The RSA Blog

What to make of an afternoon

Blog

21 Dec 2011

Bringing nearly thirty social entrepreneurs supported by RSA Catalyst together with Fellows leading social enterprises and from social enterprise intermediaries meant that there were many opportunities for good things to happen…

Rewriting the rulebook at the New Cross People's Library

Blog

06 Dec 2011

This summer, five libraries in the London borough of Lewisham faced closure as part of an £88 million savings drive by the local council. One of these was the library in New Cross – the south-east London community where we’ve based much of our Connected Communities research. Now, thanks to a group of local volunteers (working with the support of local charity Bold Vision) it has reopened as the New Cross People’s Library.

RSA Catalyst Winners' Workshop - bringing together Fellows to grow social innovations

Blog

25 Nov 2011

On Tuesday we held our first RSA Catalyst Winners’ Workshop, bringing together nearly 30 leaders of the new social ventures we have awarded grants to. It was the first opportunity for the initiatives we have supported to come together and learn from each other. There were also presentations and workshops facilitated by experts we had assembled from the RSA’s Social Entrepreneurs and Profit with Purpose Networks as well as the RSA Skills Bank, where Fellows register to give their expertise to Fellow-led projects.

There's no business like social business

Blog

11 Nov 2011

Whilst being far from a new idea, those considering business as a force for social good have been in the minority over the past three decades of profit-driven capitalism. However, since 2008’s financial crash caused many to question the sustainability of such a system (David Harvey’s RSA Animate and Matthew Taylor’s annual lecture in June this year, to name but two) it seems more businesses are putting social impact at the heart of what they do. It’s a subject that many of our Fellows care deeply about.

Social entrepreneurs: why we do it [videos]

Blog

24 Oct 2011

‘I would like to see a Social Entrepreneurs Network in every region of the RSA and in every country of the world’, said RSA Chief Executive Matthew Taylor, at the latest RSA Social Entrepreneurs Network event.

RSA Fellows bring some cheer on a gloomy Monday

Blog

12 Sep 2011

Matthew Taylor

On such a grey Monday morning I opened the newspapers with a predisposition to gloom. They didn't disappoint. Our politicians seem to have decided green politics was a fad (neither David Cameron nor George Osborne have delivered a speech on environmental issues since the General Election), but according to the latest sea ice maps, Arctic ice levels have fallen to their lowest ever recorded levels. If the trends suggested in the latest survey are borne out, the loss of ice is substantially faster than that predicted in the last IPCC report.  

An enlightened Fellowship

Blog

18 Jul 2011

Matthew Taylor

I was even later leaving work than usual on Friday as we were entertaining a group of academics and leaders from the world of culture and heritage. The Re-enlightenment project had just spent two very fruitful days debating and planning at the British Museum. As they sipped fine wine and munched the RSA’s excellent canapés, the group was kind enough not only to listen to me talking about 21st century enlightenment but to greet the ideas warmly.  

Ship-shape and Bristol fashion*

Blog

13 Apr 2011

Matthew Taylor

The waterfront area of Bristol is lovely in the sunshine; it made me want to pack up my bags and move to the West.  I was there on Monday meeting some Fellows to talk about their projects and speaking at a Festival of Ideas event.  One of the most interesting conversations I had was with local Fellow activist, Ted Fowler.  It inspired me with some further thoughts about the RSA and its model of change.

Big finance, big myths and a singing heart

Blog

31 Mar 2011

Matthew Taylor

Sometimes everything comes together and it all seems worthwhile.