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Ride London 100 calls supporters of World Child Cancer
Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 3 May 2013 - 3:47pm


As the new ceo of World Child Cancer I have learnt an awful lot about challenge events this week. I had no idea how valuable the fundraising fit folk do is, and what a difference it makes to small charities like World Child Cancer, where a few hundred pounds will save a child's life.

The work World Child Cancer does is unique in that we get cancer diagnosis and therapy to children in parts of the world that are so poor, without us there is next to no chance of ...more

Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 30 April 2013 - 7:21pm

Twitter's top trumps: are you the Lady Gaga of social enterprise?I have lifted this piece written by the Guardian's Joe Jervis that has created a league table of active twitterers in the social enterprise world. As the top ranking women (coming a lowly 72) he might be concluding that I am the Lady Gaga of social enterprise. Somehow this seams improbable, unless the emphasis was on the gaga bit, but its a fun piece and I agree about the importance of social media in terms of message, for those of us who love to communicate - you can't beat it! Over to Joe.......Ever wondered how influential you are in the world of social enterprise? Find out whether you've made our list of the top 50 most connected tweetersLady Gaga in Las Vegas



Of all the pieces of advice I received at ...more

Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 17 April 2013 - 9:45am

Would we have had social enterprise without Margaret Thatcher?Thatcherism taught us that a mixed market in the public sector is the future, and that a 'state or market' debate is outdatedMargaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher – a key figure in the history of the social enterprise movement? Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd./Graham Whitby-Boot/AllstarThere probably aren't many Margaret Thatcher fans among social entrepreneurs, with most attributing the growth of market economics in social arenas to the measures introduced by Tony Blair. But would we have had the Right to Request without de-nationalisation or the Right to Buy?As Ed Miliband said during parliament's tribute sitting, ...more

Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 20 March 2013 - 1:44am

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Can the young weather this long winter?
Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 19 March 2013 - 9:42am

Ian Mulheirn tells us the facts demand we  replace "welfare scrounger" rhetoric with action for the young
Have you noticed how the weather is behaving like the economy? Just as we think we are through the worst of it another hard frost is upon us. Down at the allotment we can fleece against the cold, an act that may or may not protect first early potatoes, but for those hit hardest by the recession, weathering the economy is a good deal harder. 
Doing nothing is not an option. Only devastation follows neglect and the growing number of young unemployed people is a ticking time bomb for us all. The disproportionate rise of unemployment for the young is the clearest indicator that recession will continue ...more

Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 24 February 2013 - 11:55am

What is a co-operative council? by Ed MayoHaving contributed to the recent publication "Towards a Cooperative Council" alongside other cooperative advocates such as Ed Mayo, the Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, and co-founder of The Transition Institute, I read his recent blog which I really enjoyed and think offers important criteria for assessing what we need to see when we consider cooperative councils. I have therefore, lifted the argument which I hope you agree lends some substance to the growing idea of cooperation in local government.......

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Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 5 February 2013 - 11:58am

What will the Social Value Act mean for social enterprise?Expert advice from our recent live debate on how social enterprises can make use of the act 

• Listen again to Sean McGinty's public services podcastDoctor checking man's blood pressure in exam roomThere arew conflicting views on how much help the social value act will give to social enteprises looking to win public sector contracts. Photograph: MBI / Alamy/Alamy
Allison Ogden Newton – chair,  ...more

Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 20 January 2013 - 9:58pm

Katie in Richmond Park today
Slippery SamLiving next to Richmond Park is a joy every day of the year for all the family but when it snows the pleasure the park gives is wonderful. The excitement started when the kids schools closed on Friday and they all got home early.

I had to cancel my trip to Cambridge University where I was going to speak to the MBA students, which hopefully we can reschedule, and took Sam, Katie ...more

Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 18 January 2013 - 12:53am

Social enterprise podcast #11: Public servicesJoin Sean McGinty for our latest podcast for social entrepreneurs. This month Sean looks at the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and what it means for social enterprisesheadphonesDust off those headphones and have a listen to what sector experts have to say about the social value act. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

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Ed Miliband and Steve Reed launch "Towards Cooperative Councils" with a contribution from Allison Ogden-Newton
Posted By Allison Ogden-Newton
On 17 January 2013 - 12:29am


Allison Ogden-Newton
Allison is the chair of the Transition Institute

The architecture of public services in the UK is in transition. Across the National Health Service, local authorities, neighbourhood schools and libraries, our public service institutions are being remodelled. 

The Transition Institute’s mission is to support a growing network of people involved in this remodelling and support them to do so in a way that transforms public services for the better

It is commonly understood that there are two main drivers of these changes in our public services. The long-term challenge is the changing nature of our society, which are also changing the demands placed upon the state. Local ...more