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05 Feb 2010
This week someone sent me the story of Michael Swaine, which cheered me up – so I'll pass it on.  Michael is a ceramics artist from California who for the past nine years has been mending people's clothes for free.  He enjoys sewing – giving new life to old garments – chatting to people; so he built a handcart carrying an old treadle sewing machine – an umbrella and a flickering neon sign saying SEW.  On the 15th of each month, he parks his cart in a poor area of San Francisco and provides a free service – hemming trousers, sewing buttons etc.  Sometimes Merlin plays his violin – Eric makes coffee… Antoine, a local kid, learns to sew; the cart attracts a little community.  Michael says that people appreciate the sewing service – but mainly they just like to talk.There's something uplifting about this story – simple, fundamental – almost medieval.  I think of the travelling knife sharpener, who would tell stories – sings songs.  Or the smiling followers of Francis or the Buddha – spreading a little sunshine on their travels.  If he was within reach, I'd visit Michael – ask him to stitch the handles of my old holdall – listen to his story – his spirit – bring a wee gift.  His project feels original to me – not in the trivial sense of being new – but in the deeper sense of being old; original in the sense that it deals with origins.  (Read Michaels story) http://www.senscot.net/view_news.php?viewid=9129 ------------------------------------
During last year, Senscot was in discussions with our counterparts in England about the establishment of a Social Enterprise Mark (SEM) – and its implications for Scotland.  We argued our corner, but towards the end of the process, more persuasive forces (probably Whitehall) have determined that the eligibility criteria for SEM should be...Read more
 
Networks 1st denotes the collective identity of Scotlands Local Social Enterprise Networks (LSENs). This 'stand alone' website is being developed to inform their work and reflect their shared interests and is hosted by Senscot until Networks1st becomes independently sustainable. Senscot is funded by Scottish Government for 3 years to help achieve this.
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Networks1st Weekly Update: 05 Feb 2010

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Kim, Anna and myself attended Voice 10 in Cardiff with a delegation of LSEN representatives. The event seems to get bigger and bolder every year with over 900 delegates attending from across the UK. As well as the launch of the Social Enterprise Mark and the debut of new Coalition CEO, Peter Holbrook, there were a number of interesting aspects that attracted our attention. I was struck by the greater prominence given to the co-operative movement than in previous years. Also, from a LSEN perspective, it was interesting to pick up on the activity emerging round Justice and Youth - two areas that we will have already begun work on for the coming year. The star turn was probably Nigel Annett from Welsh Water - http://www.dwrcymru.com/English/Company/Glascymru/index.asp - definitely a model we should be replicating in Scotland.
 
Over the last few months we have been making more and more contact with young people involved...Read more

Senscot has a special relationship with these core sponsors whose services help develop Scotland's social business sector
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See all previous articles here 		Communications & Marketing Manager
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Senscot works closely with these social enterprise intermediaries: The development work of Senscot is also supported by the Scottish Government.


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