Insights from our Rocket Scientists
It is still all about People, Poverty and Places
Things change but nothing really changes. Caroline Masundire reflects on ten years at Rocket Science and the uncertain future for employment and skills. I celebrate ten years at Rocket Science next month and never has a decade gone so quickly or been as eventful. One...
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Social Inclusion through sport
Can sport really support social inclusion? Helen Fagan reflects on our experience of managing funding into sports activities and her own passion for six sports. London 2017 kicked off with the World Para Athletics Championships on July 14th, once again bringing some...
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What makes a charity strong? (Hint: it’s not the computers…)
Rocket Science has helped many charities understand their strengths and weaknesses through our Organisational Strengths Review service. James Turner highlights what we have learned about their needs. What makes a charity strong? Is it the people? The ethos? The...
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When common sense is not enough
Clare Hammond and Clara Mascaro on using Cost Benefit Analysis to justify investing in prevention The saying goes: “It’s better to build a fence at the top of a cliff than to park an ambulance at the bottom.” And this common-sense notion...
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Why London’s employment initiatives need to focus on poverty reduction
Does public investment into employment and skills programmes create and worsen in-work poverty? Caroline Masundire reflects on the challenge in London and why we need to focus on poverty reduction rather than just any old job. The challenge facing people who are...
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A broken fingernail and the #forgottenmany
Why we need to rethink how we fund need and look beyond the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.A few months ago, I was chatting to a group of my peers at a networking event about all things London. It was going well until a wave of incredulity swept over me followed...
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2017 Rich List . . . some challenges and opportunities for London
John Griffiths reflects on the opportunities for London by rethinking philanthropy in the capital. The Sunday Times’ publication of the Rich List 2017 shows that the rich are getting richer. The wealthiest 1000 individuals, who enjoy a combined total wealth of...
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Inclusive Impact – capturing ALL voices
How can you involve vulnerable young people and their families in measuring social impact? Clare Hammond talks about our work for The Yard in Scotland, developing their first Social Return on Investment report.We have been working with The Yard Scotland and their...
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Funders fix your forms! Here’s how
Forms, forms, forms - a necessary evil in grant-making, but how can we make them less frustrating for applicants and funders? James Turner gives his advice!Endless questions. Impossible questions. Pointless questions. These are the Big Three faults...
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Charities – down to the wire
Small and medium charities are struggling to survive. In this article, Caroline Masundire reflects on the reasons why and what needs to be done to support them in the future. Many small and medium sized charities are bearing the brunt of austerity – losing grants and...
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What could Sadiq Khan do for BIDs in London?
Why we need to carry on supporting the BID movement in London. John Griffiths offers his thoughts for the Mayor for London. One of Boris Johnson’s final acts as Mayor of London was to announce he had achieved his 2012 manifesto target of seeing 50 Business...
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School Ties
Small businesses can play a really important role in helping young people transition from education into work. Richard Scothorne reflects on his work for the Federation of Small Business in Scotland, School Ties.Small businesses are vital partners for schools in...
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