May 2009 - Spring into Summer
2009 is shaping up to be a year to remember, but not necessarily for good things. The threat of a flu pandemic, the continued economic downturn and cutbacks in budgets and spending are giving us all food for thought about the future and how these issues will affect us over the coming months, years and generations. The good news is that the shifting currents in our oceans might bring the UK its hottest and bright summer for some time lets hope so!
We have been really busy over the past few months, winning our largest contract with ONE North East to manage the third sector grants programme, developing and managing a number of learning networks and action learning programmes, working across health services both in Scotland and England to support health improvement work and working with partners on developing commissioning strategies and developing supply chains.
Our win in the North East has enabled us to expand our team with Mike McGoldrick who joins us from emda and providing day to day management of our grants programme. However we are losing Francesca Hopwood Road to the Financial Services Authority, where she will be continuing her work around financial inclusion and capability.
This newsletter features as insight into our work for the Third Sector, our emerging thinking on economic assessments, information on the ONE Third Sector grants programme and how the learning from City Strategy pathfinders can help agencies respond to the recession.
Our insights can support organisations going through this period of change as the ramifications of the economic climate start to affect people, communities and businesses.
For more information on our current work portfolio or expertise, please get in touch with Caroline Masundire via email or on 020 7253 6289.
Latest News
View from the top - Alistair Grimes and the challenge facing the Third Sector
Since 1997 the Third Sector, including its star turn - social enterprise - has been relentlessly promoted by all the major political parties as a crucial part of their agenda.
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A Budget for Jobs? Mark Morrin reflects on what the budget means for employability work...
Alistair Darling delivered his second and labour's unlucky 13th budget statement against a backdrop of deflation, rising unemployment and the worst borrowing figures since World War II.
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Cherri Blissett tells more about the ONE Third Sector grants programme
Rocket Science has recently been commissioned by One North East as managing agent for the regional Third Sector Capacity Fund to deliver a fund of £6 million over four years.
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Economic assessments - emerging thinking from the local authority sector
Rocket Science and its partner Globe Regeneration were commissioned by the Improvement and Development Agency and the Planning Advisory Service to develop an Action Learning Set of local authorities to create guidance on conducting an assessment for local authorities.
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Dragons' Den Rewards
For the past three years Rocket Science has partnered the social entrepreneurs network, Senscot, in providing free consultancy to the social enterprise which wins the audience's vote at a 'Dragon's Den' event at the annual Senscot get together.
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