Comments for The BSSEC blog

Comment on Blogging from the Social Enterprise Exchange, Glasgow by Alun Severn

Alun Severn — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:47:30 +0000

Chris — I somehow missed this comment of yours and didn’t get an alert (I don’t always — WordPress is temperamental in that way). Anyway, given what we now know about the environment for business support and other resources for social enterprise, I think it is evident that the RDA times — whatever we may have said during them — were a golden age for SE support….

cheers, Alun

Comment on Grant funding available for services that support vulnerable adults by okurmu robert ovobn

okurmu robert ovobn — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:18:52 +0000

I Okurmu Robert Ovon a promoter of ATYENDA PRODUCTION CENTER FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT a community based group operating in, jang okoro subcounty, Zombo DISTRICT, UGANDA. The moto is to “have the elders die a happy life” recently the group has got some funding from Government of UGANDA through COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND. Today i have seen on the web site that out lines a range of the services for vulnerable adults that the council is seeking to support via grant funding. unfortunately i got it just today after the closing date dueb to remoteness of the place. However i would like to know if there is a way we can benefit from the grant.

Comment on The People’s Orchestra wants Midlands musicians by Colin Price

Colin Price — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:12:27 +0000

As a semi-retired conductor born in Cannock but now in Spain, I wish you all the very best with this project I have worked with orchestras of all standards from top professionals to amateurs whose enjoyment far outweighed their expertise! Working with the latter can be most rewarding. I’ll watch the orchestra’s progress with interest.

Colin Price

Comment on Blogging from the Social Enterprise Exchange, Glasgow by Chris Newis

Chris Newis — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:53:55 +0000

Hi Alun,
I was just settling down in my sleeping bag last night on the forecourt of Tesco, Oldswinford Cross, after a delicious meal of pasties, when it occured to me that today marks the closure of AWM.
It is worth recalling the support that AWM offered for social enterprise, from the earliest days in 2001, to the establishment of SEWM.
It seemed that AWM, along with the RDA’s in general, got how different social enterprise was to voluntary sector activity and promoted it as such.
West Midlands was also the first region to integrate support for social enterprise into the main business support offer in the region. Given the lack of resources for social enterprise at the moment, we may look back on those initiatives as the goodtimes.
Respect
Chris Newis

Comment on Birmingham youth training charity BXL Ltd in administration by John Ling

John Ling — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:22:26 +0000

It’s the real John Ling here-thanks for your kind words about BXL. The core issue that created the closure was just about inherited pension deficits-which actually had nothing to do with TUPE as a process!

That piece we got right. But you can’t outrun a pension repayment that is overnight 50% of your (not for profit) turnover, when contracts are being pulled from the sector.

We are running some sessions in the near future for Charity Trustees and Company directors to share our learning through all of this. Contact me for more information!
John

Comment on Opportunity for SEs and third sector to meet new NHS commissioners — Handsworth by www.Kajans.co.uk

www.Kajans.co.uk — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:27:25 +0000

This could be a real opportunity to discuss the needs of a defined area and a chance for third sector enterprises to discuss how they can use valued on the ground intelligence to provide unique/bespoke responses to need by tapping into external investment aimed at reaching those on the margins and are failing to access mainstream services. Identifying what works by users of the services, creating cluster arrangements, agreeing several focal/points of access to services, supporting longer term community infrastructure are all possibilities…lets hope we can position the public/NHS and third sector to plan for real position, in the best interest of the people.

Comment on The Public Services (Social Value) Bill Passed – Find Out More at BVSC 2nd March 2012 by Alun Severn

Alun Severn — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:36:58 +0000

Nick, Thanks — you’re right: the devil will be in the detail of implementation…

Comment on The Public Services (Social Value) Bill Passed – Find Out More at BVSC 2nd March 2012 by Nick Temple

Nick Temple — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:02:13 +0000

Thanks both – I’ll make sure it’s amended appropriately at SE UK. We’re working with Mark on a range of stuff, so this is merely due to an error of haste in wanting to get the guide out in time for the bill passing…..

Glad you welcome it: the policy team at SE UK deserve credit, along with Chris White + his team, and all the social enterprises who’ve supported it along the way. Now we just need to get it *implemented* right :0)

Comment on The Public Services (Social Value) Bill Passed – Find Out More at BVSC 2nd March 2012 by Alun Severn

Alun Severn — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:10:02 +0000

I thought it didn’t look or sound right, Simon — thanks for the correction.

Comment on The Public Services (Social Value) Bill Passed – Find Out More at BVSC 2nd March 2012 by Simon Lee

Simon Lee — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:09:55 +0000

I was pleased to see that the Bill had finally got through. Although not so strong as it was when first proposed, it is good to see this on the statute books.

I note that the Anthony Collins’ contribution was from Mark Cook, rather than “Mark Collins”, as SEUK had printed it! Credit where credit’s due, etc…