This week I have been without a television. We’re having building work done and it’s kicked up so much dust that it’s got into a circuit board or something similarly technical and now the TV doesn’t work. It’s awful. My evenings are empty. Things are so bad that my wife and I even found ourselves discussing whether to have a gate in the back garden or not. Bleak. I now have a four letter word to describe those people who say “Oh, we got rid of the TV and our lives have improved so much”: liar.

Anyway, if I did have a TV, here’s what I’d be watching tonight…

@davemcglashan

Dispatches.

“Go on, just try it. One won’t hurt. You’ll be fine”. So you give it a go, but before you know it things have spiralled out of control and you’re selling your TV just to get your hands on another application pack. Tivoni Devor investigates the murky world of bid writing in Hooked on Grants: The Hidden Scourge.

Supermarket Sweep.

“The next time you’re at the checkout and you hear the beep…think of the fun you could be having on Supermarket Sweep!” And imagine if every time someone purchased a shopping bag they were making a donation to your organisation. It could happen if you make a successful application to the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

A Place in The Sun.

In this episode we follow SSE Fellow Cemal Ezel as he heads to Necker Island (yep, the one owned by Richard Branson) to take part in Virgin Unite’s ‘Disrupting for Good’ Leadership Gathering.

Points of View.

Is this programme even on any more? I have’t seen it in years. Seeking your points of view are Goodfinance, a website designed to help improve access to information on investment and finance for charities and social enterprises. They want you to help them out by filling in this survey – you could win £150 for the charity or social enterprise of your choice.

University Challenge. 

Is Henley Business School a university? Er…I don’t know. -5 points McGlashan. Whatever it is – a school, a university or a kindergarten – they are offering a chance to win a full scholarship to their new MA in leadership. It looks really cool.

Press Gang.

10 points if you can remember this show. In the newsroom this week are Pioneers Post who are putting the final touches to their May edition. If you want a copy, you can pick up a discounted subscription by heading to www.pioneerspost.com/magazine and using SSE as your discount code.

Also beavering away at the printing press is David Floyd, who produces community newspaper the Waltham Forest Echo. The May issue is going to print next week and he can offer a 50% discount to social enterprises booking an ad today (April 22nd). Prices start at £100 for 10cm x 2 columns so social enterprises could advertise from as little as £50. Or a full page, usually £650, would be available for £325. Contact [email protected] for further details.

Extreme Job Swap.

Our Communications Manager Leonie is saddling up her Shetland pony (see HIGSENFY 01.05.15) and riding off to pastures new, which means that we need to replace her. All the details that you need here. We have drinks in the office at 4pm every Friday if you need a reason to apply.

Also recruiting are Beyond the Classroom, who have two vacancies – a Schools and Partnerships Officer and a Programmes and Operations Coordinator. Beyond the Classroom was set up by SSE Fellow Amma Mensah and is a youth run and led education social enterprise delivering innovative life-skills programmes to young people, with an emphasis on the performing arts, youth leadership and peer-mentoring.

Britain’s Got Talent

Or, more precisely, SSE Fellow’s Got Talent. Bristol Fellow Jaki Bent and her organisation If Everyone Cares have been named on this years ‘Digital Leader 100 List’ and now need your help to win. You can vote for them here.

Also up for an award is SSE Cornwall Fellow Nikki Markham and her organisation Battling On CIC who will find out later today if they have picked up a prize for Innovation at the National Soldiering On Awards. Here’s hoping for success!

London Live

Which this week is previewing Start Up Brixton, a 1-day event for budding entrepreneurs, mission driven startups, support organisations & the local community. It’s taking place on Saturday May 28th and looks excellent.

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What’s on at SSE:

• Crowdfunding for Charities, Social Enterprises + Communities – Birmingham, SSE Midlands, 3rd May
• Writing Successful Bids, SSE London, 13th May
• Action Learning Facilitator Training, SSE London, starts 26th May
• Social Media Masterclass, Birmingham, SSE Midlands, 26th May
• Better Bid Writing, SSE Dartington, 26th May
• Developing a Fundraising Strategy, SSE London, 1st July