In January 2021, Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) announced the results of their first, Scotland- led Social Enterprise Places Programme. Uist was one of the areas where the panel felt there was much to highlight about the impact social enterprise has on the area. As a result, Uist was named as a ‘Social Enterprise Place’. The Read more…
ViSENet Project Closing Celebration
Inspiralba are due to host an event on the 30th of November 2021, the focus of which will be to celebrate the work of the ViSENet project which the organisation has been involved with over past 3 years. ViSENet is an Erasmus project and was established through co-operation with partners in Finland (University of Helsinki Read more…
SEWF: Rural Forum
On the 27th & 28th of October, the Social Enterprise World Forum hosted its first-ever virtual Rural Forum. Developed in partnership between social enterprises in Canada, Australia, India and Scotland, the forum was attended by people all over the world and was extremely well received. The event spotlighted Canada, while also addressing priorities and issues Read more…
The Leadership Campfires: September 1-2
The Leadership Campfires is a two-day online global festival bringing together people to explore experiences and ideas for practicing leadership as collaborative agency. The festival took place for the first time on 1-2 September 2021. It featured a variety of self-hosted 80-minute campfires scheduled throughout the two days and offered across varying time zones. It enabled participants Read more…
New funding for supporting new ideas in Rural Communities.
Not-for-profit community groups in rural areas will soon be able to apply for funding of up to £50,000 to trial new and innovative ways to address local challenges and benefit from local opportunities. The Rural Communities “Ideas into Action” Fund is supported by £1.5 million of Scottish Government funding and will be delivered in Read more…
A National Care Service for Scotland
Described as potentially the biggest public sector reform in Scotland for decades, the Scottish Government is consulting on the development of a National Care Service for Scotland. At a minimum it will cover adult social care, but the consultation covers the expansion of this to a comprehensive community health and social care service that will Read more…
Capable People – Hopeless Systems. Why do Scotland’s Leaders still think Big is Beautiful?
Journalist, land reform campaigner and Nordic Horizons Director, Lesley Riddoch will give this year’s John Pearce Memorial Lecture as part of the New Lanark Anniversary conference on October 12th. Full details in the attached flyer available here. This is a hybrid event and you have the option to attend face to face or online. Book Read more…
Funded Mental Health Awareness Training
Support in Mind Scotland are working in partnership with Mental Health UK to deliver a 3-year ‘Rural Connections’ project funded by Neptune Energy. As part of this project, SiMS is offering free half-day ‘An Insight into Mental Health’ awareness training to rural organisations, community groups and businesses with less than 50 members of staff. Read more…
Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) September 28th-29th2021
Designed by and for social enterprises, SEWF 2021 will champion the potential of social enterprises – small and large, rural and urban – to bring about inclusive and sustainable economic development. With a spotlight on Canada, the two-day programme will feature keynotes and plenaries with live Q&A, online networking and a virtual marketplace giving you Read more…
Rural and Island Views Needed
The Scottish Government is consulting the sector on the nature, values and services you would want to see from a single intermediary body for social enterprise as outlined in the new Social Enterprise Action Plan. You can add your views via this survey Survey– deadline 8th It is vital to have a strong rural and Read more…
Social Enterprise World Forum- Youth Forum
27 September Calling all young changemakers, join the SEWF Youth Forum on 27 September to connect, learn and be inspired! The event is free for all under 30s and the first 500 to register will get free access to SEWF 2021 on 28-29 September. Programme content will be designed by and for young social entrepreneurs and will Read more…
Island Communities Fund (ICF) Launched
Community organisations and businesses can apply for grants of up to £150,000 for projects focussed on supporting sustainable island economies and the journey towards net zero. The fund will support ‘shovel-ready’, island-based, community led projects that should be completed by 31st March 2022. More details: https://www.gov.scot/news/new-fund-opens-for-island-communities/
A new version of Scotland’s Social Enterprise Support Map
Developed by Community Enterprise and Bold Studio this free tool is designed to build connections between community and social enterprises and support organisations across Scotland. Categorised by type, location, sector and ambitions ‘this online tool is here to help you navigate the social enterprise support landscape with ease’. Access it here:https://sesupportmap.scot/
New Social Enterprise Action Plan
Inclusive growth through social enterprise Scotland’s Social Enterprise Action Plan/ 2021-2024 This second of three action plans for social enterprise was published on March 24th. It positions social enterprise as central to Scotland’s renewal rooted in fairness and equality and key to transformational change for communities and our people. Read the briefing note prepared for Read more…
Scottish Rural Parliament Youth Session
Are you aged 16-25 and live in a rural or island community? The SRP Youth Session is free, fully virtual and a chance to go through a visioning exercise facilitated by the Social Enterprise Academy on themes you are passionate about, and then question high profile decision makers. To attend, register for the SRP at https://www.srp2021.scot/
New Virtual Community Learning Exchange Series
We would like to invite you to our upcoming series of virtual community learning exchanges, funded by the Scottish Community Alliance. The sessions will focus on themes identified by Rural SEN members as important to their future plans, and will be hosted by social enterprises from Uist, Tiree, and Dumfries. See the links below to Read more…
Women in the Rural Economy Training Fund
Administered by LANTRA, this fund has been created to give women in Rural Scotland more opportunities for land-based and aquaculture training. 100% funding is available for training up to the value of £500 per course and applications for training over the value of £500 will be assessed depending on the value to the individual Read more…
£7million fund to improve equality and human rights in Scotland.
The Equality and Human Rights Fund is a new programme to support work which advances human rights, promotes equality and tackles discrimination around age, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability and race. The fund, an evolution of previous Scottish Government funding streams, is managed by Inspiring Scotland and will distribute up to £7 million annually Read more…
An eye to the future
Our next series of virtual learning exchanges will be in March. Funded by the Scottish Community Alliance they cover themes identified by Rural SEN members as key to their future development. We will kick off on March 9th with Involving Young People in Rural Social Enterprise hosted by Inspiralba. On March 16th the theme will Read more…
Apprenticeship Week – 1 to 5 March 2021
Do you want to take on an apprentice to benefit your business? Or do you want to become an apprentice? Find out what the benefits are and join our online events in March.
Report of the Citizen’s Assembly of Scotland
The report of the first Citizen’s Assembly of Scotland has been published. You can check out its vision for Scotland and its 60 recommendations on how decisions are taken, incomes and poverty, tax and the economy, young people, sustainability, health and wellbeing and further powers here: Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland | Citizens Assembly
Flexible Workforce Development Fund – Now also available to SMEs!
Do you want to upskill staff, offer development and training opportunities to move on your business? If so, you may be eligible to apply for funding to help you access this training.
Social Enterprise Place Awards
Uist, Lewis and Govan recognised in new Social Enterprise Places Scotland scheme. Scotland has a longheld reputation for social enterprise activity, and on the 21st of January, Social Enterprise Scotland will recognise the impact of social enterprise as part of their Social Enterprise Places awards. Uist and Lewis will be formally recognised on Thursday Read more…
Community Land Scotland’s Manifesto for a Sustainable Scotland
In 2020, Community Land Scotland published their Manifesto for a Sustainable Scotland, titled ‘Land for the Common Good’. The manifesto calls for a “renewed focus on land reform”, and presents bold new proposals that place communities’ relationship with land at the heart of Scotland’s journey towards resilience and sustainability. The manifesto focuses on the following themes: Read more…
Scottish Rural Parliament 2021: March 6th- 18th (online).
Registration for the Scottish Rural Parliament is now open. Billed as ‘a grassroots democratic assembly’, it is an opportunity for people who live and work in rural and island Scotland to engage with policy decision makers and influencers. Watch the launch video here: Launch Video for the 2021 Virtual Scottish Rural Parliament – YouTube Sign Read more…
