I think it all went well, although you'd have to ask one of the small army who have been to our house over the last few days, if that was the case. I do love Christmas, but I think I like it best when its over, and fun was been had by all.
Highlights include the reaction of our boys when they realised we had got them a pool table. It was wonderful, they fell into each others arms whilst screaming, a parents dream. Thanks to Matt at SEL who told me that he and his brother got a pool table when they were 13 and 11 and it was the best present ever. He was right, they have been playing ever since, practically sleeping with their cue's.
Chris did a fantastic job at getting the Christmas dinner to the table without a drama which was quite something given that the nine we fed on Christmas Day followed the twenty we had on Christmas Eve which followed the forty we had two nights before. Explaining why we are enjoying the peace and quiet.
We took the kids out to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie this evening, which is not great by the way, and afterwards they talked about who would host the festivities when they were grown up, assuming that they would always be together for Christmas.
Final highlights; Chris's excellent non-pork Turkey stuffings (my lovely sister-in-law is Muslim, we think she's fab for throwing herself into Christmas so the least we can do is make it a pork free zone), my groovy purple wellies which will cut quite a dash at the allotment, my Mum's Christmas Pudding , and finally, and without doubt top banana, little Oliver, our newest nephew/cousin, born on Christmas Day.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
With friends like Unite, who needs enemies?
The Unite leadership doesn’t get social enterprise. They’ve confused community run businesses which exist solely in order to tackle head on the most difficult social and environmental challenges, with the type of private sector organisations which make money at the expense of their staff, their quality and their customers. Not an easy mistake to make, but one they’ve made nonetheless. In a letter sent by their Joint Gen Sec Tony Woodley to myself and Acevo CEO Stephen Bubb a couple of weeks ago, he argued that social enterprises should not be allowed to deliver services on behalf of the state because we engage in a ‘race to the bottom’ on wages. Apparently we experience a ‘high staff turnover’ and our ‘funding’ is ‘too short term’ to be able to provide sufficient stability of service. He’s wrong.
There are problems and challenges associated with commissioning the third sector to deliver public services: big challenges, ones without straightforward answers, no-one is denying this. But fundamentally the unions and the social enterprise movement share similar core values, and we should be working together to create outstanding public services. My full response was published by the Guardian Online yesterday: it’s below:
"The union is right to campaign about the privatisation of the NHS, but its vitriol against social enterprise is misdirected
It is odd that social enterprises and charities have fallen out with trade unions, or, to be precise, one trade union: Unite. The third sector has a great deal in common with the union movement. We care about people — those we serve and those we employ. Many social enterprises exist primarily to provide good jobs for those who typically face major barriers to entering any kind of employment. Yet, here we are at loggerheads over our role in the NHS.
The extent of Unite's opposition has become apparent through its recent Health B4 Profit campaign. Unite produced a pamphlet damning the employment practices of social enterprises, our position on unions, and even our intentions — all as it perceives them. We countered with hard evidence to the contrary, such as the success of employee ownership models including GLL, where workers own the company and sit on the board, and we have pointed out that many social enterprises are already providing outstanding public health services in partnership with the NHS, using innovative new structures to reach elements of the community that have been neglected.
We thought Unite's position was the result of a communication breakdown, that facts and figures together with statements of support and an offer to discuss things would put this right.
So imagine our surprise when Unite's joint general secretary Tony Woodley responded with one of the most unguarded letters I have seen in my 18 years of being a CEO. He told us that social enterprise is "in a race to the bottom" in its standards of employment, that we experience a "high staff turnover" and that we "cannot provide the stability needed for health provision due to the short-term nature of our funding".
I believe there will always be a role for unions. I was a full-time union official for five years. I know how important unions are in fighting for decent healthcare, safe working conditions, fair payment terms and many things besides. In fact, it's because of this that I know we are on the same side.
Here's why Unite's position needs to change.
In truth, both the third sector and unions are united in our rejection of the use of public services for private profit. Social enterprises make money, but the money they make is directly reinvested back into the organisation, addressing increased social need. That is a crucial and incontrovertible difference between the third sector and the private sector. Which, in turn, makes Unite's attempt to lump us together as crude and inaccurate.
The third sector doesn't want to see the NHS become fragmented, nor do we want the private sector to start delivering frontline services, and the last thing we want is a "race to the bottom" on standards, salaries or anything else.
What we are working hard to achieve is a healthcare system that responds to the fact that outstanding public services don't necessarily need to be directly controlled by the state. A system that understands that public interest and public involvement can be direct and bottom up; that people can take ownership of their services and be in charge of their destiny. Social enterprise can and is a vehicle to achieve a renewed public service. It's exciting and, when it works, the results can be revolutionary.
There is still plenty to debate over how we best involve the third sector in public service delivery, but our motivation and our fitness to serve is beyond question. What we need to be successful is a little help from our friends. But with friends like Unite, who needs enemies?"
There are problems and challenges associated with commissioning the third sector to deliver public services: big challenges, ones without straightforward answers, no-one is denying this. But fundamentally the unions and the social enterprise movement share similar core values, and we should be working together to create outstanding public services. My full response was published by the Guardian Online yesterday: it’s below:
"The union is right to campaign about the privatisation of the NHS, but its vitriol against social enterprise is misdirected
It is odd that social enterprises and charities have fallen out with trade unions, or, to be precise, one trade union: Unite. The third sector has a great deal in common with the union movement. We care about people — those we serve and those we employ. Many social enterprises exist primarily to provide good jobs for those who typically face major barriers to entering any kind of employment. Yet, here we are at loggerheads over our role in the NHS.
The extent of Unite's opposition has become apparent through its recent Health B4 Profit campaign. Unite produced a pamphlet damning the employment practices of social enterprises, our position on unions, and even our intentions — all as it perceives them. We countered with hard evidence to the contrary, such as the success of employee ownership models including GLL, where workers own the company and sit on the board, and we have pointed out that many social enterprises are already providing outstanding public health services in partnership with the NHS, using innovative new structures to reach elements of the community that have been neglected.
We thought Unite's position was the result of a communication breakdown, that facts and figures together with statements of support and an offer to discuss things would put this right.
So imagine our surprise when Unite's joint general secretary Tony Woodley responded with one of the most unguarded letters I have seen in my 18 years of being a CEO. He told us that social enterprise is "in a race to the bottom" in its standards of employment, that we experience a "high staff turnover" and that we "cannot provide the stability needed for health provision due to the short-term nature of our funding".
I believe there will always be a role for unions. I was a full-time union official for five years. I know how important unions are in fighting for decent healthcare, safe working conditions, fair payment terms and many things besides. In fact, it's because of this that I know we are on the same side.
Here's why Unite's position needs to change.
In truth, both the third sector and unions are united in our rejection of the use of public services for private profit. Social enterprises make money, but the money they make is directly reinvested back into the organisation, addressing increased social need. That is a crucial and incontrovertible difference between the third sector and the private sector. Which, in turn, makes Unite's attempt to lump us together as crude and inaccurate.
The third sector doesn't want to see the NHS become fragmented, nor do we want the private sector to start delivering frontline services, and the last thing we want is a "race to the bottom" on standards, salaries or anything else.
What we are working hard to achieve is a healthcare system that responds to the fact that outstanding public services don't necessarily need to be directly controlled by the state. A system that understands that public interest and public involvement can be direct and bottom up; that people can take ownership of their services and be in charge of their destiny. Social enterprise can and is a vehicle to achieve a renewed public service. It's exciting and, when it works, the results can be revolutionary.
There is still plenty to debate over how we best involve the third sector in public service delivery, but our motivation and our fitness to serve is beyond question. What we need to be successful is a little help from our friends. But with friends like Unite, who needs enemies?"
Monday, 21 December 2009
2010, the Year of the Social Enterprise
I had a meeting with Doug Richard today. Doug has over 20 years' experience in the development and leadership of technology and software ventures and featured in the first two series of the BBC's Dragon's Den. He is an active angel investor, the Founder of School for Startups, Chairman of the Conservative Party Small Business Task Force, and non-executive director of Pearl Software, Urbanties & Scooters and Beats Digi. But more to the point he seems like a really good bloke.
Obstensibly the meeting was to look at how SEL and his latest venture, the School for Startups, can work together, but we soon found that common ground surrounded us. Doug and I both want to see more quality advice on offer to social enterprise, something SfS can help provide, we want to see social enterprises deliver more in the public sector and we both want greater investment to be made available to see this and other markets open up for social enterprise. The difference between us is Doug actually has the money, which he wants to invest, which is how he came to setting up what is esentially an investment ready business; The School for Startups.
We all know how tough 2010 is going to be. Whilst all the major parties talk eloquently about social enterprise, the reality is that many of the local authorities and regional development agencies social enterprises deal with are facing cuts of up to 30% across the board; unprecedented. I predict that more social enterprises than we have seen so far will hit difficulties, but that many will do very well indeed. Much will depend on their game plan and the quality of advice they get. My advice; get out there and look for good advice, network for Britain and develop plans that are ambitious but flexible enough to adapt in the short term to austerity. Having people like Doug enter our community is very good news indeed, and I think an indicator for growth in our fortunes once the squeeze has subsided.
Being able to adapt is something working women know all about. My day started at 4am when I awoke in horror realising that I had left the 200 sausage rolls my husband and I made yesterday outside the backdoor. Why 200? Every year we have all the neighbours in just before Christmas. Not because we have the time, we don't, but because we want to live in a world where you know your neighbours on more than nodding terms, even if some of them are bankers. I think that is what Christmas is for, family, friends and community.
So having to sack the au pair at 8am this morning was certainly not what I had in mind to generate festive cheer. However, it had to be done; not just because she turned up late, nor because of the wine and blood stains on the carpet, the burnt saucepans, the wrecked laundry, the broken crockery, not picking up my youngest from school last week (again) or leaving my mother outside the house on Wednesday, or being daft enough to try to buy a twenty-six year old Porche 911 from an auction website in Glasgow, but because I can't cope with any more surprises. Enough is enough. Sweet girl, but no sensible person would put Walter Mitty in charge of their children, so I am now in the market for a new au pair if you know of anyone. Lovely family, own room and bathroom, 35 hours a week; Mother can somtimes be found in the garden at 4am.
So if I don't get a chance to blog again, have a Happy Christmas and great New Year! I am told the Guardian Online is featuring one of my blogs this week about our problems with Unite. If they do I'll give you a link. By the way, I'm loving everyone's comments on the blog - keep them coming, all feedback is very useful! In the meantime here is a shot of my Christmas Tree to get you in the mood.
Its the panto tonight, Jane Asher as the Wicked Queen in Snow White, should be the laugh we could all do with. 2010 is going to be the Year of the Tiger, or is it the Year of the Dragon? Either way I predict it will be the Year of the Social Enterprise.
Obstensibly the meeting was to look at how SEL and his latest venture, the School for Startups, can work together, but we soon found that common ground surrounded us. Doug and I both want to see more quality advice on offer to social enterprise, something SfS can help provide, we want to see social enterprises deliver more in the public sector and we both want greater investment to be made available to see this and other markets open up for social enterprise. The difference between us is Doug actually has the money, which he wants to invest, which is how he came to setting up what is esentially an investment ready business; The School for Startups.
We all know how tough 2010 is going to be. Whilst all the major parties talk eloquently about social enterprise, the reality is that many of the local authorities and regional development agencies social enterprises deal with are facing cuts of up to 30% across the board; unprecedented. I predict that more social enterprises than we have seen so far will hit difficulties, but that many will do very well indeed. Much will depend on their game plan and the quality of advice they get. My advice; get out there and look for good advice, network for Britain and develop plans that are ambitious but flexible enough to adapt in the short term to austerity. Having people like Doug enter our community is very good news indeed, and I think an indicator for growth in our fortunes once the squeeze has subsided.
Being able to adapt is something working women know all about. My day started at 4am when I awoke in horror realising that I had left the 200 sausage rolls my husband and I made yesterday outside the backdoor. Why 200? Every year we have all the neighbours in just before Christmas. Not because we have the time, we don't, but because we want to live in a world where you know your neighbours on more than nodding terms, even if some of them are bankers. I think that is what Christmas is for, family, friends and community.
So having to sack the au pair at 8am this morning was certainly not what I had in mind to generate festive cheer. However, it had to be done; not just because she turned up late, nor because of the wine and blood stains on the carpet, the burnt saucepans, the wrecked laundry, the broken crockery, not picking up my youngest from school last week (again) or leaving my mother outside the house on Wednesday, or being daft enough to try to buy a twenty-six year old Porche 911 from an auction website in Glasgow, but because I can't cope with any more surprises. Enough is enough. Sweet girl, but no sensible person would put Walter Mitty in charge of their children, so I am now in the market for a new au pair if you know of anyone. Lovely family, own room and bathroom, 35 hours a week; Mother can somtimes be found in the garden at 4am.
So if I don't get a chance to blog again, have a Happy Christmas and great New Year! I am told the Guardian Online is featuring one of my blogs this week about our problems with Unite. If they do I'll give you a link. By the way, I'm loving everyone's comments on the blog - keep them coming, all feedback is very useful! In the meantime here is a shot of my Christmas Tree to get you in the mood.
The tree
Its the panto tonight, Jane Asher as the Wicked Queen in Snow White, should be the laugh we could all do with. 2010 is going to be the Year of the Tiger, or is it the Year of the Dragon? Either way I predict it will be the Year of the Social Enterprise.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Waving Goodbye to Wogan
I knew I couldn’t do it alone. So, last night husband, Chris and I sat down to listen to Terry Wogan’s last show on iplayer. I was in bits. Haven’t cried like that since my lovely Dad died. As Chris said, why is there no one to replace the gents? Charismatic, self deprecating, literary humorists like Ustinov, Parkinson, Wogan and my old Dad. I don’t think, like many do, that society is going to the dogs, but I do believe that I am a witness to the rise of what some call the Spiv culture, where veneer ranks higher than integrity, and flash with cash, achieving so-called ‘celebrity’ and paying yourself silly amounts of money just because you can, is all seen as something to aspire to. I do know Terry was well paid by the BBC and to be honest I wish they had paid him more, maybe we would have got a few more months possibly years, to my mind he is worth every penny. But I'm not sure about Terry’s replacement, Chris Evans, with his dozen Ferraris in the garage. Why does a person need more than one Ferrari? Why do the city boys think it’s ok to use tax payers money to bail out the banks and then still pay themselves the big bucks? Who the hell is Paris Hilton and why would anyone want to be her friend?
I prefer the values of social enterprise, which aren’t just about profit redistribution, but about respect, mutuality and pioneering. We are redefining the idea of success. Social enterprise is improving the world through business. Profit for the many not just the few, keeping an ever watchful eye on sustainability.
All good values to celebrate at this time of year. Not least, because the powers -that -be have failed us all at Copenhagen. It seems no matter how hard they try (And let’s face it some of them didn’t try very hard at all) they can’t deliver the kind of radical change that the planet needs. So it’s down to us folks, social entrepreneurs, avid recyclers and environmentalists. We need a new generation of TOGs (Terry’s Old Guys). How about, Terrys Old Greens? Eating food that has passed its sell by date, counting the sheets of toilet roll, combining trips to the recycling depot and pub? Its got to be the way forward.
I prefer the values of social enterprise, which aren’t just about profit redistribution, but about respect, mutuality and pioneering. We are redefining the idea of success. Social enterprise is improving the world through business. Profit for the many not just the few, keeping an ever watchful eye on sustainability.
All good values to celebrate at this time of year. Not least, because the powers -that -be have failed us all at Copenhagen. It seems no matter how hard they try (And let’s face it some of them didn’t try very hard at all) they can’t deliver the kind of radical change that the planet needs. So it’s down to us folks, social entrepreneurs, avid recyclers and environmentalists. We need a new generation of TOGs (Terry’s Old Guys). How about, Terrys Old Greens? Eating food that has passed its sell by date, counting the sheets of toilet roll, combining trips to the recycling depot and pub? Its got to be the way forward.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
More fun with teeth
So dawn brings fresh revelations for the teeth business. It seems for once, the Tooth Fairy was on her game and performed the task in its entirety. However given her patchy performance of late, her side kick Pixie Prat had also made a visit and given he had not read the memo, left an enhanced tariff of £2. Imagine Sam's delight as a haul of £3 was achieved this morning! Questions were asked. Why was Sam's tooth worth more than previous Ogden-Newton teeth? More wild speculation about the rising market on teeth and a quick exit to work.
Being a parent is more complicated than you might think.
Being a parent is more complicated than you might think.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
The Tooth Fairy drinks, you know
The Tooth Fairy drinks, you know. At least she does round our way. Time and again she fails to collect teeth left out, clearly marked for that age old transaction. Then on the second night she seems to be leaving £2, twice the usual rate, presumably in response to a fit of guilt. It then often takes a third night for the tooth itself to be harvested, leading to questions being asked. In response I have been known to come out with wild suppositions, like a glut of teeth in fairy land.
But between you and I, I think she likes a drop. Lets hope Father Christmas has a stronger work ethic. If not, we're all in big trouble.
But between you and I, I think she likes a drop. Lets hope Father Christmas has a stronger work ethic. If not, we're all in big trouble.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Now I ask you, is it Fair?
I woke up to the hideous realisation that I will need 8 boxes of crackers over the three days of Christmas and today and tomorrow are the respective children's school Christmas fairs. I am womaning the Secret's stall today where I will fail miserably to recognise a soul, as like most of the fathers I am hardly ever at the school. Somehow the dads get away with it.
My day started at 6 when my husband, Chris, left to pick up and deliver a harpsicord to his parents house in Bristol!? He will be gone all day, or at least until the school fair is finished I should imagine. His departure was quickly followed by drilling from Thames Water outside the house. I complained to the authorities yesterday as BTW (Bloody Thames Water) started digging a hole outside our house for the third time in eighteen months. Last time they stared at their abyss for three months. I can hardly wait. I know complaining is a waste of time but I find it cheers me up.
I am still so cross about a mate of mine who told me last night that she has lost her top job whilst on maternity leave (not from a social enterprise I hasten to add). Every year it is estimated around 30, 000 women lose their jobs whilst on maternity leave in the UK. One is an outrage, 30,000 is a national disgrace. How do the perps get away with it? They hope that vulnerable mothers of infants won't find the strength to take legal action and at the top end of the jobs market they know that if you sue no one will touch you again. So those women have more to lose in the long run. I suspect that the recession has made it worse with men fighting ever harder for the top jobs. It is of course a man who has got comfy in my friends chair whilst she was on leave. I think of all that work to get to the top, then you take 6 months off to produce a future tax payer and boom, you're out.
I will have to think about what we can do to stop this happening whilst I am selling children back the tat their mothers donated to the school. I make my lot memorise all my donations before they go to the school so I don't, as has happened in the past, get it back again. That six o'clock gin seems a world away.
My day started at 6 when my husband, Chris, left to pick up and deliver a harpsicord to his parents house in Bristol!? He will be gone all day, or at least until the school fair is finished I should imagine. His departure was quickly followed by drilling from Thames Water outside the house. I complained to the authorities yesterday as BTW (Bloody Thames Water) started digging a hole outside our house for the third time in eighteen months. Last time they stared at their abyss for three months. I can hardly wait. I know complaining is a waste of time but I find it cheers me up.
I am still so cross about a mate of mine who told me last night that she has lost her top job whilst on maternity leave (not from a social enterprise I hasten to add). Every year it is estimated around 30, 000 women lose their jobs whilst on maternity leave in the UK. One is an outrage, 30,000 is a national disgrace. How do the perps get away with it? They hope that vulnerable mothers of infants won't find the strength to take legal action and at the top end of the jobs market they know that if you sue no one will touch you again. So those women have more to lose in the long run. I suspect that the recession has made it worse with men fighting ever harder for the top jobs. It is of course a man who has got comfy in my friends chair whilst she was on leave. I think of all that work to get to the top, then you take 6 months off to produce a future tax payer and boom, you're out.
I will have to think about what we can do to stop this happening whilst I am selling children back the tat their mothers donated to the school. I make my lot memorise all my donations before they go to the school so I don't, as has happened in the past, get it back again. That six o'clock gin seems a world away.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Something to celebrate!
Well things are very quiet in the SEL office as we all contemplate the meaning of excess. Last night was the office Christmas party with the usual frivolities plus an extra bowling/karaoke dimension. Matt and I missed the bowling (sorry Matt) as we had to stay at the office dealing with a little media situation. More of that later. It seems our Emma is the bowling queen and as an activity it looks like becoming a SEL regular. Good job too I say, as I really am not fond of the ice skating we did last year. I sometimes wonder if they are trying to kill me.
After the bowling in Bloomsbury the troops de-bunked to an eatery in Covent Garden where we proceeded to wreck the evening of all non-SEL diners. The funny string, party bombs, and daglo hoops were a nice touch, thanks Gustavo (Its always the quiet ones you have to watch) and Matt impressed us all with his male multi tasking by being able to let off four party poppers simultaneously. Practically no one guessed their secret Santa as everyone had really done well, getting spot on gifts. Sabina is chuffed to bits with the holder for her new UK passport, Gustavo now has a guide to Miami where he plans to visit this Christmas, Joyce is crossing her fingers for the lottery tickets she got and Chris, the born again gardener is armed and ready with his book on herbs.
When we left I apologised to the manager who told me, cheerfully I thought, that the poppers/ streamers/ silly string etc had set a new benchmark in detritus. Another SEL first!
Talking of ground breakers last night was also the Social Enterprise Awards (sadly arranged after deposits were paid for the SEL do). I am chuffed that two SEL members were successful. Global Ethics, which produces One Water and One Condoms scooped Best Large Social Enterprise and Bikeworks in East London, which runs cycle training and trains homeless people as bike engineers, picked up Best New Social Enterprise. Big congratulations to Duncan Goose, Dave Miller and their respective teams for their frankly remarkable achievements. It strikes me that next to each other, Global Ethics and Bikeworks encapsulate perfectly the diversity in our sector. Both are London based, both sell normal (though very high quality) products, and both are led by strong, passionate social entrepreneurs. But from not dissimilar beginnings, the marks Global Ethics and Bikeworks make on the world are so different. Global Ethics has helped over 1 million people in developing countries access clean water and other life saving resources, whilst in two short years Bikeworks has transformed the lives of many of London’s most vulnerable citizens, as well as the health and wellbeing of countless others through its training programmes. Two social enterprises, two totally different social challenges, a phenomenal depth of impact. I’m proud to work with both of them.
Back to last night and the (shudder) karaoke. What can I say? I was a fright but led the way in making a tit of myself, as is the responsibility of a good leader. So after a few ear splitting Abba anthems I retired from the field to let the pros show us how it was done. Matt and Mei clearly stormed the field. Matt it turns out is quite the ham and seldom relinquished the microphone which was not such a bad thing as not only can he sing but we got a lot of drama and ‘movement’!? into the bargain. Hilarious. We dragged Lesley in kicking and screaming, but after a few Jaeger Bombs(!) she, Emma and Michelle provided 'Ronnets style' backing vocals to all (and I mean all) performances. Exhausting to watch. I didn’t touch the bombs as they smelled like cough medicine and I knew no matter how late I got back I’d be doing the school run this morning, so was spared the agony I see in the faces before me.
So, well done for making it in today everyone, well done to Sue for making it last night, think of us when you use your Super Sue mug and enjoy what’s left of your maternity leave, and well done Mei for organising such a great evening. Gustavo and Joyce please note your presence will be required at the next karaoke evening as we all long to hear once again Gus’s version of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, and no one does Bob Marley like Joyce. I think it is very important to celebrate success. Every one of the SEL lovelies has done brilliantly this year, working long into the night to deliver what I think is the best service to social enterprises anywhere and it is a lovely thing that we obviously really enjoy one another’s company. Just as well as we spend so much time together.
Have a great weekend everyone especially Duncan at Global ethics and Dave at BikeWorks, you’ve all done very well!!!(Does anyone remember Are You Being Served?)
After the bowling in Bloomsbury the troops de-bunked to an eatery in Covent Garden where we proceeded to wreck the evening of all non-SEL diners. The funny string, party bombs, and daglo hoops were a nice touch, thanks Gustavo (Its always the quiet ones you have to watch) and Matt impressed us all with his male multi tasking by being able to let off four party poppers simultaneously. Practically no one guessed their secret Santa as everyone had really done well, getting spot on gifts. Sabina is chuffed to bits with the holder for her new UK passport, Gustavo now has a guide to Miami where he plans to visit this Christmas, Joyce is crossing her fingers for the lottery tickets she got and Chris, the born again gardener is armed and ready with his book on herbs.
SEL's civilised, sombre Christmas do.
When we left I apologised to the manager who told me, cheerfully I thought, that the poppers/ streamers/ silly string etc had set a new benchmark in detritus. Another SEL first!
Talking of ground breakers last night was also the Social Enterprise Awards (sadly arranged after deposits were paid for the SEL do). I am chuffed that two SEL members were successful. Global Ethics, which produces One Water and One Condoms scooped Best Large Social Enterprise and Bikeworks in East London, which runs cycle training and trains homeless people as bike engineers, picked up Best New Social Enterprise. Big congratulations to Duncan Goose, Dave Miller and their respective teams for their frankly remarkable achievements. It strikes me that next to each other, Global Ethics and Bikeworks encapsulate perfectly the diversity in our sector. Both are London based, both sell normal (though very high quality) products, and both are led by strong, passionate social entrepreneurs. But from not dissimilar beginnings, the marks Global Ethics and Bikeworks make on the world are so different. Global Ethics has helped over 1 million people in developing countries access clean water and other life saving resources, whilst in two short years Bikeworks has transformed the lives of many of London’s most vulnerable citizens, as well as the health and wellbeing of countless others through its training programmes. Two social enterprises, two totally different social challenges, a phenomenal depth of impact. I’m proud to work with both of them.
Back to last night and the (shudder) karaoke. What can I say? I was a fright but led the way in making a tit of myself, as is the responsibility of a good leader. So after a few ear splitting Abba anthems I retired from the field to let the pros show us how it was done. Matt and Mei clearly stormed the field. Matt it turns out is quite the ham and seldom relinquished the microphone which was not such a bad thing as not only can he sing but we got a lot of drama and ‘movement’!? into the bargain. Hilarious. We dragged Lesley in kicking and screaming, but after a few Jaeger Bombs(!) she, Emma and Michelle provided 'Ronnets style' backing vocals to all (and I mean all) performances. Exhausting to watch. I didn’t touch the bombs as they smelled like cough medicine and I knew no matter how late I got back I’d be doing the school run this morning, so was spared the agony I see in the faces before me.
So, well done for making it in today everyone, well done to Sue for making it last night, think of us when you use your Super Sue mug and enjoy what’s left of your maternity leave, and well done Mei for organising such a great evening. Gustavo and Joyce please note your presence will be required at the next karaoke evening as we all long to hear once again Gus’s version of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, and no one does Bob Marley like Joyce. I think it is very important to celebrate success. Every one of the SEL lovelies has done brilliantly this year, working long into the night to deliver what I think is the best service to social enterprises anywhere and it is a lovely thing that we obviously really enjoy one another’s company. Just as well as we spend so much time together.
Have a great weekend everyone especially Duncan at Global ethics and Dave at BikeWorks, you’ve all done very well!!!(Does anyone remember Are You Being Served?)
Thursday, 3 December 2009
OMG!!!
...I have just opened my post to find an incendiary devise lurking there. I am consulting with colleagues, press and fellow campaigners and will be in touch to reveal all.
In the meantime I have dropped by the Houses of Parilament to support by dear friend in her launch of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition Manifesto. Antonia Swinson does a magnificent job as CEO of the Scottish Coalition and somehow manages to combine this with being an accomplished author and activist giving the rest of us something to aim for. Aside from her weighty work on the economy she has also published on allotments (you can see where our friendship comes from) and several novels. I was amazed when I read her Cousins Tale two years ago. Not only a really enjoyable read, but as it transpired, completely brilliant as in it she predicted the recession in its entirety. A clever and glamorous woman with politics. Not something we get too much of.
In the meantime I have dropped by the Houses of Parilament to support by dear friend in her launch of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition Manifesto. Antonia Swinson does a magnificent job as CEO of the Scottish Coalition and somehow manages to combine this with being an accomplished author and activist giving the rest of us something to aim for. Aside from her weighty work on the economy she has also published on allotments (you can see where our friendship comes from) and several novels. I was amazed when I read her Cousins Tale two years ago. Not only a really enjoyable read, but as it transpired, completely brilliant as in it she predicted the recession in its entirety. A clever and glamorous woman with politics. Not something we get too much of.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Getting in the mood
I knew it was December 1 today as dawn found me furiously hunting for a Santa hat. My daughter, Katie is singing carols with her class at the O2 tonight and I was informed solemnly this morning that ‘everyone else would be wearing a Santa hat, but don’t worry, it doesn’t matter’. My working mother’s guilt went into overdrive as I tore the house apart, finding no hat. I rang friends and neighbours, they had no hat, and finally I went shopping. I was aghast, and disproportionately grateful to find our local party shop open at 8.30am. I fell through the doors, told the shop keeper I loved her (alarming her I think) and bought three Santa hats, later informing the school receptionist that the others were for any class mates who might have parents that also missed the Santa hat memo.
Like every working parent I know, keeping up with school correspondence is a real challenge. Like every working mother I know, they are a source of constant guilt. I have had dozens of emails in the last week from the children’s schools, scouts and brownie associations asking for donations, preparation time and time on the day for their respective Christmas fairs (interestingly my husband gets none of these despite me making sure they have his email address as well.) I do what I can, making cakes at midnight and bagging up tat, and I heartily congratulate those who do so much more. However each and every email does serve to remind me that not everyone is living their lives at break neck speed. An odd, but curiously comforting thought.
Still I love life in the fast lane so social enterprise is a good place to be. Things are always shifting as we work away at the coal face of social change. Talking of change, I recently heard on the grapevine that there are key folk interested in changing the term social enterprise to social business, which is what the Japanese call it. Given the time and effort we have taken to build the brand of social enterprise, I think this could set us back. We need to focus resources on cranking up the social enterprise profile and fighting the corner of social entrepreneurs who are feeling the heat of cut backs, cut-throat markets and competitive contract tenders. Besides, I’m not sure 'social businesspreneur' would catch on???
The position of social enterprise, as we become more successful, will get more adversarial. So hang on to your Santa hats folks. Sadly we have unions like Unite and Unison producing anti-social enterprise leaflets; we have people like Peter Jones from Dragons Den talking about social entrepreneurs as a bad credit risk as if that were a matter of fact (I gave a rather blunt interview to a reporter yesterday on my public challenge to Peter Jones at the British Library when he made that unhelpful comment) and we have some voluntary sector leaders questioning social enterprise as either privatisation by the back door, or voluntary sector organisations masquerading as social enterprises to unfairly compete for funding. Make your mind up.
My job and SEL’s is to address these misconceptions and promote the real stories that are improving society through business.
To this end I met yesterday with Gerry Walsh and Mike Cornelius respective heads of procurement for LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority. They were resolutely optimistic about the chances of social enterprises delivering some of the final £1.3 billion pounds worth of 2012 contracts. They both urged me to encourage SEL members to register on the procurement vehicle Compete For, and Gerry in particular highlighted transport as the next big opportunity. Such was their enthusiasm we concluded the meeting with an agreement to hold a joint event bringing them together with interested social enterprises. I am hoping the Cabinet Office will agree and if we do manage to get their support I will be in touch to let folk know when that is going to happen. Obviously given the timing of events, the sooner the better, so watch this space.
I relentlessly sell social enterprises, a part of my job I relish, made easier by the existence of wonderful organisations like the City of London Migraine Centre where I got life changing treatment for my migraines. Having suffered since my teens I had no idea how effectively migraines can be treated by the world class experts at the clinic. So when disaster struck on Saturday and I had one of my rare aura migraines that temporarily rob me of peripheral vision, I was able to take medication that restored me to the extent, that Katie and I made the rather lovely Gingerbread house below.
"It’s too early" I hear you cry. Let me defend myself. It was a rotten afternoon, I was housebound and the pile of sweets I had bought to make the gingerbread house was fast disappearing into the mouths of short ghosts. Lastly I am a firm believer in prior planning and not leaving anything to the last minute. It is because of this that I am able to feign composure when our family and friends invade by the legion over the festive period.
Anyway I am a self confessed Christmas junkie and love the whole thing, more is more in my book so Ho Ho Ho to all you Grinches. For those of you getting in the mood but too busy to get to the shops I have posted some links to Christmas shopping sites in the right hand column (scroll up!). Let me know what you think.
Finally I urge you all to get out there and buy your Divine Chocolate advent calendars. It’s not too late!!!
Like every working parent I know, keeping up with school correspondence is a real challenge. Like every working mother I know, they are a source of constant guilt. I have had dozens of emails in the last week from the children’s schools, scouts and brownie associations asking for donations, preparation time and time on the day for their respective Christmas fairs (interestingly my husband gets none of these despite me making sure they have his email address as well.) I do what I can, making cakes at midnight and bagging up tat, and I heartily congratulate those who do so much more. However each and every email does serve to remind me that not everyone is living their lives at break neck speed. An odd, but curiously comforting thought.
Still I love life in the fast lane so social enterprise is a good place to be. Things are always shifting as we work away at the coal face of social change. Talking of change, I recently heard on the grapevine that there are key folk interested in changing the term social enterprise to social business, which is what the Japanese call it. Given the time and effort we have taken to build the brand of social enterprise, I think this could set us back. We need to focus resources on cranking up the social enterprise profile and fighting the corner of social entrepreneurs who are feeling the heat of cut backs, cut-throat markets and competitive contract tenders. Besides, I’m not sure 'social businesspreneur' would catch on???
The position of social enterprise, as we become more successful, will get more adversarial. So hang on to your Santa hats folks. Sadly we have unions like Unite and Unison producing anti-social enterprise leaflets; we have people like Peter Jones from Dragons Den talking about social entrepreneurs as a bad credit risk as if that were a matter of fact (I gave a rather blunt interview to a reporter yesterday on my public challenge to Peter Jones at the British Library when he made that unhelpful comment) and we have some voluntary sector leaders questioning social enterprise as either privatisation by the back door, or voluntary sector organisations masquerading as social enterprises to unfairly compete for funding. Make your mind up.
My job and SEL’s is to address these misconceptions and promote the real stories that are improving society through business.
To this end I met yesterday with Gerry Walsh and Mike Cornelius respective heads of procurement for LOCOG and the Olympic Delivery Authority. They were resolutely optimistic about the chances of social enterprises delivering some of the final £1.3 billion pounds worth of 2012 contracts. They both urged me to encourage SEL members to register on the procurement vehicle Compete For, and Gerry in particular highlighted transport as the next big opportunity. Such was their enthusiasm we concluded the meeting with an agreement to hold a joint event bringing them together with interested social enterprises. I am hoping the Cabinet Office will agree and if we do manage to get their support I will be in touch to let folk know when that is going to happen. Obviously given the timing of events, the sooner the better, so watch this space.
I relentlessly sell social enterprises, a part of my job I relish, made easier by the existence of wonderful organisations like the City of London Migraine Centre where I got life changing treatment for my migraines. Having suffered since my teens I had no idea how effectively migraines can be treated by the world class experts at the clinic. So when disaster struck on Saturday and I had one of my rare aura migraines that temporarily rob me of peripheral vision, I was able to take medication that restored me to the extent, that Katie and I made the rather lovely Gingerbread house below.
The result of the O-N's gingerbread house construction project. Kevin McLeod would be impressed.
"It’s too early" I hear you cry. Let me defend myself. It was a rotten afternoon, I was housebound and the pile of sweets I had bought to make the gingerbread house was fast disappearing into the mouths of short ghosts. Lastly I am a firm believer in prior planning and not leaving anything to the last minute. It is because of this that I am able to feign composure when our family and friends invade by the legion over the festive period.
Anyway I am a self confessed Christmas junkie and love the whole thing, more is more in my book so Ho Ho Ho to all you Grinches. For those of you getting in the mood but too busy to get to the shops I have posted some links to Christmas shopping sites in the right hand column (scroll up!). Let me know what you think.
Finally I urge you all to get out there and buy your Divine Chocolate advent calendars. It’s not too late!!!
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