Social Catalyst

Unlike other places around the world, it is actually getting more difficult to move across class boundaries in the England I think this is at the root of some of the most serious social problems today in England.
Take for instance the ASBO. Just imagine you are 17, white, living on a council estate. You [...]

Giving should be rewarded. Err. Not?
I fall down on the side of reward. It is silly to think the very rich are simply going to give their money away for free and it is wrong to compare arts to aids. I do think the balls they throw (and I have been to a few) are [...]

If you want to break out on your own and make things happen, you have to have the faith and guts. Interesting vignette on this via acting in NYC. Many similarities to Social Entrepreneurship; it’s great to make money – but check to see if the money you are making is driving the value you [...]

Will the Catalysts (our entrepreneurial hubs) ask the right questions?
Markets alone are not the answer. Let’s not forget that it will take a network of people to make something special happen. Entrepreneurs will be the catalysts.
Non Profit Venture Capital Fund | A reminder that we need to do more with private capital.
Eradication of deprivation, [...]

Entrepreneurs know this. Everyone else thinks otherwise. Best way to get started is to read the following posts:
Guy Kawasaki and Rob Greenland
The essence is in both of these commentaries. Don’t waste your time or anyone else’s time if you don’t want to sweat a bit for your idea. I would add only that you need [...]

We have been supporting TIGER 11 and the its leader Jeremy Morton for nearly a year now and it makes me super proud to say that the journey achieved a major milestone last week. The development of the former Hillside Primary in Beeston into office, conference, restaurant, and community space has secured all the funding [...]

As the saying goes,"If you have a great idea, don’t worry about anyone stealing it. If it is really good, you will have to hit them over the head with it to get them to notice."
Apparently it’s even more difficult than you imagine. Forget unproven entrepreneurs, even Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) has difficulty pitching [...]

The CIC, now 1,000 strong, is a great idea. A vehicle for social entrepreneurs to attract investment for their ideas. Interestingly, you can pay dividends back to the investor (extremely limited) and you can issue shares that have the potential to create a secondary market. What you can’t do is help them realise an increase [...]

We believe in ownership. We even like ownership. We promote ownership. Why? Because when people own things they tend to extract more value from them, for themselves and others.
A friend of ours, Imelda Havers (of Bluefish), pointed me to an article by the Guardian on this very subject. The perspective was rural community ownership, but [...]

It struck me the other day that I had lulled myself into a sense of fulfillment with a potential investor on our bhag project (Harehills Middle School). Unfortunately, this was 20/20 hindsight.
You know how the story goes:You get that great lead on a sale or funder or programme benefactor. They meet with you and [...]