out of the experience? A connection was immediately established with a Fellows leading a People’s Library in New Cross and Student Hubs.

On the last Friday of every month Fellows meet over coffee bringing together social entrepreneurs – a couple of whom have been profiled as part of the Social Entrepreneurs’ Spotlight project profiling successes and challenges of Fellows’ social enterprises – a few Fellows being helped by the Catalyst programme, there to support early stages of new social enterprises. Entrepreneurs and academics made up the rest of the group of 16. All in all it was a classic example of the variety of the Fellowship creating a really productive session for those involved. But don’t take it from me:

“Fascinating morning at the RSA social entrepreneurs' breakfast networking event. Loads of exciting projects - from 'Guerilla Hugs' http://www.guerrillahugs.com/ to innovative ways of recycling ink cartridges www.inklusive.co.uk”… Project Lead on Social Franchising, The Shaftesbury Partnership Ltd and Social Enterprise Development Manager, The Salvation Army

“Many thanks. I am now in touch with [a Fellow]. I'd be happy to attend when possible… I enjoyed this one.” Retired Partner, McKinsey & Co

I look forward to seeing some of you there for the forthcoming one next Friday 26^th August 09.00-10.30 in the RSA’s Gerard Bar.

Comment by David Floyd on August 19, 2011 at 16:59

Blog post on the limited impact (so far) of social enterprise in Uk healthcare: http://beanbagsandbullsh1t.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/largest-social-...

Comment by Robert Stephenson on August 9, 2011 at 22:23

Are these Riots the voice of our unheard Youth? 

Blastbeat Education UK invites you to "Finding Solutions to Youth Disengagement in Society" a seminar and workshop  in "The Tabernacle" on Powis Square, Notting Hill. (Entry is free) on the 8th Sept 2011. 

It is clear from these most horrendous riots etc of recent days that we have a very real on going problem with a significant number of young people, particularly in underserved communities.

We must put renewed and innovatove efforts to find solutions to the underlying causes and climate of disaffected Youth in England/UK.

In view of the Riots and in order to stimulate positive solutions through informed discussions.

To this end Blastbeat Education UK ( a registered Charity working with young people,creating a generation of young  social entrepreneurs )is hosting a day long seminar/ workshop, provisionally entitled " Finding Solutions to Youth Disengagement" 

This will be held in "The Tabernacle" on Powis Square, Notting Hill, W11 2AY.

It is intended to start at 10 am with panel discusions until 1 pm, then a break for lunch, followed by breakout sessions until 4 pm followed by the Blastbeat showcase of young creative social enteprreneurs / artists.

We are inviting a very interesting and eclectic panel of people to speak, including cabinet minsters,community and youth leaders, social entrepreneurs, artists, young people and even some of the people who were on the streets. 

Robert Stephenson, FRSA would like to hear from other fellows who would like to help in the organisation of this initiave or speak or run a workshop.

Please Contact robert@blastbeat.org 

Comment by John Parman on August 9, 2011 at 22:05

just got this by e-mail: Do you have any webinars, whitepapers, or other social enterprise related material that you would like to share with the SEA community? Let us know! E-mail our Program Manager, Tara, at tara@se-alliance.org.

Comment by Caroline Veal on August 8, 2011 at 10:45

Hi Jon

I have seen your comment dated 31st July re organisations outside London looking for a gift and fund director. I am based in Sheffield. Could you please email me on caroline@veal.uk.com or give me a call on 0776 257 2838 to have an initial chat please. Thanks

Comment by Jeff Mowatt on August 6, 2011 at 16:52

Coming back on the Geof Mulgan article, I'd been saying much the same a few weeks ago in a conversation on Social Edge with Rod Schwartz. Rod asked what do we need to build a social economy and in my response, I refer to the 'right stuff' of social entrepreneurs and the need for solidarity over individualism.

By and large, social enterprise isn't heroic in that as seen to date, the tendency is to avoid issues such as government corruption and organised crime.

I return to this today, given that our major focus has been in Ukraine where we may well see another revolution against a corrupt state.

Has social enterprise created impact on business. Well I think it has. Consider Harvard's 'Creating Shared Value' and what others like BITC refer to as 'the case for responsible business', what both Geof Mulgan and Charles Leadbeater see as a new form of capitalism.  .  

This didn't come top down from major corporates or academics, but from within social enterprise and never more prominently than in making the case for social enterprise and a social innovation fund, on a national scale in Ukraine.  

 

 

 

 

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