Author: Oliver Escobar etal

What do we mean by ‘smart urban intermediaries’? Full report here

Smart is a reference to ‘smart cities’, a concept born as a response to the complex and critical issues we are interested in addressing. ‘Smart’ is often used to refer to technology-mediated solutions to challenges. In contrast, in our research we emphasise the social and relational aspects of ‘smart’ and argue that social action and social innovation must be core components of the smart city vision.

Urban refers to the neighbourhoods where people live and work, where urban challenges are most keenly felt; and, on the practices of individuals within those neighbourhoods who are actively seeking to make a positive difference for those living in the area, as well as for society as a whole.

Intermediaries refers to individuals working between and across different sectors or activities who use their connections and social skills to bring people and resources together in creative and productive ways.

A ‘smart urban intermediary’ could be:

• An unpaid community leader, activist, active citizen or resident
• An employee working for a local authority, public body, non-governmental organisation (NGO), community group or social enterprise
• An elected politician or campaigner
• A social entrepreneur, trader or business developer
• An artist, designer or architect

These individuals may:

• live or work in the neighbourhood, with a local identity or emotional connection to the place;
• and/or be situated or embedded in a professional sense in those neighbourhoods;
• and/or be focused on forging connections within and beyond the neighbourhood.

Full report

Author: Branko Milanovic

An avalanche of recent books and articles about the “crisis of capitalism” is predicting its demise or dépassement. For those who remember the 1990s, there is a strange similarity between this and the literature of the time, which argued that the Hegelian “end of history” had arrived. That theory was proved to be wrong. The former, I believe, is also factually wrong and misdiagnoses the problem.

The facts show capitalism to be not in crisis at all. It is stronger than ever, both in terms of its geographical coverage and expansion to areas (such as leisure time, or social media) where it has created entirely new markets and commodified things that were never historically objects of transaction.

Geographically, capitalism is now the dominant (or even the only) mode of production all over the world: in Sweden the private sector now employs more than 70% of the labour force, in the US it employs 85%, and in China the (capitalistically organised) private sector produces 80% of the value added. This was obviously not the case before the fall of communism in eastern Europe and Russia, nor before China embarked on what is euphemistically called its “transformation”.

Thanks also to globalisation and technological revolutions, new, hitherto nonexistent markets have been created: like the huge market for personal data, rental markets for own cars and homes (neither of which were capital until Uber, Lyft and Airbnb were created), and the market in spaces for the self-employed (which did not exist before WeWork and its like).

The social importance of these new markets is that by placing a price on things that previously had none, they transform mere goods into commodities with an exchange value. This expansion is not fundamentally different from the expansion of capitalism seen in 18th- and 19th-century Europe, when food, clothing, shoes and other goods that had been produced by households began to be produced commercially. Once new markets are created, a “shadow price” is placed on all such goods or activities. This doesn’t mean that we all immediately start renting out our homes or driving our cars as taxis, but it means that we are aware of the financial loss that we make by not doing so. Once the price is right (whether because our circumstances change or the relative price increases), many people will join the new markets and thus reinforce them.

These new markets are fragmented, in the sense that they seldom require a sustained full day of work. Thus commodification goes together with the gig economy. In a gig economy we are both suppliers of services (we can deliver pizza in the afternoons), and purchasers of services that used not to be monetised. Taking care of the elderly, of children, cooking and delivery of food, shopping, chores, dog walking and the like used to be done within households.

This expansion of capitalism potentially opens up questions about the role, and even survival, of the family. Other than the raising of children, it was the mutual help and – indeed gender-skewed – sharing of non-commercialised activities that was the key economic rationale for the family. As this erodes we can expect, in the long term, an increase in single-member households, and in numbers of people who have never partnered or married. Already in Nordic countries between 30% and 40% of households are one person only.

So if capitalism has spread so much in all directions, why do we speak of its crisis? Because we focus on the malaise of the western middle classes and the rise of populism. But the dissatisfaction with globalised capitalism is not universal: a YouGov survey showed a very high degree of support for globalisation in Asia, with the lowest support in the US and France.

The western malaise is the product of uneven distribution of the gains from globalisation. When globalisation began in the 1980s, it was politically “sold” in the west – especially as it came together with “the end of history” – on the premise that it would disproportionately benefit richer countries. The outcome was the opposite. Asia in particular was a beneficiary, especially the most populous countries: China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia. In Europe, as in the US, it benefitted the 1%. It is the gap between the expectations entertained by the middle classes and the low growth in their incomes that has fuelled dissatisfaction with globalisation and, by association, with capitalism.

There is however another issue that does seem to affect most countries, and it is to do with the functioning of political systems. In principle, politics, no more than leisure time, was never regarded as an area of market transaction. But both have become so. This has made politics more corrupt. Even if a politician does not engage in explicit corruption during their time in office, they tend to use the connections acquired to make money afterwards. Such commodification has created widespread cynicism and disenchantment with mainstream politics and politicians.

While politics as entrepreneurship was often seen to afflict only less developed countries, it has now spread to Europe. It is otherwise hard to explain the political evolution of figures such as Matteo Salvini, Italy’s far-right former interior minister. Political connections can also be used as a valuable asset throughout political careers: take José Manuel Barroso, the former head of the European commission who moved to Goldman Sachs. This commodification is what Francis Fukuyama – who wrote The End of History and the Last Man – refers to as “reciprocal altruism”: it is not unlawful, but is a time-delayed exchange of favours.

The crisis therefore is not of capitalism per se, but a crisis brought about by the uneven effects of globalisation and the expansion of capitalism to areas traditionally not considered apt for commercialisation. Capitalism has thus become too powerful, and in regions such as Europe, it is in collision with strongly held beliefs. Unless it is controlled and its “field of action” reduced to what it used to be, it will continue this conquest of as-yet-uncommercialised spheres.

• Branko Milanović is an economist specialising in income inequality

Author: Michael Cook, CRNS

This report highlights how community resources organisations are providing important local responses to the urgent climate emergency.  In addition to the obvious environmental benefits of their work, CRNS members are also bringing valuable social, economic and community benefits too.  Put simply CRNS are caring for Planet, People, Pounds and Place.  We are also pleased to share four videos each of which spotlights the great work a CRNS member is doing to care for Planet, People, Pounds and Place (thanks to Scottish Community Alliance and Zero Waste Scotland who supported this work).

Local solutions to the climate emergency

Author: South Cowal Community Enterprises

Village shop reopens under community ownership

Residents of South Cowal in Argyll have come together to save their village shop and Post Office The Lido from potential closure. Following a busy two years of planning and fundraising, the shop reopens under community ownership on the 3rd December. 

The keys were handed over on the 2nd December and volunteers turned out to give the shop a mini makeover before it reopens.

South Cowal comprises the two villages of Innellan and Toward and a number of smaller settlements, one of which would be 17 miles from the nearest shop if The Lido closed.

Lorna Ahlquist, Chair of South Cowal Community Enterprises (SCCE), which is leading the buyout, said “we were first approached by worried villagers two years ago. People were very concerned that The Lido was going to close, as it had been on the market for four years at that time. The shop is a real hub for the community and people felt that the community spirit in the villages would die without the shop and Post Office. Our research showed us that almost two thirds of the community felt that the closure of the shop would be a disaster and 30% thought it would be a problem”.

The community of South Cowal faced the task of raising over £325,000 to buy the shop, stock and working capital. In spring 2019, the campaign received a boost when SCCE was awarded £256,680 from the Scottish Land Fund. The community then went on to raise over £68,000 from a Community Share offer, which allowed people and businesses to invest in the business.

Linsay Chalmers, Vice-Chair of SCCE, who helped to coordinate the Community Share Offer said “it was incredibly heartening to see not only those who live here pull together to save the shop, but also people who had been here on holiday and who had happy memories of The Lido. We were overwhelmed by the response and sometimes, when I came home from work, I could barely get my front door open for the pile of letters pledging to buy Shares.”

The Lido will continue to provide a Post Office service and essential groceries. Over the next few months, SCCE will be expanding the range of local produce and fresh fruit and vegetables. The shop is one of the biggest employers in the area with a planned staff team of up to six. One of SCCE’s longer term aims is to turn an empty flat above the flat into a bunkhouse aimed at the growing number of mountain bikers, walkers and kayakers coming to the area.

Many of the volunteers who helped with the mini-makeover were from local volunteering group, Inspiring Innellan, which took top place in the Community Involvement Category at this year’s Beautiful Scotland awards.

Author: Nourish Scotland

Produced by Media Co-op, the animation has been developed with input and advice from people who face barriers in accessing their right to food, people involved in producing food, and people involved in community food projects around Scotland.

The right to food – A film by Scottish Human Rights Commission and Nourish Scotland

Author: Voluntary Arts Scotland

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs in Scotland said:

“I would like to congratulate all of the winners of the 2019 Epic Awards, including Musicians in Exile, which has done so much to help asylum seeking and refugee musicians in Glasgow. Voluntary arts is a truly vibrant sector: over 60,000 arts and crafts groups across the UK, including over 10,000 in Scotland alone, meeting regularly in town halls, libraries, theatres, churches, mosques and at kitchen tables. The Scottish Government believes that as many people as possible should be able to participate in these groups, which bring people of all backgrounds

The winner and runner-up from each nation were announced on 3 October at Central Hall in Edinburgh. The event was held as part of a programme of activity celebrating active ageing and creativity and hosted by presenter Janice Forsyth. The 2019 winners received bespoke crafted awards made by arts collective Jangling Space, as well as a cash prize. Winning or being shortlisted for an Epic Award can also have very positive effects for voluntary arts groups, who find their profile raised locally and nationally and that it can help with fundraising efforts.

SCOTLAND WINNER

“Where can I go to make music?” asked one refugee from El Salvador arriving in Scotland. The answer he was given was “Musicians in Exile” – a community project for asylum seeking and refugee musicians in Glasgow.

Professional facilitators help the ensemble shape their rehearsals, but what and how they play and perform is up to the musicians themselves. There is a great deal of intercultural interaction between the musicians, supporting each other musically and performing in mixed languages and styles.

As many asylum seekers flee without their instruments, these are purchased where possible and given to the musicians on long-term loan. Once every two months, they perform in Glasgow, live-streaming the concerts on their Facebook page. This gives everyone a regular goal and also presents the musicians to the wider public.

Legally forbidden to work, playing in the ensemble offers the musicians an outlet to give back to their host communities. Music is a universal language, with the power to bridge cultural and language barriers – asylum seekers who are still mastering English, as well as audiences unfamiliar with the cultures of new Scots, find this particularly meaningful. Through the group, the musicians build a new sense of family, networks with local musicians and retrieve their intrinsic cultures, benefiting their own well-being and that of the wider community.

“When you flee a troubled land, you’ve not only left everything behind, but also have to start over in a very foreign land. Musicians In Exile gives asylum seeking musicians their instruments and voices back so they can regularly rehearse and perform again, retrieve their cultures, rebuild their networks, friendships and give back to their host communities. It’s an incredibly simple project, and as well as being revealing and healing.”

Paul MacAlindin, Artistic Director of The Glasgow Barons

SCOTLAND RUNNER-UP

24 Carat Gold are a group of dancers who met at Dance Base in Edinburgh nine years ago, when they took part in a class for people aged over 60. They enjoyed the class so much, they decided to set up their own group to have more opportunities to dance, experiment with choreography and perform.

The dancers in 24 Carat Gold are aged from 60 to 87 years old and their dance experiences range from contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet, belly dancing and line dancing to ballroom and Scottish country dancing. The group meets fortnightly, and funds its own sessions.

The Carats regularly take part in festivals and events, performing for large and small but always appreciative crowds. They work hard, dance, laugh, share thoughts and emotions – they help each other celebrate the good things and listen and support during sad times. They teach each other, learn different styles of dance from each other and have a lot of fun.

“Winning an Epic Award is a very special landmark for the 24 Carat Gold dancers. We get so much pleasure from dancing together and sharing the fun of learning new routines. The Award is lovely because it shows us that other people have enjoyed our efforts too and they have realised that age is absolutely no barrier to learning new skills.”

Jill Knox, 24 Carat Gold

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AWARD WINNER

Kirrie Connections is a community dementia support hub, based in the rural Angus town of Kirriemuir. Each week it hosts a variety of different sessions for its members who are living with dementia, and their family carers. Over the past year their arts and crafts groups have tried out activities such as rug-making, mosaicking, printmaking and plaster mould casting to name but a few.

The project would be nothing without the incredible support it gets from its team of over 30 volunteers, who each bring a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience to the sessions. Lack of social interaction can have a hugely detrimental effect for people with dementia, and can lead to a spiral of depression and acceleration of the progress of their dementia. Kirrie Connections’ person-centred approach ensures that people with dementia can remain active and creative members of their community.

Creative projects are always initiated by conversations between the volunteers and members, with everything produced coming from a joint process. Whatever the activity, the arts and craft group is always one of the highlights of the week for those taking part.

“Kirrie Connections is delighted that our team of volunteers has been recognised with this award. The passion and dedication they show in supporting our members who are living with dementia really makes Kirrie Connections a special place. Every week they are a vital part in ensuring that people with dementia remain active and engaged in their local community.”

Graham Galloway

Author: Andrew Ward, Creetown Initiative

Creetown Initiative Ltd is a leading social enterprise that specialises in helping groups acquire and manage local assets. Taking control of local assets is actively encouraged by the Scottish Government and in our experience local ownership is effective and can bring considerable benefits to communities.

However, many of these assets, require some form of upgrade in order to make them fit for purpose. As such they need financial investment.

Taking control of an asset through the asset transfer process or via the Scottish Land Fund is to some degree the easy part, although there are always exceptions to the rule to contradict that statement, we won’t dwell on those. In the main taking ownership has been relatively straight forward and the Scottish Land Fund and other bodies have been superb in supporting communities through the process. The real anguish comes when the groups must find capital funding to restore or make their asset fit for purpose.

In happier times there was Leader (EU Funding), and until recently the lotteries Community Assets Fund. Leader as we know has gone, and the future of the lotteries community assets fund is in doubt.

Beyond that there are some wonderful and reliable funders such as the Robertson Trust who support capital projects. But after that, capital funders who can contribute significant amounts are becoming increasingly thin on the ground.

A crisis is brewing in capital funding, and asset transfers and Scottish Land Fund acquisitions could stall if communities cannot access capital funding.

The lottery in Scotland has had its funding cut and naturally it must consider whether making large capital grants is making best use of its funds. We would suggest that it is best use of its funds because physical assets are a key resource for communities to develop sustainable services, and assets can provide income streams. These types of projects and about Funding Futures, people’s futures.

In addition, if the lottery funds a project, other funders take confidence in that, and it helps their case to commit. For example; the £850,000 secured from the lottery for a project in Kirkcudbright recently was the catalyst for a further £1.75m being secured from another eleven funders. So rather than do away with a programme like Community Assets we would ask that the lottery reduce the maximum amount that groups can apply for.

A maximum £500,000 or even £250,000 would retain the involvement of the lottery which then helps give confidence to other funders. Having lottery support is a big deal and worth much more than just the cash the lottery commit.

In addition, we would urge other funds to be made available to groups for capital projects and that schemes such as the Scottish Governments Town Centre Regeneration Fund are extended to include smaller communities

Author: Garioch Partnership - John Chapman (Chairperson) & Dawn Brown (Development Worker)

An open letter to the community from the Garioch Partnership

Following correspondence received on 16th October, 2019 from Aileen Campbell, Cabinet
Secretary for Communities and Local Government, we are deeply disappointed to notify you
that the asset transfer appeal has been dismissed.
Within the letter from Ms Campbell quotes “I appreciate this will be very disappointing news
but I hope you are able to source an alternative solution for a third sector hub in the Inverurie
area, and I understand from the report that Aberdeenshire Council has indicated their
willingness to help you identify a suitable property.”
The reasons for the dismissal are around best value use of the site, and the reporter states
“there is a stronger case for the council’s proposal to use the site for car parking to support
its office space strategy than to support the community asset transfer.”
The Garioch Partnership would like to assure the community that we did all we could to
ensure the building would be retained for community use, and thank you all for un-wavering
support to this local project. However Aberdeenshire Council have yet to do anything to offer
another suitable property – despite an initial discussion of identifying other possibilities on
12th February 2019, and subsequent requests for further information on this from The
Partnership, which was highlighted in the appeal submission to Scottish Government. We
had hoped that a hearing would have been allowed as several years and information that
were part of the initial submission would have been brought to light and taken into
consideration for review.
We are disappointed and saddened that the Victorian built Market Place Primary School
building will be demolished and lost for the community, but remain committed to supporting
people in our community, community groups and local social enterprise, and doing all we can
to support the growth of the third and community sector in Garioch within the diminishing
budget constraints that TGP are working within.
John Chapman (Chairperson) & Dawn Brown (Development Worker) on behalf of the Board
of The Garioch Partnership

Author: Joe Hind, Soil Association Scotland

Food for Life Get Togethers is here!

Calling Communities in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverclyde – Can You Help Bring People of Different Ages Together Around Good Food?

The Food for Life Get Togethers team in Scotland is aiming to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together around good food. This can help build and strengthen communities and spread the word about good food, which we believe should be available for everyone, no matter their background or income. Good food is food that’s good for us, good for the environment, and good for the local economy. Food for Life Get Togethers provides a fun and accessible way to connect communities in schools, care and community settings including gardens, kitchens and dining places right across our communities.

Anyone who is able to plan and host a Get Together is welcome to join in by taking three easy steps:

1. Plan – Do you want to focus on growing, cooking, eating or all three? Why not involve the participants in the planning, to help ensure that your event is by and for the community involved.
2. Register – just click the link: https://www.foodforlife.org.uk/get-togethers/register. This is where we come in! By registering you will gain our support:
   1. An Inspiration Pack to your door – with how-to guides, ice breaker ideas etc.
   2. Training & Resources – we have regular training opportunities around topics such as inter-generational good practice as well as resources covering possible cooking & growing activities and more.
   3. Support – we are here to help, so once you have registered, please do let us know if you have any particular barriers to holding your own Food for Life Get Together which we might be able to address. For example, match making with another local group/school/care home to help ensure your event is a success.
   4. Publicity – as part of the Soil Association, we can help you share your events and successes via social media to our 100,000+ followers.
   5. Become part of a growing movement – by working with us you can help strengthen your community and provide meaningful and memorable experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.
3. Hold your Food for Life Get Together! With our support and your enthusiasm, we can create amazing activities that will boost our communities.

Still not sure? Contact us to find out more:

• Joe Hind – Scotland Programme Manager, Food for Life Get Togethers, Soil Association Scotland, jhind@soilassociation.org
• Donna Borokinni – Scotland Engagement Officer, Food for Life Get Togethers, Soil Association Scotland, dborokinni@soilassociation.org

FUNDING AVAILABLE UNTIL END NOVEMBER 2019

In addition to working with groups to support events/activities we also have a funding opportunity open until November 2019 for potential local partners in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverclyde who can help deliver innovative ways of bringing people of different ages and backgrounds together through good food.

Summary of key info related to the funding:

• Up to £10,000 is available per project for a minimum of four projects starting in January 2020 which will run until no later than May 2021.

• We are looking for partners that can demonstrate genuine understanding of what is needed in their communities and have the skills and energy to use food to bring people together across different generations.

• Projects must be in the test and learn regions of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverclyde.

• Eligible partners include: not for profit settings such as community groups, nurseries, schools, care homes, community health and social care settings, housing associations, charities and local groups.

• Applications must be received by 12pm on 29^th November.

For further information and to receive a copy of the application form and detailed guidance about the funding please get in touch:

Joe Hind – Scotland Programme Manager, Food for Life Get Togethers, Soil Association Scotland, jhind@soilassociation.org

Author: Community Energy Scotland, SCCAN, DTAS, SCA

Esther Silverton from Scottish Youth Climate Strike
is headline speaker for our Conference:

Community Action on the Climate Emergency

29th November 2019, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
To book go to: eventbrite

Esther Silverton, 15 year old pupil from James Gillespie’s High School and member of Scottish Youth Climate Strike, will be the opening speaker at the conference.
Join us at this Climate Emergency Conference on 29 November, on scaling up and enabling community action on climate change. We have a great range of speakers: Esther Silverton (youth climate striker), Tom Ballantine (Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland), Nicholas Gubbins (CEO of Community Energy Scotland), Tiffany Kane (Commonweal) and Andy Wightman MSP for the Lothians, and plenty of opportunities to network.
We are now offering an additional discussion workshop – on Farming and the Climate Emergency run by the Scottish Farm Land Trust – alongside five others on different aspects of community energy, community engagement and facilitating collective action on the climate emergency.
Highlands & Islands Enterprise are sponsoring our conference with a contribution towards travel, accommodation & subsistence costs for community groups based in the highlands & islands. For more information contact Rona MacKay by email or on 01870 60 3826.
Book here and share our Facebook page.