Today,
I am delighted to be launching the Academy – sharing learning across the third
sector. This new initiative has been a
long time coming: since I first discussed the concept with David Elder nearly
three years ago, the model has changed twice, funding partners have come and
gone, but at last, today, the company I incorporated last year finally gets off
the ground. The launch event is being
held this afternoon at founder member Sense Scotland’s TouchBase facility in
Glasgow.
The
Academy is a not-for-profit social enterprise, a co-operative consortium, and a
company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland. It’s also an expression of the “shared
academy” model I blogged about in February of last year. The company is incorporated as The Academy
for Shared Learning Limited, but will trade as The Academy, with the strapline
‘sharing learning across the third sector’.
The
Academy is first of all a marketplace for charities, social enterprises,
community organisations and individuals involved in the third sector, to buy
and sell learning services. Secondly,
it’s a means for its members to network, collaborate, and share resources and
opportunities. It’s a partnership model
for charities and others to work together, access high value services, generate
income, and co-operate for mutual success.
To
begin with, the Academy is offering a range of courses, e-learning and
publications such as workbooks, developed and sold by its members. All the proceeds go directly to the members
themselves. Over time, we expect to
extend the range of learning services, and feature collaborative services from
more than one member.
Membership
is open to anyone who shares the Academy’s aims, so not just charities and not
just those in Scotland. Anyone who
values the contribution of the third sector, and especially its expertise and
ethos in learning and development, would benefit from membership, including
local authorities and other public bodies, individuals, and other organisations
involved in similar services. And many
of the Academy’s services, including e-learning and printed publication, reach
well beyind Scotland.
More
information is available at the Academy’s website. You can join the Academy at
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