To Organise and Host a #FSF2020 Event!

Fire Starter Festival 27 January – 14 February 2020

Festival Programme

@FireStarterFest #FSF2020 1st release

January

Fire Starter Launch Event

Join us for The Portraits of Scotland Launch – a creative, innovative and interactive event to open Fire Starter Festival 2020. Our launch will spark your curiosity, ignite your imagination, and give you the opportunity to come together with others to be a part of something truly magical. At this event we invite you to explore what is your picture of a future Scotland. Register Here 27-01-2020 @ 10:00 - 13:00 Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh

People's Practice, Aberystwyth / Ymarfer y Bobl, Aberystwyth

People’s Practice is a hub for organisations, groups and individuals committed to tackling the climate crisis to network, share ideas and focus on key is sues and positive actions collectively. In January, we will be bringing and sharing food. Come join us!

14-01-2020 @ 18:00 - 20:00 Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum Register Here

Meet. Listen. Learn. // Cwrdd. Gwrando. Dysgu.

Do you co-produce and collaborate? Are you hoping to do more? What are the key skills everyone needs? How can we discover what we (don’t even realise we) do and don’t know? How can we *really* help each other in these challenging times? If these questions interest you, please join us for an experimental hour of discovery about collaboration and working across silos. We will be focusing in a new way on the five ways of working from the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, and providing a reflective space from which to step into action.

27-01-2020 @ 13:00 - 15:30 Register Here Rhodfa Padarn, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, Wales

The Art of the Impossible: The Producer Competencies

Hosted by creative producer Suzy Glass and IFF director Graham Leicester, this workshop explores the producer role in the world of the arts and its relevance to all creative 21st century endeavour. The producer acts as a bridge between the art and the world, helping to turn a creative vision into reality. The approach has evident relevance to the challenges we face in the public and social sectors. We need creative ideas realised in creative action. How might the ‘producer competencies’ help?

28-01-2020 @ 09:30 - 12:30 Register Here 36 King's Stables Road, Whitespace, Edinburgh

Decorate/ Disrupt: What’s the Role of Art in Transforming Public Services?

Do arts provide an opportunity to stimulate imagination and experience differently. Can we create new ways of being together that recognise and work with complexity, encouraging different forms of collective meaning-making? Can artists disrupt our thinking and habitual patterns? Is it their role to provoke, to kindle our imagination? Or, do they provide decoration rather than provocation?

28-01-2020 @ 13:00 - 15:30 36 King's Stables Road, Whitespace, Edinburgh Register Here

Nothing But the Poem: Edwin Morgan

This one-off Nothing But the Poem reading group will focus on the work of celebrates Scottish poet, Edwin Morgan, whose centenary year begins in April 2020. Morgan was Scotland’s first Makar (2004) and his career varied widely, with his working constantly evolving across multiple forms and genres. Nothing But the Poem, facilitated by Dr Samuel Tongue from the Scottish Poetry Library, takes a closer look at Edwin Morgan’s poetry. No experience necessary: everyone is welcome and poems are provided at this hour long, informal reading group.

28-01-2020 @ 14:00 - 15:00 5 Crichton's Close, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh Register Here

Trailblazing Dialogue Walks for Scotland

This event will share the outcomes of a prototype of a series of dialogue walks where people who didn’t know each other went for a walk and reflected on their biographies, their aspirations for themselves, their communities and for Scotland. We will also hear from Professor Tim Ingold, University of Aberdeen and Claudia Zeiske from the Deveron Project.

28-01-2020 @ 16:00 - 19:00 36 King's Stables Road, Whitespace, Edinburgh Register Here

ACOSVO Leadership Exchange Programme -Dundee Information Session

Come along to this informal session on the 28th of January at OSCR’s office in Dundee to hear more about the programme and how it can develop leadership capacity. A previous participant will join us to share their own exchange reflections and answer any questions you may have.

28-01-2020 @ 12:30 - 13:30 9 Riverside Drive, Dundee Register Here

‘Smash the Silo’

Our poor overall health status compared with other countries sets a challenge to think creatively about how we are working together. Working across boundaries and combining our efforts for collective action to improve will be necessary to promote the conditions that help Scotland to be a place where everybody thrives. We will listen and share experiences and perspectives to explore the role and contribution by all groups, organisations, sectors, individuals and communities towards a healthier Scotland. How can this contribution be recognised? We will discuss what support needs to be in place to achieve this?

29-01-2020 @ 09:30 - 13:00 Register Here 30-34 McPhater Street, The National Piping Centre, Glasgow

Why discuss Menopause at Work?

An event which aims to raise awareness of the menopause and how the menopause should be considered in the workplace. The best employers are engaging with menopause awareness and training because they care about employee wellbeing; in return this helps employees give their utmost in the workplace. The best employers know it is the right thing to do.

29-01-2020 @ 11:00 - 12:00 Fitzalan Court, Cardiff, Hastings House Register Here

The Balancing Act – Influencing policy development using forum theatre

Join us as Active Inquiry present “The Balancing Act” – a play which explores the challenges a single mum “Becky” faces as she tries to return to work and find childcare for her son. We’ll use the play to consider the systems working around Becky’s situation, what might need to change and how we might influence that change.We would like to hear from innovators about what’s possible in designing childcare services for the future. Register Here 30-01-2020 @ 10:00 - 12:00 Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh

Dialogue Train Journey – Making Connections

With the popularity of social media and advancements in technology to support more agile working across public services, are we protecting opportunities for human ‘connection’ and face to face conversation too? We’re curious about what makes us open up to new connections and relationships as we journey through our working lives? What better way to open up this dialogue than on the recently introduced train line between our beautiful Scottish Capital into our beautiful Scottish Borders! Join us to explore your/ our highest hopes for Scotland in 2020 around building connections and relationships across our public services.

30-01-2020 @ 10:54 - 13:54 Register Here Edinburgh Waverley, Return Train Journey

Some Kind of Rebel: Poetry Writing Workshop

Can creativity combat political chaos? George Orwell once said “it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing. Where it is not true, it will generally be found that the writer is some kind of rebel.” Join poet Ellen Renton for a creative writing workshop that will reacquaint you with the power of language, and help you find both your inner rebel, and exactly the words.

30-01-2020 @ 14:30 - 16:00 5 Crichton's Close, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh

Are you interested in experiencing how an approach like Lego® Serious Play® can help you learn more about yourself and how we can work better together in groups? Come along to our event to try it out for yourself. Oh, and while you’re there, it just so happens that a zombie apocalypse breaks out and your group may be the last remaining humans. How will you survive? We don’t know. It’s up to you to figure it out (but we’ll help).

31-01-2020 @ 10:00 - 13:00 18 York Place, Edinburgh (ACOSVO offices) Register Here

Some Kind of Rebel: Poetry Writing Workshop

31-01-2020 @ 10:00 - 11:30 5 Crichton's Close, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh

2030! Join the Move for Responsible Leadership to Create the Future Together!

This workshop is designed to help professionals, regardless of differences at career stages and sectors, understand and explore how to become responsible leaders for success and positive transformation and influence, led by the UN Sustainable Goals 2030, through a new approach, namely Value Based Coaching (VBC). VBC is a new concept at organizations that is based on partnering with focus persons, namely leaders, in a thought-provoking, creative & self- exploratory process.

31-01-2020 @ 13:00 - 15:30 Register Here 22-26 George Street, The Royal Society Of Edinburgh

February

Breakthrough Stakeholder Collaboration: Convert Conflict to Co-Creativity

Do you have a messy problem with multiple stakeholders with no idea what to do to find common ground or consensus? Come with a burning concern. Bring along others who share that concern so that you can work on it together. Louie – supported by members of Presence in Action Collective – will help you to begin to explore your concerns using two unique frameworks that support Register Here collaborative inquiry and fit-for-purpose participatory planning – PAI and the Participation Compass.

03-02-2020 @ 09:00 - 17:00 5 Crichton's Close, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh

Collective Leadership on tackling sectarianism in Scotland

Sectarianism remains a real issue that affects the lives of individuals and communities across Scotland. Despite its complexity we continue to see people taking encouraging and effective action to bring about positive changes. In the past year a group have experimented with the collective leadership approach to see whether this has the potential to provide new ways of approaching the systemic problems that lead to sectarian attitudes and behaviour. Join them to hear about their journey; their perspectives on the issues; their feelings on collective leadership as an approach to tackling social issues and whether they believe there is a role for this approach in helping to shape government policy. This is your chance to influence, and be part of, the future development, thinking and action on the agenda on tackling sectarianism in Register Here Scotland.

03-02-2020 @ 09:30 - 13:00 3 West Register Street, New Register House, Edinburgh

Is it time for a new dialogue on antisocial behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour can be an issue that affects communities across Scotland and the subject of complaints to local elected members and MSPs. Do you have a view on Antisocial behaviour? Be it conventional; challenging; creative; supportive; whatever – we want to hear it.

03-02-2020 @ 14:00 - 16:00 New Register House, 3 W Register Street Register Here

Joining the dots… Education futures for Scotland

A collective adventure for people who are reimagining education by making new connections, finding unusual patterns, and looking beyond their known worlds. We will think together in a cross-sector, broad and creative way about education futures for Scotland. We need people who are excited to venture into the…

03-02-2020 @ 14:00 - 17:00 TBA Register Here

P6 Constellation

How can we move from anger and frustration to a place of curiosity by understanding our own meaning making from a different paradigm? The session will be hosted by Presence In Action Collective community members who will use the P6 Constellation Framework to hold the conversation. This is an opportunity to explore change in our lives while getting a taster of the P6 Constellation.

04-02-2020 @ 09:30 - 13:00 Register Here 41 George IV Bridge, Augustine United Church, Edinburgh

Walk a mile in my shoes – Edinburgh

This is a walk – or a wheel – with a difference. We are asking able-bodied participants to put themselves in the hands of those with a mobility or visual impairment and see – or not see – the city through their eyes. As we move together through our streets we will gain a deeper understanding of how our environment disables people through the barriers we unknowingly put in their way. We will also gain in trust and understanding of each other and open up a more fruitful dialogue about how we want our cities to be.

04-02-2020 @ 11:30 - 13:30 Greenside Row, Edinburgh, Outside, Edinburgh Register Here

ACOSVO Leadership Exchange Programme – Edinburgh Information Session

Come along to this informal session on the 4th of February at ACOSVO’s office in Edinburgh to hear more about the programme and how it can develop leadership capacity. A previous participant will join us to share their own exchange reflections and answer any questions you may have.

04-02-2020 @ 12:30 - 13:30 18 York Place, Edinburgh, Boardroom

Don’t Panic, the Hitchhikers Guide to Innovations in Learning

The day consists of a series of talks and interactive workshops centered around current innovations in digital learning. The first round of workshops offers the attendees the opportunity to hear about some of the latest research to have been conducted by School of Visual Simulation (SimVis), as well as the chance to design and develop their own digital learning resource. Topics such as the role of audio and video technologies in workforce development and developing digital learning habits will also be discussed.

05-02-2020 @ 09:30 - 16:00 Register Here Renfield St Stephens Centre 260 Bath St Glasgow

The National Performance Framework and System Leadership

The National Performance Framework sets out a wide- ranging, complex and interconnected set of aspirations for Scotland. This session is an opportunity to explore how we can bring greater connectivity in to our work to support this, drawing upon the many elements of system leadership that are being developed and supported across our sectors.

05-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 16:00 18 York Place, Whitespace, Edinburgh Register Here

The Gift Exchange: Exploring Relationships – Talking, Listening & Creating

This participative workshop gives you space to reflect on what helps to build strong relationships with others in the workplace. Clare and Sabina will guide you through ‘The Gift Exchange’ where we’ll explore generosity, listening and interpreting, and giving and receiving using a range of visual tools for you to try out!

05-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 12:00 145-147 Queen Street, Glasgow Register Here

Are We Doing Enough? Working Together for a Healthy and Thriving Scotland

The event offers a more flexible and open approach to exploring innovation. Our speakers will share high level insights from their own diverse experiences of leading and engagement with a range alternative approaches to public health, followed by a dialogue between the speakers exploring their experiences. This will be followed by reflection time for participants and voting on their topics for a facilitated world café session for more open discussions on the chosen topics with the event participants. Register Here 05-02-2020 @ 13:00 - 16:30 Arboretum Place, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

Liberating Structures in public service change – what are we learning?

This event is an invitation for people experimenting with LS to take part in a participative inquiry into our experience of working with LS and the diversity in our practice. Our hypothesis is that by making visible and exploring the diversity of principles, pratice and facilitation stance we bring to LS, we can disrupt and connect our practice in new ways.

06-02-2020 @ 09:30 - 16:30 18 York Place, Edinburgh, ACOSVO, Edinburgh Register Here

A creative approach to giving young children a voice in service planning

As Scotland prepares to incorporate the UNCRC into domestic law, how can the expressive arts and creative approaches help ensure very young children’s voices are reflected in decision-making and service planning? This is an opportunity to explore the subject with colleagues from across the arts and children’s sectors, as part of Fire Starter Festival 2020: Celebrating Innovation and Creativity In Public Services.

06-02-2020 @ 10:30 - 12:30 50 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, St Cecilia's Hall Register Here

Connecting Culture and Care

Explore how co-design approaches to the expressive arts can help care-experienced children access their rights as defined by the UNCRC. In this practical artist-facilitated session, participants from across sectors will explore expressive arts approaches used in Creative Kin, a project led by Starcatchers, Scotland’s National Arts and Early Years Organisation, that provides shared creative experiences for care experienced children and their adults. Register Here 06-02-2020 @ 12:30 - 15:00 The University of Edinburgh, 50 Niddry Street, Edinburgh, St Cecilia's Hall

ACOSVO Leadership Exchange Programme – Glasgow Information Session

Come along to this informal session on the 6th of February at SFHA’s office in Glasgow to hear more about the programme and how it can develop leadership capacity. A previous participant will join us to share their own exchange reflections and answer any questions you may have.

06-02-2020 @ 12:30 - 13:30 149 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Sutherland House Register Here

Street Wisdom Walk

At the centre of Street Wisdom lies the idea that every moment is extraordinary and every street is full of inspiration – that there’s no such thing as an ordinary street, just ordinary thinking. Few of us give ourselves time or permission to really focus on the signs and signals that we normally ignore, rich stimulus that can help us learn something new.

07-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 13:00 Chambers Street, Edinburgh Register Here

Can Procurement be Kind?

Join us at this event to explore how we can embed kindness in commissioning and procurement process, and use this to deliver better outcomes for people and communities. This event is hosted by a group of people from the Kindness Innovation Network who have been exploring the role of kindness in procurement and commissioning. It will bring together a range of perspectives on commissioning and procurement, with the aim or building understanding and trust, challenging perceptions, and collectively building a sense of what might be possible.

07-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 15:00 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, Norton Park Conference Centre Register Here

Walk a mile in my shoes – Inverness

07-02-2020 @ 11:30 - 13:30 Inverness train station Register Here

Behavioural Science, the future of employability?

The right intervention at the right time, every time Insights from one of the most effective employability interventions in the world. Join us to for a short presentation on this joint piece of work and our wider employability programs. We will discuss how behavioural analytics and can change the way we allocate resource, build individual responses at scale and deliver the right intervention at the right time, every time.

07-02-2020 @ 13:30 - 15:30 YMCA Scotland, 1 Chesser Ave, Edinburgh Register Here

How could regeneration increase social equality in Govanhill? A systems mapping event using Social Presencing Theatre

Following a mindfulness exercise, participants will express an area of their life or work that feel stuck, explore how this relates to others experience and identify how they could collaborate to work towards a collectively desired future. A 4D mapping exercise will then enable participants to make the current social system visible and explore what shifts might enable an aspiring future to emerge.

08-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 16:00 Register Here 539 Langside Lane, Glasgow

Get the Gen. Recruiting and retaining young people in the workforce

By 2025, Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce. Many organisations in the public and private sector are still grappling with this interesting challenge. 2 of Scotland’s most exciting social enterprises host a presentation and discussion on recruiting & retaining young people in the workforce.

11-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 12:00 Montgomery Street Lane, Edinburgh Register Here

What should we focus /measure in our workplaces?

Good work is good for us, whilst bad work is very bad for us. If we are used to using ‘measures’ as a way of giving a focus to what we do (evidence-based), this can help or hinder us. So what would be good things for us to measure in Welsh workplaces? This is a discussion – we will capture what you say and share this. Let’s develop a movement to make Welsh workplaces better!

11-02-2020 @ 12:00 - 13:00 Ty Dysgu, HEIW, Nantgarw, Wales Register Here

Is Stress your Enemy or your Friend for your Leadership Performance & Success?

Responsible Leadership & Corporate Social Responsibility are the among the essential criteria for business today, and many companies work in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to develop Responsible Leadership and to achieve Corporate Social Responsibility. At this workshop, the participants will explore how Responsible Leadership & Corporate Social Responsibility align with starts-ups, and how stress management lays at the heart of a successful and responsible business.

11-02-2020 @ 13:30 - 16:30 Unit A, 75 Old Hawkhill, Centre for Entrepreneurship - University of Dundee, Dundee Register Here

Fair Work Nation 2025

What does fair work mean to you? If you don’t know, do know or just fancy a cuppa (tea, coffee, or water) and some biscuits, come along to our event where you will be able to meet the Fair Work Convention. Our event will give you the opportunity to hear from advocates for Fair Work across Scotland, ask questions and participate in an open discussion. The Convention are keen to hear the views of Scotland’s public on all aspects of fair work. If you would like to ask your questions anonymously, or ahead of time, we will give you the opportunity to do that too, so don’t worry about speaking on the day if you don’t want to! Register Here

12-02-2020 @ 10:00 - 12:30 The Dome, 3 West Register Street, Edinburgh

The Courage to Hold Unconventional Opinions

Design a Way Through Complex Public Service Challenges using the Secret Ingredient, Simulation. We’ll show you models that decision-makers have actually used, then invite you to try out some more playful examples. You will encounter computer simulations of complex ‘whole system’ challenges such as service design, commissioning, capacity & flow, and workforce planning.

12-02-2020 @ 14:00 - 17:00 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh Register Here

Values based workshop to improve your listening and thinking skills

An experiential values based learning opportunity to increase your awareness of how to encourage better thinking and listening. A chance to learn new skills and techniques to improve your effectiveness with colleagues,teams,friends giving you greater impact in your work and social settings. To assist you in this process I will be sharing some of the work by Nancy Kline around Time to Think.

12-02-2020 @ 14:00 - 16:00 Register Here 49 Dowanhill Street, Glasgow

When Power Corrupts

‘When power corrupts,’ John F Kennedy said, ‘poetry cleanses.’ But does it? Our panel discussion-slash-reading will address the issue of poetry and power. Should poets be wary of politicians or embrace the chance ‘to speak truth to power’? Can political poetry go beyond sloganeering? And what about when poets become politicians?Panellists include poet and novelist John Burnside (The Music of Time), poet and theatre-maker Harry Josephine Giles (The Games), poet and academic Dr Samantha Walton (Self Heal). The panel will be chaired by poet and editor, Henry Bell (John Maclean: Hero of Red Clydeside).

12-02-2020 @ 19:00 - 20:30 5 Crichton's Close, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh Register Here

You better be in… We’re coming roon yir hoose!!

If you can’t make it to the Street Wisdom event in Edinburgh with Tracy and Joyce – that’s ok cos we can come to you! From wherever you are in Scotland join us online for an interactive session from the comfort on your own home. What’s it all about? You’ll take part in a facilitated session using your own surroundings to find answers you are seeking. What’s in it for you? It’s a chance to see things in a new way and experience a new facilitation technique.

12-02-2020 @ 19:30 - 20:30 Online Register Here

Cynefin: Into the Woods

Modern society is on a journey to rediscover community and value the environment in which it lives. But the question this community is faced with, is how to maintain and benefit from the resources, without losing what makes it so special, and enhancing the Wales we love for future generations. Cynefin: Into the Woods, wants to look at how local communities, partners and stakeholders can achieve and contribute to that balance in a cooperative and community focussed approach. There will be a guided walk through one of our trails.

14-02-2020 @ 09:00 - 12:30 Register Here Dolgellau, Coed y Brenin Forest Park

Cynefin: Into the Woods

Has the programme sparked your interest? Do you consider igniting or celebrating some fires of change by hosting a Fire Starter event yourself?

There is still plenty of time to get your event up. Please visit our website for more information on the Fire Starter Festival and read our step-by-step guide on how to upload your Fire Starter event.

Help us spread the Fire!

Connect with us via Twitter @FireStarterFest and share your Fire Starter experiences using our hashtag #FSF2020

Get in touch with the Fire Crew: https://firestarterfestival.com/contact/