CSEHub and BALTA are pleased to invite your participation in two upcoming telelearning sessions!

Session 8: Prospects and Challenges of the U.K Community Sustainability Act

The United Kingdom Community Sustainability Act passed in October of 2007, five years after it was drafted by the new economics foundation (nef). Proponents believe that the Act holds tremendous promise for enabling local and regional action to reduce carbon emissions and advance community development and the social economy.

• What are the key components of this breakthrough legislation?
• What are the opportunities it opens up for local authorities and community organizations?
• What challenges does it confront civil society and the social economy with?
• What challenges need to be faced as local government and the social economy prepare for implementation?

This telelearning session features Pat Conaty, with facilitation by Mike Lewis of the BC-Alberta Research Alliance on the Social Economy (BALTA). Please join us!

Call Logistics:

• Session Date: Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
• Call begins at 8:30 am PST, 9:30 am MST, 10:30 am CST, 11:30 am EST, 12:30 pm AST, and 1:00 pm NST
• Call in information will be given upon registration
• Register before April 7th to obtain dial-in information and background papers
• This session is in English

Session Format: 1.25 Hour
Welcome: 5 minutes
Presentation: 35 minutes from the speaker
Discussion: 35 minutes

Registration: By Email or by Phone
Register by e-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work or volunteer position. We will provide instructions on how to access the telelearning forum. Unfortunately, the session is only open to those residing in Canada. To register by phone call 1-250-472-4976.

Session 9: Financing, the Social Economy and Emerging Challenges

With the fall-out from sub-prime mortgages whirling around the globe and the ensuing credit crunch rippling through society, the importance of alternative financing mechanisms focused on a triple bottom line is increasing.

• What innovations are emerging in the U.K. in financing enterprises that feature social goals, democratic ownership and the addressing of basic needs?
• How are these advances relevant to financing the need for greater energy efficiency, local energy and food production, and other key challenges in the age of climate change and peak oil?
• What are the core issues we need to think about in designing financing strategies that can help us transition to a sustainable and low-carbon living economy?

This telelearning session features Pat Conaty, with facilitation by the co-director of CSEHub, Dr. Ian MacPherson. Please join us!

Call Logistics:

• Session Date: Thursday, April 10th, 2008
• Call begins at 9:00 am PST, 10:00 am MST, 11:00 am CST, 12:00 pm EST, 1:00 pm AST, and 1:30 pm NST
• Call in information will be given upon registration
• Register before April 8th to obtain dial-in information and background papers
• This session is in English

Session Format: 1.25 Hour
Welcome: 5 minutes
Presentation: 35 minutes from the speaker
Discussion: 35 minutes

Registration: By Email or by Phone
Register by e-mailing telelearning@socialeconomyhub.ca with your name, location, and work or volunteer position. We will provide instructions on how to access the telelearning forum. Unfortunately, the session is only open to those residing in Canada. To register by phone call 1-250-472-4976.

Pat Conaty is an American resident in the UK since 1978. Educated at the University of California with a degree in Political Economy, Pat is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, a Research Associate at the University of Salford and a Director of a specialist social economy consultancy business, Common Futures Ltd which is based in Mid Wales.

Formerly the Development Director of Birmingham Settlement, an inner city community regeneration organisation, Pat played a lead role in setting up several social enterprises fostered there, including Business Debtline and the Aston Reinvestment Trust – the first mutually owned, local Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) nationally. He worked for many years in the debt advice field as Director of Money Advice Services for Birmingham Settlement and he is a former Executive Director of the UK Social Investment Forum – the national association of ethical investment organisations.

Since 1999 he has worked as a Senior Research Associate for the new economics foundation (nef) and in 2007 became a Research Fellow at nef. He also works as a community development finance trainer and consultant with NACUW (National Association of Credit Union Workers). Current projects he is involved with includes:

1. development work on a social co-operative model to provide microfinance, advice and advocacy services for self-employed people on low income;
2. training and technical aid work for seven Community Banking Partnerships in England and Wales that provide both micro-credit and debt advice to households;
3. development work in Mid Wales and central England on Community Land Trusts (CLTs) for affordable housing and workspace. He is Chairman of Land for People – a CLT national network. He has produced a wide range of publications for nef about predatory lending, financial inclusion, community development credit unions, CDFIs, Community Land Trusts, and social venture finance; these can be seen on the nef website at www.neweconomics.org