Building Change Trust publishes outcomes of Social Economy Conversations
In January and February 2012 the Building Change Trust (the Trust) facilitated a series of seminar and workshop discussions on the social economy, with Charity Bank.
Interested in the ongoing discussion around the social economy, The Trust was leading a discussion to find out what is necessary to stimulate action and growth within it.
Posing a number of questions around skills development, the use of assets and better working relationships, seminar and workshop events focussed on how we might promote sustainable social and organisational change; enabling the third sector to lead and deliver transformation at all levels.
Importantly these events provided everyone with an opportunity to get involved in ideas generation to map out a way forward so we as a sector can work better together. Overall, the consensus from the meetings was that organisations recognised the need to drive sector development themselves, co-operatively and collaboratively.
There was a clear view that the sector should no longer wait for government to set its priorities and objectives, but to become more self-reliant, sustainable and resilient.
Charlie Fisher, Building Change Trust Co-Ordinator, said: “We are pleased with the outcomes of these events and feel they have provided an excellent foundation for moving forward as a sector.
“We were able to identify our collective strengths and weaknesses, as well as map out where we want to be and how we want to influence policy as well as enact a positive change within Northern Ireland”.
Niamh Goggin, Regional Manager of Charity Bank, said: “It was great to see the social economy sector in Northern Ireland coming together in a spirit of co-operation and 'can-do'.
"It was about what we can contribute together to solving social and economic problems in Northern Ireland, moving away from dependence on grants and government”.
For a copy of the full report, please click here.