You can now register for the Social Enterprise Scotland Digital Showcase event on November 3rd. To secure your place at this years event please book on through the Social Enterprise Scotland website.
The Social Enterprise Digital Showcase on November 3rd is a chance for social enterprises and supporters of the sector to come together and hear from some of the individuals who were able to bring additional support to their local communities as the country was placed under lockdown restrictions.
Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, is also taking part in the online event, and will be sharing her insights into how the social enterprise sector has fared over the past nine months.
The Digital Showcase will highlight the work of 19 social enterprises that received a £350 bursary from Social Enterprise Scotland to help tell their impact stories of lockdown life. Three of these enterprises also received additional support by way of a short film, which will be aired at the Digital Showcase and subsequent follow-up events. Event organisers have said they will reveal the identities of the final three enterprises at the November 3 showcase itself.
With a geographical spread from the Northern Isles and Western Isles to the south of Scotland and across the central belt and north-east coast, the Social Enterprise Digital Showcase will highlight a range of organisations that supported their local communities during lockdown. From supplying remodelled laptops and online health support to improving food distribution and helping parents care for their children. These enterprises, and many others like them, were able to demonstrate remarkable agility and resilience during the pandemic. Many have also successfully adapted their services to continue to deliver impact and support, as leaders demonstrated bold decisions, staff stepped up, and as a community we all learned how to work in a more digital world.
As well as hearing from a range of speakers, the event will include a series of “fireside chats” that will feature question and answer sessions, while a breakout session will enable participants to meet other members and network.
Chris Martin, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Scotland, said:
“In one week we will be hosting our Social Enterprise Digital Showcase where we will be sharing just a few of the very many inspirational stories and powerful experiences we saw as the sector rose up to the enormous and difficult challenges brought about by the Covid pandemic.
This has not been an easy time for anyone, but the work of the social enterprise sector has had such a positive and profound impact across the country that we are extremely proud to host his sector-wide snapshot and taking this unique opportunity to shine a light on 19 of those enterprises.
We opened the application process for only two weeks and the fact that we had to choose from a long list of 65 demonstrates the high number of positive stories out there. While we will be focusing on the positives, we will also be reflecting on many of the challenges that remain, and I’m delighted to be welcoming the Cabinet Secretary, Aileen Campbell to the event, and I am very grateful for her continued support for our community.
I would also like to personally thank our five sponsors: Firstport, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Keegan & Pennykid, Social Enterprise Academy and South of Scotland Enterprise.”
The 19 bursary-winning enterprises taking part in the Digital Showcase include: Edinburgh Remakery, Lanark Community Development Trust, Locavore Community Interest Company, The Furniture Project (Stranraer) Limited, Findhorn Bay Arts, The Haven in Stonehaven, Food Train, Tsukure Hub CIC, Projekt 42, Space & Broomhouse Hub, Isle Develop CIC, FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland, Cyrenians, The Bike Station, Community Food Initiatives North East, Point and Sandwick Trust, Thorn Athletic Community Trust, The Libertie Project, and the ALICE Theatre Project.
To book your free place at the Social Enterprise Digital Showcase, visit: https://members.
On social media platforms, we’ll be using the hashtag: #SocEntShowcase