Joint Thematic Event Report Perth

June 2016

Falkirk & District Social Enterprise Network

Stirlingshire Social Enterprise Network

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Contents

Introduction 2

Aim of the event 2

Event format 2

Evaluation 4

Next steps 4

Appendix 1-Final Outcomes of Discussion Sessions 6

Appendix 2- Speakers 11

Appendix 3- Delegate list 12

Event pictures 14

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Introduction The SENs is the name Senscot gives to our work with Social Enterprise Networks (SENs) - both thematic and geographical in Scotland. The first SEN was established in Fife in 2004. There are now more than 20 SENs operating across Scotland - 5 thematic (health, community food, sport, cultural and employability) and 18 geographically based - connecting over 1,100 social enterprises. The SENs provide members with opportunities for:

peer support

resource sharing, joint working and development of markets

a focal point for issues specific to social enterprise

a collective voice both locally and nationally

raising awareness and profile of social enterprise both locally and nationally. As the work of the SENs has evolved, Senscot, SEN members and other key stakeholders have been aware of the increasing scope for joint working between the respective thematic areas. Following a review of thematic SEN activity a number of key priority areas have been identified for 2016/17. Priority areas:

• Health and Social Care Integration • Self Directed Support • Food Poverty • Tourism and Heritage • Creative Industries • Sport for Change • Employability

Senscot, in partnership with local SENs, will be hosting a number of joint thematic social enterprise events across the country over the next year.

Aim of the event Working with Social Firms Scotland, Perth and Kinross SEN, Dundee SEN, Stirlingshire SEN and Falkirk and District SEN this event provided a space for in depth discussion; strategic thinking; influencing and making broader connections; sharing good practice and developing ideas and /or pieces of work; and hopefully lead to greater involvement for social enterprises within specific policy areas.

Event format

Agenda 1. Registration / tea & coffee 2. Welcome 3. Setting the Scene & National Context 4. Local Inspiration 5. Thematic Group Discussion 6. Social enterprise spotlights 7. Lunch & networking

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Presentations Senscot Kim Wallace, National Overview Sarah Cameron, Tourism and Creative Industries Alan Johnston, Sport for Change Mary Sinclair, Health and Social Care Integration and Self Directed Support Senscot presentations Local Contributions Health & Social Care Integration- Donna Murray-Trail, The Care and Wellbeing Co-op Tourism & Heritage- Susan Curran, HM Frigate Unicorn Spotlight- Fiona McEwan, Birks Cinema

Discussion Sessions Two interactive sessions to explore joint working opportunities, building connections, sharing good practice and developing ideas and /or pieces of work of interest to local Social Enterprise. The first session split into groups - social enterprise and support bodies who were given questions to consider. Employability

How can Scotland design practical employability support services (including work programme/choice replacement) that enable social enterprises to be at the heart of their delivery?

Health & Social Care Integration Recognising that Health & Social Care Integration has not evolved as fast as the Scottish Government originally anticipated, is there currently a role for social enterprise in improving the health and wellbeing of communities across Scotland?

Tourism What are the challenges and opportunities for social enterprise to take better advantage of the growing visitor economy in Scotland?

Self-Directed Support How can social enterprise, via Self Directed Support, give people more choice, control and flexibility over their health and support?

The second session gave participants the choice to join the conversation they deemed most relevant for themselves. The groups were then asked to:

1. Categorise the key issues – opportunities 2. Categories the key issues – challenges 3. Identify priority actions 4. Who is responsible for leading on each priority action? 5. What is the timescale for each priority action?

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Evaluation Feedback from the event has been positive, both on the day and via an online survey. Sample comments:

Hearing examples of work other social enterprises are undertaking

Discovering what the common issues are for social enterprise

Learning more about the thematic forums

Meeting other practitioners and having the opportunity to showcase what we're doing

Networking Opportunities/ Fresh ideas / inspiring stories

Suggested actions for progression include:

Hearing more about how the innovation funding is being spent by Integrated Joint Boards

(IJBs) and how SE's are engaging with this opportunity or how they can engage in the future.

Increase awareness of social enterprises so they are given equal consideration with private

businesses when it comes to procurement of services.

More opportunities to network and share good practice

Central database- one stop shop for advice

Next steps Senscot and Social Firms Scotland will continue to engage with local SENs in taking forward these priority areas – some actions outlined below.

Tourism Senscot to work with local SENs to:

o Create links with Destination Management Organisations and other partners o Provide access to support to upskilling and building quality o Identify local opportunities

Employability Social Firms Scotland/Senscot to work with local SENs to:

o Ensure members’ experiences, issues and ideas are fed into the Third Sector Employability Forum

o Provide national ‘bigger picture’ information on employability o Influence at a local level, supporting SENs to raise awareness of the potential for social

enterprises to deliver on the employability agenda

Health and social care integration Senscot / Social Enterprise & Health Coordinator will:

o Invite Health SEN members to provide feedback on the SE Strategy (June) o Liaise with The ALLIANCE’s Third Sector Support Team to identify support available for SEs &

emerging opportunities (July) o Liaise with VAS to explore how SEs are supported via the TSI Integration handbook (July) o Table issues reported by SEs on agenda for Social Enterprise Health & Wellbeing Roundtable

for discussion & identification of actions (August)

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o Flag up the issues reported by SEs at the Third Sector Health & Social Care Advisory Group (September)

Self-directed support Senscot / Social Enterprise & Health Coordinator will:

o Map what SDS resources are currently available for SEs (June - August) o Liaise with key stakeholders on potential development of appropriate guidance (August) o Promote the example of Perthshire Care & Wellbeing Cooperative (August) o Table issues reported by SEs on agenda for Social Enterprise Health & Wellbeing Roundtable

for discussion & identification of actions (August) Should you wish to be informed and engaged as these are taken forward contact details: Tourism, email Sarah@senscot.net Health and Social Care Integration, email Mary@senscot.net Self-Directed Support, email Mary@senscot.net Employability, email jayne.chappell@socialfirms.org.uk

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Appendix 1

Final outcomes of discussion sessions

TOURISM What are the challenges and opportunities for social enterprise to take better advantage of the growing visitor economy in Scotland? Initial Response: A number of social enterprises already delivering services/ products to the tourism industry but there is a need to improve quality, increase the offer and tap into opportunities. Key issues – opportunities: Communication- to sell to the tourism market and to work with partners better.

o Marketing/ advertising o Tourism Scotland- sell social impact angle o Use social media and sales & marketing platforms (e.g. 5pm, groupon, itison etc)

Infrastructure o Collaboration with social enterprise to improve infrastructure e.g. community transport,

toilet facilities. Scaling up to provide a better offer and more social impact

o ALEOs/ trusts competitors or possible partners? o Employability opportunities to support long-term sector growth. o Creativity and culture attracts visitors and improves the offer. o Large events create opportunities for involvement- community benefit/ preparation/

delivery/ food drink/ accommodation Local opportunities include:

o Arts- Glasgow & Dundee o Industrial heritage- Glasgow o Water front- Dundee o Heritage- Stirling

Other important points include: o Respond to different cultures and health needs o Does social enterprise feature in local or national tourism strategies o Local labour use o A will for social tourism

Key issues – challenges:

o Affordability of communication. o Support from local council around marketing and access to visit Scotland. o Lack of transport o Capital investment needed for infrastructure o Impact of surrounding area o Tourism tax o Capacity needed to scale up and improve quality. o Change in mind-set to ensure delivery is customer focussed o Provision for visitors during wet weather o Conservation constraint o Change in structure e.g. traditional charity to social enterprise

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Priority actions:

o Communication Develop relationship with local tourism organisations. Share opportunities. Lead: SENs, Senscot

o Infrastructure Link with community transport Raise SE awareness Lead: SENs, Local Authority, Community Transport

o Scaling up Communicate opportunities Improve quality Lead: SENs, Senscot, LA, Visit Scotland

o Meeting the need Assess gaps Identify SE opps Lead: LA, Visit Scotland, SENs

EMPLOYABILITY How can Scotland design practical employability support services (including work programme/choice replacement) that enable social enterprises to be at the heart of their delivery? Initial Response: a feeling of a need to target support, raising awareness of what social enterprise already delivers, and the potential to work better together and with the public and private sectors to deliver better services. Key issues – opportunities: Awareness raising of the potential and value of SE

o General public/ private sector/ BME o Education service & individual personal development

Funding o More, longer term and flexible o Lead- collective action

i. Keep employability high on agenda ii. Marketing of social enterprise

iii. Develop relationships with funders Alignment of services, more joined up seamless service offers

o More realistic targets given complex needs of people working with o Needs led programme

i. Needs of customer/ local area o Look at where skills shortages are & how to address them

i. Develop on people’s strengths. o Create more supported placement- role for a broker? o Measurement of person’s progression important- not just for job search o Meaningful work experience met

Partnerships o Self-reliant groups/ social enterprise consortium working o Access to network of support through strong partnerships to provide full whole-person

support

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i. Local initiatives based on opportunities/ need o Need to tap into support other corporate orgs can offer o Build relationships with potential employers o Co-production o Develop 3rd sector academies

Key issues – challenges: Awareness raising of the value of SE

o Government and local authorities need to be more aware of what SE can deliver o Having voice at the table o Value what are considered soft outcomes.

Funding o Fundraising- reliant on funder priorities

Alignment of services, more joined up seamless service offers

o Avoid mission creep to meet funder requirements o Fixed time limited placements do not work for everyone o Better assessment of individuals needs o Not cheap labour

Partnerships

o Inflexible benefits system works against individual o One size does not fit all o Job search need to be reorganised and valued

Priority actions: Lead: Awareness raising of the value of SE- Current representative on CPP. Local SEN with support from employability SEN Funding- Collective action

Health & Social Care Integration Recognising that H&SC Integration has not evolved as fast as the Scottish Government originally anticipated, is there currently a role for social enterprise in improving the health and wellbeing of communities across Scotland? Initial Response: Overall positive response that there is a role for SEs in improving the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals, with the following highlighted as beneficial aspects that SEs contribute:

o Offer a cost effective & / or sustainable solution

o A responsive & flexible approach

o Ability to progress initial idea through to delivery

o Local knowledge and a powerful connection with the public

o Awareness that community is key to developing solutions

o Understanding of person centeredness and recognition of individual need

o Stronger focus on wellbeing than on profit

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Key issues - opportunities o Potential partnerships to be explored and developed locally (with other SEs & third

sector organisations)

o Early intervention activity required to address prevention agenda and achieve

strategic plan outcomes that SEs have the ability to design services and deliver on.

o Tap into Community Empowerment developments

o Make use of SME and Social Enterprise support at local and national level.

Key issues - challenges

o Recognise that change takes time and that some of this needs to happen from

within existing systems and that lobbying is also required.

o Difficulty influencing at strategic level.

o A lack of understanding around social enterprise that needs to be tackled.

o Whilst partnership working offers opportunities, need to recognise that it can also

present challenges in terms of support to develop them and the competition

amongst third sector and social enterprise.

o Do not complicate with overly complex audit / bureaucratic systems to secure &

deliver contract.

o Climate of fear and a frightened workforce amongst public sector partners.

o Health budgets and risk averse commissioning

o Need for ongoing evaluation.

o Cultural differences between NHS and LA, and also Third Sector and social enterprise

Priority actions

o Increase national & local understanding of added value to health agenda that all

social enterprise can deliver (Senscot, local SENs, Health SEN members)

o Challenge that voices on the ground are not making way their way through to

Strategic Planning Groups.

o Identify / develop support that is required to navigate the landscape.

o Third sector must come together at both a local and national level and avoid being

separated by the needs of others i.e. public sector partners.

o Social Enterprise Strategy should reflect the contribution SEs can make to this

agenda and reflect relevant outcomes. (Senscot)

o Encourage less risk averse commissioning.

Self-Directed Support How can social enterprise, via SDS, give people more choice, control and flexibility over their health and support? Initial Response: Lots of enthusiasm for social enterprise involvement in SDS and sense of added value they can offer, with many participants highlighting Donna from The Care & Wellbeing Cooperative’s presentation providing fantastic inspiration. Some of the positives noted included:

o Small is beautiful, greater impact of personal approach

o More social interactions & activities can be provided

o Offers solutions & simplifies systems

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Key issues – opportunities o Offers a solution to rural areas

o Development of SDS brokers

o Development of Health & Social Care Consortium

Key issues – challenges

o No agreement on SDS process / approach across Scotland

o More competition exists in city areas

o There’s a need good marketing

o Is the opportunity clearly understood by potential providers?

o Uncertainty whether clients know the opportunities

o A need for consistency in national messages and dispelling of the myths

o Local authorities in denial that it exists – no progress in some LAs, some don’t like

losing control.

o SDS perceived as cost-cutting exercise by service users of previous LA contract

o Often the softer outcomes in whole person support are not valued.

o Lack of consistent message across Local Authorities areas o Processes unclear in terms of what the changes mean for service users and service

providers o How will individual’s needs be matched with current service provision o Lack of communication and understanding between Social Work and other LA

departments o Unclear for SE’s on how they can potentially access future tendering/contract

opportunities

Priority Actions o Showcase good stories of where SE is successful

o Increase awareness of SDS amongst clients and potential providers.

o Support social enterprises to understand how it works to enable greater community

based support.

o Raise awareness of the links to local self-employment opportunities, and support

this.

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Appendix 2

Speakers Kim Wallace, Senscot Sarah Cameron, Senscot Mary Sinclair, Senscot Alan Johnston, Senscot Jayne Chappell, Social Firms Scotland Donna Murray-Trail, The Care and Wellbeing Co-op Health & Social Care Integration- presentation Emma MacGregor, Stirling Community Enterprise Employability Susan Curran, HM Frigate Unicorn Tourism & Heritage- presentation Gina Wallace, Workshop Aberfeldy Maureen Menzies, Caledonian Housing Association (Home Help Service) Fiona McEwan, Birks Cinema Presentation Tony Dellaquaglia, Ymedia

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Appendix 3

Delegate list

First Surname Organisation

Alan Johnston Senscot

Angus Hardie SCA

Anna Wilson Kith and Kin

Anne Walker Atholl Centre

Annette Tonner Forth Valley Community Focus

Anu Jain PKAVS

Brian Robertson-Fern BRAG

Derek Marshall Dundee Factory SkatePark

Donna Murray-Trail Care and Wellbeing Co-op

Elaine Hogg DSEN

Elaine Rimmer PKAVS

Emma MacGregor Raploch Urban Regeneration Company

Fiona MacEwan Birks Cinema

Fiona Henderson Glasgow University

Gina Wallace Workshop Aberfeldy

Jackie Brierton Growbiz

Jane Reid Positive Steps

Jayne Chappell Social Firms Scotland

Jim Brown Helm Training

Jim Findlay Tay & Earn Trust

Karina Macleod Senscot Legal

Katrina MacPherson PKAVS

Kevin Harrison Artlink Central

Kim Wallace Senscot

Kimberley McGibbon Government

Lesley Sinclair Perth & Kinross Council

Lorraine Caddell Crafts R Us

Mark Meiklejohn Government

Mary Sinclair Senscot

Maureen Menzies Caledonian HA

Maureen Hill Scottish Waterways Trust

Natalie Masterson SVE

Richard Ryan Plus Perth

Sally Gallery Just Enterprise

Sally Shaw Ideas For Ears

Sarah Cameron Senscot

Sheila Maxwell Link Group

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Sheila Stephen A World of Wellbeing

Shelley Batty Sunlite Café

Stephanie Cameron PKAVS

Susan Curran Frigate Unicorn

Susan Smith DSEN

Tony Dellaquaglia Ymedia

Victoria McRae Falkirk CVS

Yvonne Stewart Open Secret

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Appendix 4