Peter Holbrook: Cameron Steps Into the Sunlight

I think that everyone of us were astonished to be asked to host a visit by David Cameron & Co. Our shock was even greater when we learned that our HQ was the chosen venue to launch of the Tory party green paper on social enterprise and volunteering.
Given that there are around 55,000 social enterprises in the UK and more than 200,000 charities we must be A) very very good B) have some mystical allure, odour or hypnotic beacon that anyone elected cannot resist C) in one of  the most marginal constituencies in the UK.
The team and I are convinced that it must be A with a possible smattering of B...the very same resaon of course that we have welcomed the Prime Minister Gordon Brown, 5 secretaries of state, 4 junior ministers, 3 mayors, 2 lords and 1 lady leader of the lords (and a fair few others - see pics below). In fact we're so well practised at preparing for such visits we're thinking about event management as our newest social enterprise.

David was acommpanied by Francis Maude MP - Shadow Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office and Greg Clarke MP - Shadow Minister for the 3rd sector.

 

By 1.30pm a huge media presence was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the man the'd all come to see but I'd started work at 9.30 and was already safely inside. Knowing that they had missed me by a mile they had decided to stick around and see if anyone else of interest might turn up. Alas David Cameron, like my good self had also snuck in through the back and was enjoying a cup of our organic, fairtrade coffee by the time the media had twigged. 

But seriously....

The launch of the new green paper was very interesting - some aspects need to be applauded; allowing the sector to deliver significant surplus when delivering on behalf of the state (going beyond the current principle of full cost recovery) , recognition of the role of smaller organisations rather than greater commissioning favouring the big players of the sector. Recognition that we are generally more effective at tackling social problems and that we shouldn't be seen as cheaper...all good stuff!

However I'd really like to understand more behind the reasoning of the proposed abolition of BIG lottery fund, which for us has always been a responsive and effective funder of projects and provided essential capital investment. And I'd also like to know why asset transfer should only be supported to cooperative organisations rather than to across the whole sector. I thought the idea of social enterprise zones was an interesting one but social enterprise should surely be supported in every neighbourhood. Social enterprise and community enterprise should know no bounds.
Having been offered a follow up meeting with Greg Clarke I'll  hope to find out more...      

After the launch I then took David on a quick tour of the centre where he demonstrated his ability to put people at their ease. He met with some of the Sunlight lads and heard their stories; these are young men who started out with us as people needing some  support who now work here as valuable members of the team. These guys are truly amazing, having turned their lives around they are now role models in their community, resolving youth conflict before it gets out of hand, promoting safer sex, jobs, college and fitness. My days of getting down with the kids are clearly well and truly over - I recently in a discussion about music asked if anyone had ever heard of the Smiths and I was asked back if I meant that f-ing mental family from Chatham.