Social Enterprise Podcasts

The last few months have been quiet due to summer holidays but there are plenty of exciting things round the corner at Kibble and elsewhere in the social enterprise sector in Scotland. The inaugural Social Enterprise World Forum in Edinburgh is the event on everybody’s lips at the moment and it’s going to be an annual global event. Despite the optimism in the sector of recent years, the credit crunch is a major concern for social enterprises. But perhaps the problems in the banking sector and housing market could be the catalyst for credit unions and housing associations to step up to the plate. Maintaining a ‘we’re in this together’ strategy is even more important for all concerned. I’m off to pastures new, to work for Real Radio Scotland, but keep visiting the site in the future to see what changes we continue to make and for more great features and content.

Organisations up and down the country are always looking for more Foster Carers. The right, stable environment can have a huge impact on the life of a looked after young person. We are profiling the work of the UK-based Foster Care Associates and are hosting a series of podcasts focusing on some of the work they do. Young people and Carers share their experiences of foster care throughout their lives. When the profession is constantly seeking to find ‘outcomes of care’, social work departments and child and youth care professionals may find the stories fascinating for future policy and practice. Many of the young people describe how the smallest detail or the simplest of changes can make a significant difference in their lives. Click here to go to the podcasts.

The environment is further up the political agenda than ever before. Governments can no longer ignore the many problems now facing countries across the globe. It’s gone well beyond the issue of climate change or recycling waste. Few people in power would argue against a more sustainable way of living. Fuel & energy prices are rising and there are real fears that this could result in major shortages in basic food and drink in many parts of the world.

The Community Recycling Network in Scotland held their annual conference in Perth with the theme: ‘More Than Recycling’. They addressed many of these key issues with a number of key speakers, including Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Richard Lochhead. The conference was attended by delegates from across the UK community recycling sector and beyond, and engaged both Government level and commercial recycling opportunities. There’s a whole range of speakers from the plenary sessions that you can download in full, split into smaller parts. But, for a smaller taster, you can access short interviews with some of the main speakers and delegates. Click here for the podcasts.

The Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition has hailed the 3^rd annual S2S Trade Fair 2008 a huge success. The event was switched to the Caird Hall in Dundee due to the extra space the venue would give to exhibitors, while CEiS took over the event management duties. Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, Jim Mather addressed over 500 delegates. You can hear reaction from the Scottish Social Enterprise Chief Executive Antonia Swinson here. Housing is such an important issue right now, with the lack of affordability for many in the property market, so we spoke to David Ogilvie from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. Housing Associations can provide a whole range of services for their communities and play an active role in the social economy.

Credit Unions also play an important role in the social economy. At a time when the global financial markets are going through a tough time and many people are borrowing money beyond their means, it is vital to get sound financial advice. Credit Unions are non-profit providers of saving and borrowing, with more emphasis on the communities they operate than the bigger high street lenders. After S2S we visited Pollok Credit Union and spoke to Jim Garrity and Lesley Cairns about their work. Click here to listen to the podcast with Pollok Credit Union.

It’s been a busy few months of spring conferences, including the 3^rd S2S Trade Fair in Dundee. Delegates from across the Social Economy in Scotland went to the City of Discovery to do business. Earlier Recycling came under the spotlight as the Community Recycling Network in Scotland held their annual conference in Perth with the theme, More Than Recycling. Keep checking the site as we put all the audio online in the next wee while.

The S2S trade fair is fast approaching and I’m sure the team at the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition have been working hard to put on another great event. The Caird Hall in Dundee is the venue this year. This is because the event is expanding every year and the extra space will allow for even more exhibitors. Check out the site next week to hear the podcasts.

Kibble is celebrating 150 years and we are undertaking some research into our history. This will no doubt be of great interest to people in Paisley and Renfrewshire, but we are also hoping to find out as much as we can from our past, in order to learn for the future. We’ll be hearing the stories from some of the people who went to Kibble, or who worked there. You can find out more about the ‘Lasting Legacy’ project by listening to the podcasts. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We profile the work of the Social Enterprise Academy who provide an array of courses in leadership and learning for social entrepreneurs. The podcasts feature stories from some of their previous learners and how the Academy has helped them. And you can also hear from some of the tutors. Click here to have a listen.

Finally the new edition of Good Company Magazine is out. The focus this month is on Food. You can read about a range of social enterprises and community organisations involved in healthy food initiatives.

An interesting mix of featured podcasts this week, showing the variety of industries and issues that social enterprise can span. For those who believe they should work more with private sector companies, we profile Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and why membership could open doors for social enterprise in the business community. Programmes like the Apprentice and Dragon’s Den make it seem like business leaders are pretty scary but it’s all for the cameras apparently. The podcast is in the enterprise channel.

Another excellent social enterprise that is making waves in the business community is Wild Hearts in Action. Kibble is looking forward to working more with this innovative organisation. They provide stationary and office supplies and Kibble has been a customer for a while now. We chat to founder Mick Jackson and hear about some remarkable events in his life that encouraged him to set up Wild Hearts in Action. Mick and his team believe passionately in helping the world’s poor to help themselves through business loans. He is also encouraging social enterprise to embrace those in the business community, many of whom share their belief in creating a better society. Click here for the podcast.

The UK has enjoyed a buoyant housing market over a number of years now, which is good news for homeowners. However, those on lower incomes are struggling to get on the property ladder and the need for social housing is moving up the Government’s agenda. Housing Associations are playing a vital role in providing a range of services for their members and tenants across the country. Recently, Port Glasgow Housing Association merged with the Link Group. Link is one of the largest housing associations in Scotland and we hear from Chief Executive Craig Sanderson on why it’s good news for tenants. Check out the podcasts to find out more.

Obesity is talked about as one of the greatest threats in the 21^st Century. Most of the evidence suggests if we don’t change our eating habits, then we are sitting on a health time bomb. Most town and cities now have plenty of choice when it comes to healthier lifestyles, like gyms and fitness centres and health food shops.But do rural communities and more isolated areas lack these facilities? We look at the work of the Bute Healthy Living Initiative and how they are helping to encourage islanders to live a healthier lifestyle. Healthy eating will also come under the spotlight in greater depth in the upcoming edition of Good Company Magazine. The latest issue will look at a range of social enterprises and community organisations involved in food across the country. You can listen to the podcast here.

Social enterprises exist for a variety of reasons in our communities. Some groups of people in the labour market find it harder to find work. Mental health issues or physical disabilities can be a barrier to gaining or holding down employment. This week’s feature is on the work of social firms. A social firm can be a useful stepping stone for getting back into the labour market by providing supported employment for disadvantaged groups. By working with that particular group of people, social firms understand the issues their employees have to overcome, and can help boost confidence and self-esteem. It is also a much better solution overall, because it means individuals will be less reliant on the benefit system. We’ve decided to feature the work of some of Scotland’s leading social firms and the work they are doing helping disadvantaged groups find employment. Social Firms Scotland is an organisation that supports the growth of social firms. To find out more, log onto the Social Firms Scotland website. You can find our social firms podcasts in the Enterprise channel.

One of the biggest dates on the UK social enterprise calendar is the Social Enterprise Coalition’s annual conference ‘Voice’. Voice 08 was held at the newly opened Arena Conference Centre at Liverpool’s docks at the end of February. The city, like so many in the former industrial heartlands, Glasgow and Manchester, is undergoing a renaissance. Regeneration projects are flourishing all over the city as it celebrates European City of Culture. Devolution may have localised many issues for the different nations of the UK, but linking up with social enterprises across the UK is still an important experience. That said, there was a healthy turnout from north of the border as representatives from the Local Social Enterprise Networks travelled down with Senscot. Voice 08 is the first major conference at the ACC and it’s fair to say the finishing touches were still being put in place. Among the speakers were Minister for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office Frances Maude MP, and a video address from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The main announcements were for the creation of a new social enterprise unit in the Department for Communities and Local Government, and an extra 37 million pounds set aside for social enterprise ventures.

One of the most impressive figures on the programme was Tim Campbell, series one winner of The Apprentice. After leaving Amstrad and Sir Alan Sugar behind, he set up the Big Ideas Foundation, to help start up social enterprises. I was lucky enough to catch him for an interview that can be downloaded from the site. He was a man in demand but a down to earth and enthusiastic guy, the type social enterprise needs to really capture the imagination of young people. He was one of the main speakers at ‘Young Voice’, held the afternoon before the main conference day. An equally bright young star of social enterprise is Shivani Mair who acted as MC for the ‘Young Voice’ day, including a fashion show and ‘60 seconds to make your mark’, a competition for new social ventures. She has already got a wealth of broadcasting experience under her belt and, as you would expect, has plenty of charisma and stage presence. I also managed to catch up with her for a podcast. The ACC itself had a modern, even futuristic feel to it. The real, core issues at the heart of social enterprise are ultimately what matter. But the sector has to create an image that will draw people in, of all ages, but particularly the next generation of social entrepreneurs. If social enterprise is about a business model, it has to appear dynamic, and Voice 2008 certainly achieved this in these surroundings. We also have podcasts in the Enterprise channel with a range of social enterprises based in the Liverpool area.

To showcase the talent in the sector, we have regular features with different types of social enterprises. Many organisations need loans to help grow their business, as grant funding for certain projects is not always available. DSL are based in Govan and they provide loan finance to social enterprises and small business. Take a look at the DSL website to find out more. They are a small team and provide a more personal service than high street lenders, according to their clients. The DSL team can you take through the loan application process step by step. And you can hear from a selection of their private sector clients that are going through similar issues and experiences, as start up social enterprises. DSL can help organisations that struggle to borrow from high street sources or have been denied credit. Check out the Enterprise channel to listen to the podcasts.

Children and young people are placed in looked after accommodation for a variety of complex reasons. They often display challenging and difficult behaviour that requires making difficult choices. Finding the right kind of support for each individual is vital for their future development. Kibble and Children in Scotland want to find out much more about the experiences of boys before, during and after their time in Kibble’s care. They are under taking a five year research project to gain a better understanding of what it’s like to be a boy from Kibble and what impact Kibble has on their lives. Child and Youth Care professionals were invited to the Glynhill hotel in Renfrew at the end of January, to hear details about the project; they were also asked to contribute to the debate. Dr Jonathan Sher, Director of Research, Policy and Practice Development for Children in Scotland invited them to help shape the research with their own questions. Among the topics discussed on the day was background to previous and current research undertaken at Kibble, and why this research is relevant to the work in the field. Early intervention and why some young people still fail and slip through the net were also looked at. All the speakers were recorded and these can be downloaded as podcasts from the ‘conferences and events’ channel. These recordings have been split into different parts to make them easier to listen to.