@UnLtd #TheBigSocial Conference summary slides What happened at the Big Social……. The Open Space Debates

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial On Tuesday morning we were given an Open Space challenge: Think of a question or topic to explore Discuss it with interested participants At the end of your discussion, note down 3 important points, 2 things we can do right now and 1 bold action Share your points and actions with everyone Those who weren’t hosting a discussion were encouraged to use the “law of two feet” to maximise participation and cross-fertilisation of the debates. There was a large number of Open Space groups – below are some of the topics, points and actions they came up with (A number of joint projects were identified as a result of these debates. We will bring you further news and explain how you can help in a BigSocial news update)

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: Involving Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in social enterprise support Three important points: Represent the social sector – do not be an individual voice Be aware of current plans and strategies that LEPs are working to and commissioning Need to find or become a social champion at senior level of LEP Two things we can do right now: Form a virtual working group to share best practice of social LEPs Explore navigator role and look to replicate One bold action: Get all LEP Chairs in a room with the Prime Minister to get Social!

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: Which resources and services to provide social entrepreneurs with to thrive, and how? Three important points: Role of effective mentoring, and peer versus expert support (recognising the value) The individual - self perception, leadership Tailored versus standardised services/support Two things we can do right now: Keep the person in mind rather than the business Connection to the business world – focus on ‘entrepreneurial’ One bold action: Focus on the individual who faces the most challenges

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: What would/does leadership of a bigger, better network look like? Three important points: Leadership does not need to be ‘top down’ – can be facilitative and transitory There needs to be a ‘sponsor’, a convening organisation – but this can rotate Two things we can do right now: Pollinate other groups with ideas from this conversation Ask this question to others at the conference One bold action: See above!

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: Managing the labour intensive support needs of social entrepreneurs Three important points: Pragmatic support – thematic/streamlined, human contact, inspire – decision making Tools and templates help social entrepreneurs with their just in time decision making Pre start – startup Two things we can do right now: Campaign more intensively to build local network of peers/coaches/networks Investigate and share innovative routes to using technology better One bold action: Do we dare? Measure impact and difference of an UnLtd programme with lots of intensive human support with another with no human support (tools alone) to find out whether we need it

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: How do we support the personal sustainability and wellbeing of the social entrepreneurs we work with? Three important points: Leading by example – both the social entrepreneurs and us as social entrepreneur supporters Awareness of boundaries – when to draw them and when to cross Trusted support network – team, volunteers, coach – find someone you can be real with Two things we can do right now: As well as tracking business objectives invite the entrepreneur to check-in on their personal wellbeing objectives Get yourself a good coach One bold action: Understand the impact you have on the wellbeing of yourself and your other stakeholders

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: How do we support and sustain the networks? Three important points: Defining purpose – layers of network and needs Impact of funding Growth – organic/top down Two things we can do right now: Network timebanking? Echo? Learning from others One bold action: Light touch – power of the people/flash mob methodology?

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: How do we back up the networks? Three important points: Face-to-face clubs, “MPRL” (meet people in real life) Great up-to-date admin tools Coded content feeds, to feed all the platforms Two things we can do right now: A (social) entrepreneur call out to supply or generate the admin tools Network design camp One bold action: A global challenge: bring all players together to agree a content architecture

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: What is the new extraordinary? Where is the cutting edge? Three important points: Stepping up our game – from change within the system to changing the system The social economy – sharing, empowering – the new normal Global community, local value. Relationships – how do we generate resources? Two things we can do right now: Raise awareness of disruptive technology, projects, enterprises and use of them Build stronger cross-sector relationships – bottom up One bold action: Tackle inequality and exclusiveness. Change the system.

@UnLtd #TheBigSocial The question/topic: Ecosystem of support – environment where social entrepreneurs can flourish Three important points: Identify and put all elements in place – spatial levels Ways of joining together and navigation Getting buy in from influencers/decision makers Two things we can do right now: Draw it properly Continue to share through UnLtd One bold action: Group to take this forward – just do it!