Ecosocial innovations in Europe - new models for social work action? - Ingo Stamm University of Jyväskylä / Kokkola University Consortium ...

Ecosocial innovations in Europe – new
       models for social work action?

                            Ingo Stamm
University of Jyväskylä / Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius
                    TiSSA Plenum Conference
                    Olsztyn, August 28-30, 2017

ECOSOS Project
 ECOSOS - Contribution of social work and
systems of income security to the ecosocial
        transformation of society
     (funded by the Finnish Academy, 2015 – 2019)

                                                    2

Ecosocial innovations (ESI)

1)   Significant contribution to a more sustainable society

2)   Clear vision of ecological sustainability

3)   New forms of work and employment

Implementation

 Mapping:
 48 ESI (Finland, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the UK)

                    Case studies

Implementation of case studies

Research questions

Esosocial innovations:

1. What they do? How do they function
2. What enabling and hindering factors can be found?
3. What needs to be changed?

Research plan

•   Field visits
•   Document review
•   28 semi-structured individual interviews
•   2 group interviews

VELO in Leuven,
VELO in Leuven, BelgiumBelgium

• Est. 1994
• Social economy
• Alternative mobility & support
  for young unemployed people

VINTERRA in Mals, South Tyrol, Italy

                    dgdg

                                       10

• Est. 2014
• Social cooperative
• Organic agriculture & workers
  with mental impairments

                                  11

in Berlin, Germany

                     12

• Est. 2006
• Community association
• Re-use, arts &
  education
                      13

Finnish cases
• Hirvitalo (Center of Contemporary Art Pispala) is a non-profit
  and open cultural space in Tampere. Its aim is to stimulate
  local activities and enrich artistic and cultural life in the
  community.
• Omamaa is an organic food cooperative. It is inspired by the
  concept of community-supported agriculture. The food
  grows on fields of an old farm, located 30 km outside of
  Helsinki.
• Lapinlahden Lähde is an association in Helsinki that is
  located in an old hospital in Helsinki. It offers space for
  ecological projects and cultural events.

Results of the thematic analysis
        – seven themes

1. From informal to formal

All cases are organized in a specific legal form even though some
  started as an informal group or project and kept the habitus.

2. Great diversity in social practices is innovative

  The innovative potential of all cases cannot be demonstrated by
only one idea or solution of an ecological and social problem, but by
                         their great variety.

3. Balancing all dimensions of sustainability

On an organizational level, all innovations are combining social and
  ecological sustainability in their social practices, even though
           people involved might have only one focus.

4. Precarious existence as daily routine

   The burden of a precarious existence affects all ecosocial
innovations. This has different dimensions like lack of funding,
         insecure locations or bureaucratic obstacles.

5. Established relationships keep the innovations
                      running
  These external relationships with other civil society actors or
networks, public institutions or market actors are vital for all ESI.

6. Recognition, money and time

The theme lists three important resources for developing the work
      of ecosocial innovations further, with a wide scope for
                          improvement.

7. Creative mix of work, employment and
                      engagement
 The ecosocial innovations use a variety of different forms of work.
Since new concepts of work are decisive for social sustainability, this
     is a crucial aspect of understanding the functioning of ESI.

Main driver

          Role of        Potential
 Staff
manager   Social        partner or
                        beneficiary
           Work

           No role

Thank you!

        Contact:
ingo.stamm@chydenius.fi