I attended the Social Business Wales conference today, and while I feel like the talks were interesting but not overly relevant to me, and that I should’ve picked a different morning workshop, overall I enjoyed it. Mostly because of the people I met. I go to these things for two reasons – the food and the people.
Okay, so I’m an anxious idiot and definitely struggle with all social situations. People tend to be surprised when I tell them this, given how chatty I can be but I definitely overshare and often ramble. I talk about my cats a lot. and queer stuff. And the kids. Things I know a lot about that I can talk about and tell funny stories about to people.
So, in case you did know, a social enterprise is a business that runs/trades for a social or environmental purpose. We work for the community, rather than the profit. Queer Little Shop is the business side, but my Queer Little Space side of a community interest company – like half way between a charity and a business. It’s what I run Pride in Aber under, and what I want to open my space as in Aberystwyth.
This is my second year attending the Social Business Wales conference. I qualified for the bursary to go again as a disabled non-binary person with no money. I appreciated it though, because I wouldn’t have gone if I had to pay for it (cause I have no money, as previously mentioned). I definitely always feel a little like it’s out of my league though, especially when listening to the person from Diversity X talk about angle investments in the millions when I’m literally sitting on about £300 quid I’ve earmarked for next years Pride in Aber.
The morning workshop I went to I thought was going to be more about community but seemed to be more about buying a community asset and how that factored into supporting the local community. I don’t want to buy an asset, mostly I just want to open a space up in town.
The afternoon workshop was really interesting, especially listening to Donna Ali from BE.Xcellence’s experience of racism in the sector and having to make things a little more palatable and less confrontational. I don’t know if it helped to learn everyone is a skint as me, even though they’re more established. One of my greatest fears is not being able to pay my rent. Of not being able to feed my kids.
I did meet some interesting people, including the pre-application support worker from Unltd, who will help me with my next application. I kinda winged it last time, and still managed to get to the last round, so hopefully with a bit of guidance I can get the grant next time. I also joined NeuDice after meeting them and chatting for a bit – they were a great bunch.
I also appreciate the sensory/quiet space that had been set up, especially as so much was so bloody loud. The videos seemed to be turned up to 11 at all times. Great for those who were hard of hearing but less so for the neuro-divergent. There were subtitles, which helped, but it was a lot and having a quiet space to retreat to helped. i found the ‘networking’ the night before difficult. It was standing around – which I find difficult with my chronic pain and anxiety inducing because I was literally on my own and didn’t know anyone. Sitting down to dinner was easier because there were things to talk about and focus on, outside of just trying to strike up conversations with people randomly.
I did come out of it energised again, to work on the community side of my work. I’ve contacted a few places to see about possible venues for LGBTQ+ meet ups in town. I’m hoping I can get people interested, there can be a lot of apathy in my town, especially among the LGBTQ community. It’s why we didn’t have a pride event for over ten years.
Anyway, Llandudno is lovely – I don’t think I’ve been to North Wales since the 80s, but it’s a lot like Aberystwyth but there are windmills out in the ocean. Hopefully, next week, I’ll get some sort of plan in place, I’ve let a lot fall to wayside in terms of the Space, and marketing the shop, but I think I need more time (don’t we all) and more support.
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