Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA)’s Post

The deep divide over whether community organisations should be political or not is a conversation I have had with so many for-purpose leaders over the last couple of years. It is a hard line to walk, and when 56% of people in this study see advocacy on social and political issues as an important function of community organisations but 49% think community organisations should stick to serving their communities and stay out of politics (and no, I don't know how there's a 7% crossover there, but perhaps those 7% think that you can advocate but still stay out of politics?), it will remain a source of contention. I look forward to more conversations on this topic while we figure out how to strike a balance.

Institute of Community Directors Australia gave an excellent overview of the Not-for-Profit Sector Development blueprint today. I particularly enjoyed the way Adele Stowe-Lindner brought some of the recommendations to life. Like when 60% of NFPs report not having enough in their funding to cover operating costs, that means we're all doing applications and acquittals (and often some of the project too) for free - which needs to change, with governments and funders agreeing to pay what it takes. And how changes to Deductible Gift Recipient status to broaden and simplify it might mean that we can tidy up some frustrating anomalies like how 'preventing social harm' is not eligible for DGR but 'responding to social harm' is. Like the need to protect the rights of NFPs to advocate for what people and the planet need most, without having their funding taken off them. If an NFP is funded to support the health and wellbeing of refugees, they should absolutely have the right to advocate for changes to how refugees are treated more broadly. And how NFPs need to upskill digitally to take advantage of what computers can do, and avoid some of the harms. I loved Adele's analogy of how a computer is less like a typewriter and more like an extra staff member - just like a staff member, we have to make sure they're adding value, be understanding that they'll sometimes get things wrong, and ensure that they're not sharing gossip at the watercooler (releasing data they shouldn't). There is so much more in the blueprint. Well worth reading when you get time! https://lnkd.in/gVhjPTXd I look forward to many of these changes being rolled out to make the NFP sector, which does so much social and environmental good (and noting that about 80% of identified social enterprises are NFPs!) stronger and more agile. PS, kudos to the committee that wrote this report for including all actions considered and whether they were included or not in the appendix. Great transparency!

Harnessing social innovation for community solutions This week I have been fortunate to be part of some really interesting discussions on developing trust and closer ties with communities, in this instance - councils and their communities working together to develop a deeper understanding of need, the root causes, and how they can be improved or overcome. Time and time again, traditional top-down approaches to social issues fail to address the unique needs and dynamics of local communities, resulting in ineffective interventions and wasted resources. Social innovation - empowering communities to develop their own solutions - is a powerful and necessary approach for addressing complex social challenges in an increasing resource constrained environment. The approach leverages local knowledge, builds community capacity, and creates more sustainable, context-appropriate solutions. This is not new, it's been talked about for years, but it's application is not as prevalent as you might expect. This week I have been talking with an organisation identifying key social challenges that could benefit from community-led innovation, and exploring the provision of resources, training, and support for community innovators including: - Participatory grant-making processes to fund promising community initiatives. - Partnerships between community groups, businesses, and social enterprises. - Mechanisms to scale and replicate successful social innovations elsewhere. It's been an important feature of our conversation to be clear that social innovation is not about council's abdicating responsibility, far from it, it's about tapping into the creativity and resilience of their communities, addressing social challenges more effectively and building stronger, more empowered localities. #SocialInnovation #CommunityEmpowerment #LocalSolutions #CommunitySolutions #LocalGov #Transformation #Change RPNA

Time for a change. Children’s social care is obsessed with moving young people leaving care towards ‘independence’. Moving some of the most marginalised, under-supported and uprooted young people, with a tickbox ‘Pathway Plan’, towards ‘independence’ rather than developing the context for them to move towards ‘inter-dependence’ is neither desirable at a human level nor economically. And this is the article that explains why. And it’s also why at Your Own Place CIC, among outcomes measures for financial and housing knowledge and confidence, we include a measure for social connectivity. All things being equal (which they’re not, but it’s what we’ve got), nothing, and I mean nothing, is likely to help someone avoid homelessness more than their networks of support and connection. Fantastic read from Andy Haldane https://lnkd.in/eT_heKbV #socialcare #socialmobility #housing #homelessness #interdependence #prevention #leavingcare #careleaver #safeandsecurehome

This new report explores the causes of social isolation and loneliness, including structural causes, in the UK and Australia – and provides an overview of community and environmental interventions. UCL Policy Lab Director Marc Stears had it right when he said, "Social connections change lives for the better. That’s why we need to build public policies that respect and value connection and build a sense of shared community. It is vital if we are to tackle the deep-seated problems facing democracies around the world." These recommendations struck me in particular: 🔘 The local neighbourhood is the most impactful level at which to intervene on entrenched issues such as community disconnection, and to galvanise meaningful change. 🔘 Tackling loneliness requires thinking outside of the box. Innovative solutions such as ‘nudging’ small behavioural changes can promote more accessible opportunities for connection. 🔘 Significant investment from governments and non-government sectors in programmes that facilitate social cohesion has the potential for far-reaching health, social and economic benefits. Congrats to all involved including Local Trust, Ending Loneliness Together, Neighbourly Lab, Good Faith Partnership, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), Citizens UK, Civic Power Fund, People's Health Trust and others. https://lnkd.in/emGh2mfV

Be the first domino. Research shows that more socially connected communities have better health outcomes, lower levels of violence, greater economic prosperity, and a host of other positive outcomes. Yet, a recent survey found that 64% of individuals believe people are incapable of having constructive and civil debates about issues on which they disagree. How do we build connected and resilient communities if we cannot have a civil conversation with our neighbors, neighbors we do not trust or believe the best about? The answer? Be the first domino. Show positive regard, have a brief conversation with a stranger in public, share your knowledge with a person in your network. Let trust begin to build. Start small, and we will begin to see collective action that leads to new norms. Norms that are better for our individual well-being, the health of our communities, and the longevity of our world. https://lnkd.in/eNdf7VT3

Efforts to improve safety, education, health, and work prospects depend on improving the social system—and this system can differ neighborhood by neighborhood. Seth Kaplan looks at how place-based organizations can engage fruitfully in restoring and building social capital. This begins with the assumption that individual well-being and social outcomes depend on a foundation of healthy, place-based relationships, and they seek to build up social capital step by step as a prerequisite for efforts to improve housing, education, and health.

Time for a change. Children’s social care is obsessed with moving young people leaving care towards ‘independence’. Moving some of the most marginalised, under-supported and uprooted young people, with a tickbox ‘Pathway Plan’, towards ‘independence’ rather than developing the context for them to move towards ‘inter-dependence’ is neither desirable at a human level nor economically. And this is the article that explains why. And it’s also why at Your Own Place CIC, among outcomes measures for financial and housing knowledge and confidence, we include a measure for social connectivity. All things being equal (which they’re not, but it’s what we’ve got), nothing, and I mean nothing, is likely to help someone avoid homelessness more than their networks of support and connection. Fantastic read from Andy Haldane https://lnkd.in/eT_heKbV #socialcare #socialmobility #housing #homelessness #interdependence #prevention #leavingcare #careleaver #safeandsecurehome

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST 2024 Best Practice Symposium The Planning Institute of Jamaica’s Community Renewal Programme (PIOJ CRP), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), the Ministry of National Security (MNS), and the Social Development Commission (SDC) invite community and social practitioners to submit expressions of interest (EOI) to participate in the 2024 Best Practice Symposium under the theme, Tools for Development to be held on November 13, 2024. Objective of the Symposium: To document and showcase best practices in community and social development, and to stimulate and strengthen national dialogue on successful strategies in tackling critical development issues. Practitioners are invited to submit tools that they use in implementing Social and Community Development interventions from the following thematic areas: • Safety & Security • Livelihoods • Family / Parenting / Social Transformation • Youth and Children Development • Housing / Physical Transformation • Governance at the Community Level. The tools submitted should have been used in social and community interventions that can be considered as Best Practices using the following criteria: - Community Readiness (Pre-Assessment) • Evidence of Impact • Collaboration & Partnership • Sustainability • Monitoring & Evaluation • Use of Data. Individuals whose EOI are accepted will be invited to participate at the Symposium by showcasing their particular tool. Please note that any overseas-based presenters will be responsible for their own travel costs. Booth display will be at the cost of the presenter /guest organization. Guidelines for EOI • Submit via email one (1) electronic copy of 300 - 500 words, no longer than two (2) typed pages, doubled-spaced. • Outline: Title of EOI & Name of Author Thematic Area of Focus Social Intervention Tool under consideration Period over which the tool has been used and its impact. SUBMISSION of EOI All submissions must be done via email and must include complete contact information (name, position, institution/organisation, telephone number and email address). Only EOI following the published guidelines and containing complete contact information will be considered for the Symposium. Acknowledgement of receipt of abstracts will be sent within 1-3 working days following submission of the EOI. Deadline for submission of Expression of Interest: 5:00pm on October 4, 2024, to [email protected]

Just released my book “Planning and Sustainable community change" on Amazon It is right up-to-date in 2025 .  with a focus on Labour Government changes Planning rules and Community democracy. It offers the latest insights into the Labour Government's changes to planning rules and community democracy. Here are some key themes and recommendations from the book: Local Empowerment: The book emphasizes the importance of empowering local communities to have a greater say in planning decisions that affect their areas. This includes more participatory budgeting and community-led projects. Sustainable Development: It advocates for sustainable development practices that balance economic growth with environmental protection and social equity. Policy Changes: The book details the Labour Government's changes to planning rules, aiming to streamline processes while ensuring that development benefits local communities. Community Democracy: There's a strong focus on enhancing community democracy by promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the planning process. These themes reflect a progressive approach to planning and community engagement, aiming to create more equitable and sustainable communities. When developing this book, I have blended theory with the practical issues of Community Development , Economic Development and Spatial Planning learned from consultancy and management experience in several public sector organisations. The people I worked with provided many insights into what works and what doesn’t. The core is culture change Politicians seem unable to grapple with the historic challenges facing modern Britain - stagnating growth, stubbornly wide regional inequality, a decaying public realm, disastrous hospitals pressures and fraying social bonds. A moment for decisive government and big thinking cannot be solved by unfulfilled slogans, politics by diktat and an increasingly disenchanted electorate in the way that Tony Blair’s Labour Government did. We are on the cusp of major changes and we need to know how to adapt and transform.