Forth Sector News

St Judes Laundry (04/04/11)

On Tuesday 29th March John Duncan our Chair and Alan Dickson from CEO of Capability Scotland signed the contract transfering ownership of St Judes Laundry from Capability Scotland, effective from the 4th April. This is an exciting development which will help to transform our social firms business, and play a big part in the development of Forth Sector in the future.

St Judes is situated at Loaning Road, which is near London Road in the east of the city. St. Jude's Laundry provides commercial and domestic laundry services throughout Edniburgh and the Lothians. It has over 45 years experience in serving households and businesses.

Forth Sector TV appearance (07/10/10)

Mike Finlayson CEO was interviewed by STV as part of 'Politics Now' show- Thursday, October 7. Bernard Ponsonby presents the programme that takes on the big issues shaping political life in Scotland and quizzes the key decision-makers. Conservative minister David Mundell MP and his shadow Ann McKechin MP debate the UK Government's plans to construct a new welfare state. Programme can be seen here http://video.stv.tv/bc/catchup-ac2-politicsnow-part1-20101007-2340/


Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Visits the Businesses. (23 Sept 2010)

The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions visited Edinburgh Embroidery Services, The Soap Co production unit and Parkview Laundry on Wednesday (22/09/10)

The tour of the businesses was organised by the DWP and Susan McLaughlin of Employability Services and was an opportunity for Forth Sector to demonstrate its role in helping people back to work. Iain Duncan. Smith sees social enterprise firms as playing a key role in his reforms of the welfare system.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "It's absolutely fantastic what's going on here today. It's exactly what's required, helping people with difficulties get back into employment."

He said that the Westminster coalition government's new Work Programme would use such organisations to provide tailored support to the unemployed.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "Stepping stones through organisations like this, I think, will be absolutely critical and I'll be insisting on it, that organisations like this are involved in the contracts and packages.

"The whole thing is a really good lesson to us as we move through the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) - moving people from incapacity benefit to work-related programmes.

"It's very important for us to tie in to organisations like this so you can get that personalised focused support which is necessary for people who have had difficulties in their lives and find it difficult to get back into work."

He was presented with an embroidered polo shirt from EES and some soap from the Soap Co.


From the businesses he left to speak at the Welfare to Work Convention at the EICC - which following the UK General Election, this annual Convention will focus on the particular challenges and opportunities for Scotland’s labour market, employability and anti-poverty policies.

The Convention provides an opportunity to discuss current issues, hear the latest ideas and analysis, debate on the latest policies and to consider best practice in service delivery to help people into sustainable employment in light of the changing UK political landscape.

Links to news stories - Scotsman Herald

Press association You Tube link.

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FSD in Shanghai
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social enterprises in 2010:
The relationship between government, business and civil society

Beth Brewis, Managing Director, and Fraser Millar, Senior Consultant with FSD recently visited Shanghai at the invitation of the British Embassy to take part in its Shanghai Expo Civil Society Week: Speaking at a Symposium in association with the Central Executive Leadership Academy Pudong and sponsored by Barclays, FSD was asked to contribute to the event to generate discussion and share expertise on the relationship between government, business and civil society on corporate social responsibility and social enterprises in 2010 in the UK and China.  The focus provided by FSD was based on its extensive work with The Scottish Government with the main topics being around the benefits to civil society of social enterprises as service providers and how we measure the impact we make. We were asked to comment on how the role of the Scottish Government has facilitated social enterprises as service providers and how it enables public sector purchasers to procure these services.

The Symposium, with presentations from representatives from experts from the private sector and civil society was attended by representatives from the government, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, the media and civil society. 

A reception, held at the United Kingdom pavilion at Shanghai Expo was hosted by Carma Elliot, British Consul-General Shanghai, to bring together the Civil Society Week's participants. These included senior representatives from Civil Society Organisations engaged in work on volunteering, people with disabilities, elderly care and lesbian gay bisexual and transsexual rights. As well as FSD representing social enterprise,  other attendants were experts from the private sector on corporate social responsibility (Barclays, DLA Piper), CELAP representatives and officials from MoCA, Chevening Alumni Scholars and participants on the Nottingham University/All China Youth Federation Programme which is taking place over the summer. This was a great opportunity for people from government, business, civil society and academia, to come together and share their expertise and experiences whilst celebrating the contributions they made to the week and in larger society.

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Scottish Government's Public Social Partnership Project.
Lead Funder draft guidance.
Lead Funder draft guidance has been published by the Scottish Government Third Sector Division, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP and Forth Sector Development, as part of the Scottish Government's Public Social Partnership Project. The guidance is primarily focused on public sector funding but is also applicable to other funding streams. Third Sector organisations and individuals were consulted during the production of this document.

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German interns placements from Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce

Forth Sector was delighted to work with the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce on a series of internships for graduates from Augsburg (Germany) in February and March. The interns were briefed on three separate projects, and were mentored throughout by Forth Sector managers. The work encompassed detailed research on process costs, capacity and productivity in one of the Forth Sector businesses, opportunities for Forth Sector Development to increase its awareness of and involvement with Social Enterprise in Europe, and the effectiveness and efficiency of systems and process employed by Forth Sector’s Finance department. Each intern presented a summary of their work at a presentation on March 18th, attended by Herr Alexander Mundigl, Vice Consul, from the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, and representatives from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Forth Sector. 

 

 

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