Led a project in 2020 to document how Glasgow’s social enterprises responded to a city-wide crisis, researching and producing a report that captured the sector’s creativity, resilience, and community leadership. Recognising the strength of my engagement with members, GSEN invited me to join the team as Member Engagement and Communications Officer. In that role, I refreshed the organisation’s visual identity, launched its social media presence, and co-designed initiatives including the GSEN Connects grant and a digital festival that showcased member work and strengthened the network.
'Rewriting the Rules' Covid Report
Challenge
Glasgow’s social enterprises faced unprecedented pressure during the COVID-19 crisis, responding to rising inequality, food insecurity, and isolation across the city. GSEN commissioned a report to capture how these organisations adapted, collaborated, and supported their communities through a rapidly shifting landscape.
Process
To document the sector’s response, I led a city-wide research and storytelling project. I interviewed over 50 social enterprises — including staff, volunteers, and founders — and visited 20 in person to gather insights and imagery. Working with photographer Danny Cook, we created a visual narrative that honoured the creativity and care driving Glasgow’s social economy.
Impact
The final report, Rewriting the Rules, highlighted the sector’s agility, civic leadership, and grassroots innovation. It was widely shared across Glasgow’s third sector interface, strengthening GSEN’s visibility and positioning social enterprise as central to crisis response and recovery. The project also led to my appointment as GSEN’s Member Engagement and Communications Officer, where I continued to amplify member voices and co-design new initiatives.
Member Engagement and Communications officer
Role & Approach
As Member Engagement and Communications Officer at GSEN, I worked directly with social enterprises to co-design service improvements, adapt existing offers, and develop new initiatives based on lived experience and operational realities. I facilitated monthly network meetings to foster connection, peer support, and shared problem-solving across the sector.
Through this close engagement, I identified a recurring barrier: collaboration between organisations was encouraged but rarely funded. Members were absorbing the costs of partnership work, which created obstacles to sustainable connection. In response, I designed and launched GSEN Connects, a grant programme that supported cross-organisational collaboration and relationship-building.
I also responded to growing demand for digital confidence and visibility by creating GSEN’s first Digital Festival. It provided a platform for members to showcase their work, access training, and connect with wider audiences. The festival continues to run today, with current staff expanding its reach and format.
Impact
Enabled more equitable collaboration across Glasgow’s social enterprise sector through targeted grant funding
GSEN Connects redistributed resources to cover the real costs of partnership work, allowing organisations to collaborate without financial strain and build relationships on equal footing.
Strengthened GSEN’s role as a responsive, member-led network
By designing initiatives directly informed by member feedback, I helped position GSEN as a facilitator of grassroots innovation rather than just a convening body.
Created lasting infrastructure for digital engagement and visibility
The Digital Festival provided a platform for organisations to showcase their work, build digital confidence, and reach wider audiences — a format that continues to evolve under current staff.
Supported a culture of peer learning, shared leadership, and practical innovation
Monthly meetings and tailored support fostered trust, knowledge exchange, and collaborative problem-solving across the network, embedding a more participatory ethos into GSEN’s core offer.