C.E. Jottings

Creating an enterprising conductive community. Possible?

What does it mean to be "conductive"? Can an organisation be "conductive"? Should an organisation that practices conductive education reflect conductively upon its own self? I have pondered this before. The SAHK model is instructive, for instance. This morning I was reminded of this when I read a blog posting by MIke Chitty. I have mentioned Mike in this context before. Asking what a 'real enterprise zone' would look like, Mike proposes that it would be a place where: People... Read more →

Being enterprising ... Talking Enterprise

I've mentioned Mike Chitty on this blog a number of times. His approach to community development is one that for me resonates with conductive education work with adults or rather how such programmes might be developed, as we have some way to go. Located in "assets" not "needs", focusing firmly on the individual rather than "community" or "business skills", with an emphasis on "being enterprising" and "becoming", Mike's take on development is about people having "active agency in their own... Read more →

Co-operation in the Age of Google #CondEd

As I write, I am in the middle of reading "Co-operation in the Age of Google" by Robin Murray, a review commissioned by Cooperatives UK: "a radical vision of the how the co-operative sector can expand in the 21st Century." Its underpinning contention is that "we are living at a time of profound transformation". I am reminded of a thread of recent postings on his blog by Andrew Sutton, such as "CE's New Wave - creative not beholden" which in... Read more →

Two very welcome visitors

Belatedly .... Thursday saw two very welcome and special visitors to Paces. In the morning, one of Paces' oldest friends, Graham Moore, Chairman of Westfield Health. Graham it was who in 1994 attended our very first public meeting, where we announced our intent to bring Conductive Education to Sheffield and set up our own centre. As Graham tells it, he just couldn't believe what we were planning to do, couldn't see how we could possibly succeed - and decided he'd... Read more →

Eyes on the skies: Gabriel Nderitu is building his own plane

Gabriel Nderitu is building his own plane … in his tiny back yard in Nairobi, Kenya. The engine is from a Toyota Corolla, the wheels from a Mini, instructions from Wikipedia. The aluminium wings, too long for his yard, lie in the street outside his house. The 42-year old IT engineer developed a passion for flying at school. He studied physics at university and two years ago decided it was time for his dream to take flight. So far it... Read more →

.... for parents to invite us into their lives.

"What does Paces need to be like for parents to invite us in to their lives?" Not my words but those of the ever-stimulating Mike Chitty. I met Mike at the Sunshine Bakery in Chapel Allerton this afternoon. Over a very civilised pot of tea and cup cake we discussed adult services and marketing. (I had a mango, banana and passion fruit cupcake with which baker David Bennett beat competition from 70 other professional bakers a couple of weeks ago... Read more →

Enterprise & the emergence of identity #CondEd

I was reminded via Facebook, today, of a posting on his blog back in February 2009, by Mike Chitty: I have been banging on about enterprise as being a process for the emergence of identity for a long time now. Enterprise provides the (nearly) perfect vehicle for us to explore our talents and passions and have the results of our efforts judged in real time by real people. In the link that Mike provided (which I urge you to follow),... Read more →

By indirections find directions out

Managing a conductive education enterprise is not always a straightforward matter. Literally, it seems. Over the years, I've often been accused (if that isn't too strong a word) of 'losing the plot',of 'having my head in the clouds', of "not focusing" on what matters. Our concern with developing the whole Campus, for instance, is seen as "a diversion", a "waste of resources", or a "drain on my time" as Paces CEO. Only the other day, I was told very firmly... Read more →