Building Community

Wealth & Wellbeing

The Role for Social and Community

Enterprise

Evaluation Report

25th & 26th November, Westerwood Hotel

Contents

Building Community Wealth & Wellbeing ........................................................................................................... 3

Programme Outline ................................................................................................................................................... 4

The Role for Social and Community Enterprise ........................................................................................................ 5

Breakout Sessions ...................................................................................................................................................... 6

Dragons’ Den ............................................................................................................................................................. 7

Pockets and Prospects Showcase .............................................................................................................................. 8

Social Enterprise Action Plan, 2020 – 2023 .............................................................................................................. 9

Evening Entertainment ............................................................................................................................................ 10

Evaluation ....................................................................................................................................................... 11

Post- Event Feedback............................................................................................................................................... 11

Building Community Wealth & Wellbeing

Since 2005, Senscot has hosted 13 annual Social Enterprise Conferences. The event was originally conceived to support the work of the Local Social Enterprise Networks (SENS) – bringing the SENs and their members together - to share learning; establish new and wider connections; give a broader context to their work; and, importantly, to celebrate their achievements.

Over the years, the event has grown in popularity and has emerged as one of the key events in Scotland’s SE calendar. Its main distinction, probably being that it was and remains the only event that had as a primary focus the role and contribution made by grassroots social enterprises. Over 120 delegates regularly attend - with, on average, 70% being from frontline social enterprises.

In recent years, we have sought a slightly different approach to reflect Senscot’s increasing collaboration with other national intermediary organisations who also work specifically with locally-based organisations. This has resulted in a partnership with Scottish Community Alliance and Social Firms Scotland as joint host.

Each year, the Conference has a specific theme – with this year’s being:

“Community Wealth Building – the Role for Social and Community Enterprise”

Community Wealth Building (CWB) is a people-centred approach to local economic development. It reorganises local economies to be fairer. It stops wealth flowing out of our communities, towns and cities. Instead, it places control of this wealth into the hands of local people, communities, businesses and organisations. This approach is central to the principles of social and community enterprises. In light of this, we felt it would be worthwhile to learn more about the CWB model and explore how social and community enterprises could contribute further to this.

We are grateful for the support from our sponsors:

• RBS

• Highland & Island Enterprise (HIE)

• InspirAlba

• Community Enterprise

• and, of course, Firstport - who kindly donated the Dragons’ Den prize money. Nearly 150 delegates signed up for this year’s event. 97 delegates came from frontline social enterprises – with others coming from membership-led organisations, support agencies as well as the public, private and academic sectors. 16 delegates came from Highlands and Islands.

Programme Outline

Monday 25th November

10.30 Introduction and Welcome - Setting scene on aims and objectives of event

Aidan Pia (Senscot)

10.45 - 11.45 Building Community Wealth and Wellbeing – The Role for Social and

Community Enterprise

11.45 - 12.30 Panel discussion - chaired by Pauline Graham (Social Firms Scotland)

12.30 - 13.30 Lunch and networking

13.30 - 14.30 Workshops/Break-out sessions

14.30 - 15.30 Workshops/Break-out Sessions

15.30 - 16.00 Tea/Coffee Break

16.00 - 17:15 Dragons’ Den

19.00 Drinks reception

19.30 Dinner

22:00 Close

Tuesday 26th November

09:30 - 10:45 Pockets and Prospects Showcase 10.45 -11.15 Tea/Coffee Break

11.15 -12.30 Social Enterprise Action Plan, 2020 – 2023

12.30 Lunch and Close

5

Building Community Wealth and Wellbeing –

The Role for Social and Community Enterprise

This session was designed to provide an opportunity for delegates to learn about Community Wealth Building (CWB) and the role for social enterprise in Scotland.

The session began with Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government highlighting the achievements of the SE Action Plan - with some observations on challenges to be addressed in the new Action Plan – and, in her view, how these could tie in with CWB. Neil McInroy, CLES, gave an overview of how and why CLES became involved in Community Wealth Building, how it works in practice, what the challenges have been and what impact it has had thus far. Joe Cullinane, Leader, North Ayrshire Council, outlined the North Ayrshire approach to Community Wealth Building and why North Ayrshire Council chosen this model. Pauline Graham (Social Firms Scotland) ‘chaired’ a Q & A session taking questions from the audience for panel members. Chair: Pauline Graham – Social Firms Scotland Speakers and Panel: Aileen Campbell - Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Neil McInroy - The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) Joe Cullinane - Leader - North Ayrshire Council See Neil and Joe’s Presentations See Session Overview

6

Breakout Sessions

1. Rural Social Enterprise Hub - (Ailsa Clark – Inspiralba)

The 2019 SE Census highlights the concentration of social enterprise in rural communities - 33% yet

with only 17% of the population. The Rural SE Hub brings together learning from across rural

Scotland to ensure support meets the needs and aspirations of rural SEs – and included how the Hub

could engage with other SENs to support greater collaboration across rural areas.

2. Connecting Community Cafes (Mary Sinclair - Senscot)

Senscot recently engaged with SEN members to better understand the increasingly level of

community café activity taking place across the country. This paper provided an insight on the core

purpose and issues around sustainability. The workshop sought to explore developing a series of

peer-led publications that could act as templates for others looking to provide café facilities

3. Scaling impact: experiences of starting local and going global (Claire Carpenter – The Melting Pot)

This workshop covered The Melting Pot's journey as it has scaled their impact nationally and globally,

captured and capitalised on IP, and replicated internationally - without building an empire. It also

explored the implications and strategies of scaling your own business and impact.

4. Scotland’s Tourism Strategy – Beyond 2020

The draft of Scotland’s Tourism Strategy has four strategic priorities: Our passionate people; Our

thriving places; Our diverse businesses; Our memorable experiences – all reflecting how the tourism

industry can deliver benefits not just to visitors, but also Scotland’s people and communities. This

session looked at how social and community enterprise can have a voice in developing this Strategy.

5. Partnership working – (Yvonne McBride, P4P & Tom Henderson, North Ayrshire Council)

P4P delivered a workshop in partnership with North Ayrshire Council for third sector and social enterprise. The session focused on the power of partnership working and collaboration in procurement. This included North Ayrshire Council’s procurement “wave plan” setting out the Council’s tendering requirements over the next 2 years

6. The role and value of networking – (Ailsa Clark – Inspiralba)

This workshop looked at tools and resources developed, with a rural focus, on networking and

partnership – and how they can be replicated in other settings. The materials produced include: SE

Networking and Networking Activities; Digital Networking; Se Learning Exchanges and Partnerships.

7. Development Trusts and economic development (Ian Cooke – DTAS)

This workshop looked at the contribution made by social enterprise to local economic activity – with

particular reference to development trusts - looking at what a local economy is, and what it look like

in different local contexts – and how the community / SE sector could play a greater role?

8. Circular Economy and social enterprise (Michael Cook – CRNS)

This workshop reviewed the role community and social enterprises can play in helping to contribute

more towards the circular economy – and included the many benefits of circular practices in

providing environmental but also social and economic benefits. It was also an opportunity for

delegates to consider circular practices in their own context.

7

Dragons’ Den

Dragons: Eric Munro (DTA Scotland); Jim Bristow (SCA); Pauline Smith (Connect Community Trust);

Josiah Lockhart (Firstport)

Compere: Liz Gardiner (Fablevision)

Candidates:

▪ Lorna Paul (Giraffe Healthcare)

▪ Elaine Gray (Good Call)

▪ Helen Russell (Rise: Glasgow)

▪ Raymond Barton (Simply Play)

▪ Sally Shaw (Ideas for Ears)

Dragons’ Den Winners 2019:

Giraffe Healthcare

Audience Prize Winners 2019:

Rise: Glasgow

8

Pockets and Prospects Showcase

Chaired by Angus Hardie (Scottish Community Alliance), this session provided delegates with an

opportunity to hear from participating networks and anchor organisations highlighting the benefits

and impact of small investments in community based / anchor organisations.

Speakers:

Mary Sinclair (Senscot)

Marie Ward (Cranhill Development Trust)

Stuart McKenzie (Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society)

Jon Hollingdale (Community Woodlands Association)

See Presentations

9

Social Enterprise Action Plan, 2020 – 2023 Chair: Angus Hardie (SCA) Speakers:

Chris Raftery (Scottish Government) Pauline Gordon (Social Firms Scotland)

The session offered delegates an opportunity to hear feedback on the series of local gatherings that

Senscot, Social Firms Scotland and Scottish Community Alliance have participated in this year with a

view to shaping and informing the next SE Action Plan due out in April 2019.

After hosting five SE Reference Sub-Groups involving frontline social enterprises and membership-led

organisations since early 2018, 13 local events have engaged directly with over 500 social enterprises.

All feedback has been passed on to Social Value Lab who will collate the information to add to the

responses (circa 300) to their own recent Action Plan survey.

Pauline Graham gave an overview of the recurring themes that have been emerging. Amongst these,

have been: greater transparency in the decision-making process; better and more regular

communication about what is being funded; local decision-making and local delivery wherever

possible (bottom-up - not top down); better alignment with other Govt policy areas; and, critically,

establishing a clear and consistent resource available to support local SENs.

See Pauline’s Presentation

Chris Raftery followed Pauline – giving delegates an update on the SE Action Plan. Chris re-iterated

that the Action Plan was due to published in April 2020. There would be a new trimmed down SE

Reference Group – with membership to be announced in the new year. There would be far less

‘actions’ than the previous 92. He also stated that good progress had been made in relation to

achieving the actions identified in the current Action Plan.

Angus Hardie then opened the floor to a Q&A session followed by roundtable discussions. The

feedback from the roundtable discussions have been forwarded to Social Value Lab who ‘writing up’

the new Action Plan on behalf of Scottish Government.

10

Evening Entertainment

As always, one of the highlights of the conference is the dinner in the evening.

As well as the presentation of the Dragons’ Den and Audience Prize, this year also included a raffle to

raise funds for Bookdonors.

Prior to dinner, John McManus (chair of Social Firms Scotland) shared his thoughts on where we are

as a community and on some the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The evening rounded off with a session from Soundsational – that seemed to go down a bomb!!

11

Evaluation

Post- Event Feedback

Senscot circulated an online survey for all delegates to complete. 64 people completed it (45% of

overall numbers). Feedback has been extremely positive.

Survey results follow.

1. How did you rate the 14th year SE Conference and Ceilidh event?

Excellent Good OK Poor

50 14 0 0

Comments:

• Highlight of my year. Few occasions when such an incredible inspiring group are in the one

room/hotel.

• Great buzz/great networking/really informative - has got me thinking - all good.

• A great opportunity to take time out, meet old friends and make new ones and, most importantly,

engage across with organisations the sector to share information, best practice and new learning

• Well Organised, great content, well facilitated

2. How did you rate the following?

EXCELLENT GOOD OK POOR

Organisation leading up to event 50 13 1 0

Organisation on the day 55 9 0 0

Helpfulness of Senscot staff 58 4 1 0

Comments:

• There was a lot planned for the conference - well done for the pre event comms, keeping us

all on time for all the elements throughout the conference and making a very smooth and

enjoyable event

• Thank you! You're a great team. Smooth operation. Great to have the programme and

delegate list well in advance. Very clear emails.

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3. Please tell us what you thought of the following activities...

EXCELLENT GOOD OK POOR

Building Community Wealth and Wellbeing – The Role for Social and Community Enterprise

48 9 2 1

Workshop - Rural Social Enterprise Hub 4 3 1 0

Workshop -Connecting Community Cafes 6 7 1 0

Workshop - Scaling Impact: Experiences of Starting Local and Going Global

1 7 5 3

Workshop - Scotland’s Tourism Strategy – Beyond 2020

1 3 4 0

Workshop - The Power of Partnership Working 4 4 5 0

Workshop - The Role and Value of Networking 3 0 2 0

Workshop - Development Trusts and Economic Development

2 4 3 0

Workshop - Circular Economy and Social Enterprise

9 3 0 0

Dragon’s Den 31 17 2 0

Soundsational 58 1 3 0

Pockets and Prospects Showcase 27 14 5 1

Social Enterprise Action Plan, 2020 - 2023 10 20 6 3

Comments:

• Some really useful information from all the different sessions and really constructive input

from all involved. Really valuable.

• Content of the programme was excellent

• Workshops felt a bit rushed (which is common)

• Not going to tick the boxes because each subject area was very interesting but the format of

delivery was not always the best.

13

4. What Was your favourite part of the event?

5. What was your least favourite part of the event?

• The community wealth building lacked the government being held to account - it felt to

much like a reinvention of ideas and commitments we've made for decades

• The role and value of networking - Only spoke about this from a rural perspective. A lot of

that material already exists or is easy to find on the internet.

• Social Enterprise Action Plan sessional was a bit frustrating

• Being unable to attend more than 2 workshops

6. What did you think of the venue this year?

EXCELLENT GOOD OK POOR

Venue staff 31 28 5 1

Room set up 30 30 4 0

Catering 28 32 4 1

14

7. Would you like to see any changes to the format?

Yes No

9 48

Comments:

• A chance for thematic groups to find each other or for new groups to get an

introduction to more experienced ones

• I don't have sufficient experience of the conference to suggest changes. I found it

hugely enjoyable and any changes, if made, need to match the level already being

achieved!

• Please bring back speed-networking. To repeat, more networking time and less being

talked at. The podium format feels quite old-fashioned. Please bring in anything you

can think of to encourage social enterprises at the event to trade with each other, to

make business contacts. Thank you.

15

Name Organisation Bridie Ashrowan SPACE & Broomhouse Hub

Tom Binns Glasgow Piano City

Leah Black WHALE Arts Agency

Thomas Black Foundation Scotland

Brenda Black Edinburgh Community Food

Liberty Bligh The Libertie Project Limited

Raymond Branton Simply Play

Jim Bristow Scottish Community Alliance

Lucinda Broadbent Media Co-op

Irene Butler Weekday WOW Factor

Anita Cafolla Weekday WOW Factor

Sarah Cameron Senscot

Diane Cameron West Lothian Social Enterprise Network (WLSEN)

Colin Campbell Assist Social Capital

Gemma Cannon Healthy n Happy Enterprises

Claire Carpenter Creating Connections

Laura Carswell Neilston Development Trust

Jayne Chappell Social Firms Scotland

Karen Christie Scottish Tourism Alliance

Jane Churchill Scottish Community Alliance

Ailsa Clark Inspiralba

Bill Clements CVS Inverclyde

Roy Clunie Lorn & Oban Healthy Options Ltd

Lynne Collie Cyrenians

Sallie Condy Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS)

Michael Cook CRNS

Ian Cooke DTA Scotland

Leah Cowling Lingo Flamingo CIC

Joe Cullinane North Ayrshire Council

Jean Cumming Crisis Ltd

Kaja Czuchnicka ACVO TSI

Laurence Demarco Senscot

Elizabeth Docherty Glasgow Social Enterprise Network (GSEN)

Ian Donald Highland Third Sector Interface

Gael Drummond Firstport

Becky Duncan Open Aye

Mick Eyre

Vicki Fitzpatrick Routes to Work South

Simon Francis Campaign Collective / The Rooftop

Pauline Gallacher Neilston Development Trust

16

Emma Galloway Edinburgh Social Enterprise

Liz Gardiner Fablevision Studios

Gary Gentles Knightswood Community Centre

Linda Gillespie DTA Scotland

Pauline Graham Social Firms Scotland

Elaine Gray Good Call

Rachel Green The Ripple

Angus Greenshields Dundee Social Enterprise Network (DSEN)

Bruce Gunn Passion 4 Social CIC

John Halliday Community Renewal

Maddy Halliday Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire

Angus Hardie Scottish Community Alliance

Gillian Harkness Burness Paull & Williamsons LLP

Zahra Hedges CEIS

Tom Henderson North Ayrshire Council

James Henderson Edinburgh University

Ailsa Higgins Inspiralba

Sharon Hill Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust

Pauline Hinchion Scottish Community Re:Investment Trust (SCRT)

Gordon Hodgson Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN)

Jon Hollingdale Community Woodland Association

Margaret Hood South West Community Cycles

Dani Horton Bold Marketing

Richard Howat Scottish Churches Housing Action

Les Huckfield Glasgow Caledonian University

Andy Jack Link Group

Donna Jamieson The Wee Retreat

Brian Keating The Tower Digital Arts Centre

Reeni Kennedy-Boyle Bute Community Land Company/Bute Forest

Jonny Kinross Grassmarket Community Project

Karen Laing Workforce Creation

Jane Lamont Beith Community Development Trust

Peter Lavelle Glasgow Wood Recycling

Thane Lawrie SCARF

Matt Lewis CRNS

Josiah Lockhart Firstport

Anne MacDonald South of Scotland Economic Partnership

Alyson MacGillivray South Islay Development

Amy Mack Historic Environment Scotland

Karina MacLeod Senscot Legal

Heather Macnaughton Historic Environment Scotland

Karina Maiden Senscot

17

Derek Marshall Factory Skatepark

Chris Martin Social Enterprise Scotland

Yvonne McBride Partnership 4 Procurement

Stephen McCarron Auchinleck Community Development Initiative

Mags McCarthy Caring Crossroads

Melissa McConnell Tribe Porty CIC

Adrienne McGeechan Whiteinch Centre, The

Neil McInroy Centre for Local Economic Strategies

Stuart McKenzie Auchinleck Community Development Initiative

Paul McKenzie Auchinleck Community Development Initiative

Gerard McKenzie-Govan The Blank Faces

Claire McLaughlin Partnership 4 Procurement

Gordon McLean Corra Foundation

Neil McLean Social Enterprise Academy

John McManus MCM Associates Ltd

Margaret McSporran HIE

Susan Miller Healthy n Happy Enterprises

Ian Mitchell CEIS

Lara Moir The Community Partnership in Loch Lomond and the

Trossachs National Park Area

Lynn Molleson DTAS Community Ownership Support Service

Annie Morris Senscot Legal

Theona Morrison CODEL

Lucy Morrison TSI Moray

Tracey Muirhead School for Social Entrepreneurs (Fife)

Eric Munro Dragon

Tracy Murdoch Kidzeco CIC

Janice Nicol Social Firms Scotland

Dermot O'Neill Scottish League of Credit Unions

Jennifer Paterson Partnership 4 Procurement

Claire Pattullo Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN)

Lorna Paul Giraffe Healthcare CIC

Victoria Pearce Community Enterprise

Matt Pearce West Calder & Harburn Community Development Trust

Aidan Pia Senscot

Maureen Porch CEIS

James Proctor Community Shares Scotland

Rona Proudfoot CineMor 77

Chris Raftery Scottish Government

Sue Rawcliffe Inspiralba

Pamela Redpath Scottish Borders SE Chamber

John Reid Community Transport Glasgow

Victoria Ross Royal Bank of Scotland

18

Helen Russell Rise: Glasgow

Pasna Sallis Weekday WOW Factor

Liz Scanlan Weekday WOW Factor

Louise Scott Media Co-op

Margaret Shaw Crisis Ltd

Sally Shaw Ideas for Ears

Mary Sinclair Senscot

Joanne Slater Inspiralba

Rachel Smillie Senscot

Pauline Smith Connect Community Trust

Susan Smith Growbiz

Ashley Smith-Hammond Creative Scotland

Jackie Stewart Kidzeco CIC

Doug Summers Bold Marketing

Amanda Taylor Taylor Nisbet

Alisa Templeton Greystone Rovers

Gary Thomson CineMor 77

Amanda Thornburn Kintyre Recycling Ltd

Danielle Trudeau Tribe Porty CIC

Helene van der Ploeg SPACE

Elsa Vibert Social Enterprise Academy

Kim Wallace Senscot

Marie Ward Cranhill Development Trust

Douglas Westwater Community Enterprise

Julia Whitaker North Ayrshire Council

Dianne Wilson Weekday WOW Factor

Olga Wojciechowska Social Enterprise Academy

Laura Worku Scottish Government

Maggie Wright Families in Trauma

Thanks to all our sponsors