21st September 2022

Just as we become familiar with multiple forms of poverty – fuel, food, in-work etc – a new one comes into view. The prospect of transport poverty, especially in rural parts and for the most disadvantaged urban communities, now looms large when the Scottish Government’s lockdown support for bus services comes to an end next month. Many unprofitable routes are likely to be withdrawn forcing those who can least afford it into car ownership. And all this has serious implications for Scotland’s 166 community transport providers. CTA’s recent update on the health of the sector raises some serious questions.

30 years ago, our shared understanding of social enterprise was probably more aligned with the world of community development than to the world commerce. But even back then it was beginning to change and that change has continued ever since. John Pearce, who influenced much of the thinking around that time, died in 2011. As a way to remember John’s life and contribution to the sector, an annual lecture is organised. This year,  Aidan Pia, formerly Executive Director of Senscot, will share some thoughts and reflections on how the sector has developed over the years. Tickets are selling fast.

The idea of cooperation in an economic sense has been around for over 250 years. Long disputed as to where the first example of workers cooperating to their mutual advantage occurred, Fenwick in Ayrshire seems to have the strongest claim. There a group of weavers worked together to improve wage levels and their product quality. Since then the cooperative movement has waxed and waned in popularity but it is about to be seriously rebooted with the launch in 2023 of a new, UK wide and independent organisation for cooperatives and supporters of collective ownership.