College of Social Sciences

Date: Thursday 7 September **online**

Time: 9.30-11am

Register now

Wealth building for communities: the role of third sector organisations and purposeful businesses

Third sector organisations and purpose-led businesses play a crucial role in supporting local communities - from helping vulnerable groups, to creating new services to meet community needs.

Many Scottish local authorities are considering adopting a community wealth building approach to the economy, but what can we learn from social enterprises? How can your organisation shape the wealth of local communities?

Join this online session, held in partnership between the Digital Society and Economy IRT, the Productivity Institute and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, to hear from:

• Kirsty Thomson, CEO and Founder of social enterprise The Circle, on their involvement in the community and on their experience in generating and retaining wealth locally. Kirsty will also talk about the community wealth building training programme and its potential impact.
• Martin Avila, CEO at CEIS, will discuss how a community wealth building approach can add social and economic value.
• Bridget Wessels, Professor of Sociology and Social Inequalities at the University of Glasgow will share her thoughts on how more prosperous communities can contribute to the overall wealth of Scotland.

Community Wealth Building (CWB) principles are being developed and delivered across Scotland by local authorities with the involvement and support of private businesses and not-for-profits. This session will be delivered online to enable anyone in Scotland in the public, private and third sectors working on or curious to know more about CWB to take part.

You will also get the chance to ask questions and take part in an informal open floor discussion to understand peer’s challenges and generate new ideas.

*Please note that this meeting will take place on Microsoft Teams*

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First published: 5 September 2023