Jules Sebelin, NCVS CEO, shares her thoughts on why a new way of thinking might be the best thing you can do.
When we launched the Social Enterprise Accelerator programme last week in partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) VCSE Data and Insights Observatory, it gave me a moment to think back to the start of my career at NCVS. Over the course of about three years, we trained over 300 people, supported 50 start-up social enterprises, and helped nearly as many grow. Quite a few are still thriving 10 years on.
As things go, the project funding ended, and that particular programme finished. Simultaneously, NCVS underwent a radical change when we lost our core funding from the city council. This caused significant staff losses, organisational upheaval, and reputational damage. This was an incredibly challenging time.
They say, ‘Necessity is the Mother of Invention’ and there was never a more necessary time for us to re-invent our approach. And that took time, several changes of leadership, and a dedicated and resilient team. Along that journey, a spark of ‘enterprising thinking’ grew into a steady flame that has helped us navigate some tricky and dark times. We have become more agile, more flexible in our approach to challenges, and more open to viewing opportunities in a different way.
Our mission remains clear: a vibrant and sustainable voluntary sector is at the heart of everything we do. At every opportunity that presents itself, we ask, ‘How will this help our local voluntary sector?’. And yes, we have turned away opportunities that didn’t meet that criteria. We have developed another trait of enterprising thinking: don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t fit.
So, you are probably wondering what point I am trying to make after we have been through countless years of austerity, a global pandemic, and a cost-of-living crisis with a potential new government on the horizon? Not to mention the ever-increasing need for your services in a shrinking funding environment. What I am trying to say is that we all have to think differently, including our public sector partners, if we want to deliver the best outcomes we can for our city and citizens.
We have to work differently with each other; more collaborative and less competitive. We have to work differently with our public sector partners; more cooperative and less paternalistic. We have to be brave and unequivocal in our determination to show how we can provide credible solutions to some of our most deep-seated challenges. We have to embrace ‘enterprising thinking’ and not accept the status quo. We don't have to do things a certain way simply because that's how people have always done them. Let’s not forget how integral we are to the fabric of civil society.
If you're interested in joining us on this journey or learning more about our work, we invite you to reach out to us. Send us an email at ncvs@nottinghamcvs.co.uk, and let's connect and explore how we can work together to make a positive impact.
