Circular for January 2012
Our first circular for 2012 starts with news of the passing of John Pearce, one of the founders of the Social Audit Network, co-author of the original Manual and a major figure in the world of community business and social enterprise. A tribute from one of John's close friend and colleague, Alan Kay can be found on the home page of our website.
This edition continues with the news of a venue change for the 2012 SAN Gathering, which will now be hosted by the Women's Organisation in Liverpool on 20th April 2012. The programme will stimulate discussion about the importance of social value in the current context of public sector procurement, increased competition for resources and finance and changing attitudes towards the 'third sector'.
Finally, the new SAN website is up and running. Designed by NMC in Cheshire, it includes case studies, information for those just starting in SAA, registration for our free newsletter, training opportunities and much, much more.
Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!
Articles
John Pearce (1942 - 2011)
Dear Friend and Colleague 
As many of you know John Pearce passed away in December.
John was a founding member of the Social Audit Network and the Community Business Scotland Network, and was hugely influential in the development of social and community enterprise as well as social accounting and audit.
He will be missed my many people working in this sector and in community development in the UK and further afield.
Alan Kay (Vice chair, SAN)
A tribute and obituary can be viewed here
Since John's passing, SAN has received numerous other tributes, a selection from which is shown below:
- I know my world is a little less brighter today, I'd personally so much to thank John for and also thanks to him for bringing/sharing social accounting and his views on social enterprise (long before it was trendy) to the south west some 15 years ago (Helen Vines)
- Although I did not know him well, John was an inspiration to me as someone new to the topic and a great teacher (Barbara Beaton)
- John's articulate enthusiasm had me hooked straight away on this "new-fangled" social accounting thing. I looked forward to the next training sessions with a keenness to learn which I thought I'd never experience again. There are 3 people who I'd say have inspired me in my life and one of them is my Dad, another was John (Matthew Lanham)
- John was a fantastic bloke, always polite and humble and such an inspiration to anyone that had the fortune to meet him. He always spoke with common sense as well as authority, wisdom and pragmatism. I remember the first time that I heard him speak so clearly, it was in the early 1990's and was, as they say, a penny dropping experience, converted me from then on to a new way of thinking and being. The social enterprise and social accounting world in particular has lost one of top men today. (Graham Waterhouse)
- John's contribution to social accounting and audit, and also more widely to community and social enterprise development, was huge. He will be greatly missed, both for that and for the personal support and encouragement he gave to so many who have begun social accounting (Mike Gordon)
- It just seems so sad that we have lost two such strong friends this year (Liz Brooks-Allen)
News and Developments
The 2012 SAN Social Audit Network (SAN) Gathering annual networking event
Social Impact in Practice
Will be held on Friday 20th April 2012 at 54 St James' Street, Liverpool (Please note venue change)
Are you interested in social value? Do you want to know more about how to investigate and report about your organisation's social, environmental and economic impact? Are you a commissioner of public services who is looking for ways that providers can demonstrate the outcomes that you need?
The Social Audit Network is hosting a gathering of those who are interested in Social Impact in Practice, with a programme that will include:
- Keynote speech from Chris White MP
- Speakers from across public service sectors, including housing, health and criminal justice
- World cafe conversation encompassing the key theme of social impact in practice
- Facilitated thinking and learning workshops about aspects of social impact reporting tools, analysis, financial measures and audit
- Your chance to reflect on social value and influence aspirations for SAN
- Tributes to John Pearce and Mike Swain
Event fee per delegate
- £95 Individual
- £75 SAN Member (paid up member not just recipient of monthly emailed circular)
- SAN hopes to offer a number of bursaries available for smaller social economy organisations.
Please contact the SAN office Tel: 01902 877565
Email: Contact Us
SAN would like to acknowledge valuable sponsorship from The Women's Organisation.
SAN Website Arrangements
SAN Website arrangements
From December 2011, the SAN website will be managed by the All Saint's Action Network (ASAN) in Wolverhampton. Following a fantastic makeover by NMC Design and Print, the website is now more interactive, and informative for those of you wishing to find out more about social accounting and audit and other ways to assess social worth and impact.
Please contact the SAN office if you have news or an article for the website
However, this change means that SAN wishes to thank its former web master, Norry Boulting, for his dedication, commitment and enthusiasm in keeping the website up to date, which has been greatly appreciated by all those involved in SAN.
Norry also carefully prepared each newsletter for publication testing links and checking for errors, for which I am extremely grateful!
Anne Lythgoe
Stop Press
SAN Conference 2012 Venue Change
Please note that the SAN 2012 Conference will now be held at 54 St James Street, Liverpool, L1 0AB
SAN would like to acknowledge valuable sponsorship from The Women’s Organisation.
Contacts and Coordinators
London
North East England
South East
East of England
North West England
West Midlands and East Midlands
Yorkshire and Humber
Scotland
South West England
SAN would love to hear from anyone wishing to represent SAN in Northern Ireland. Please contact the SAN office for further details.