Selnet would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Councillor Suleman Khonat, all our exhibitors, speakers & attendees at our much awaited Social Business Expo 2023 on Tuesday 17th January.
It was a huge success and so nice to see everyone together, sharing information & showcasing their work.
To see pictures from the day, check out our gallery below.
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Lancashire social enterprises celebrated and promoted for their phenomenal impacts and achievements!
The story from Twitter
Startup Social Enterprise of the Year winners Beanstalk Business Support CIC ©Andy Ford
Winner – Beanstalk Business Support CIC
Beanstalk Business Support CIC is passionate about helping businesses become stronger, sustainable and profitable. Our trading enterprise delivers business support and administration services to entrepreneurs, start-ups, not-for-profits and SMEs. In addition, we provide employment, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities, with job coaching and pastoral support, helping people towards employment.
Highly commended award presented to UDevelop
Shortlisted were Beanstalk Business Support CIC, Enterprising Habits, No Whispers CIC, Rainbow Youth Centre, UDevelop
Small Social Enterprise of the Year winners Let’s Grow Preston ©Andy Ford
Winner – Let’s Grow Preston
Let’s Grow Preston is a charity, established in 2011, whose aims are to improve and maintain for the benefit of the inhabitants of Preston (defined as the PR postcodes) and its visitors, the gardens, landscaped areas, open spaces, playing fields, playgrounds and recreational amenity spaces with the object of improving the conditions of life of the public by providing resources and support which are ancillary to those provided by the local authority.
Highly commended award presented to His Provision CIC.
Shortlisted were Barks & Recreation, Divine Days Community CIC, Let’s Grow Preston, His Provision CIC, Preston Domestic Violence Services, Self-Advocates Training Partnership, WEAREHOPEST CIC (Hope Street)
Large Social Enterprise of the Year winners Recycling Lives Social Enteprise ©Andy Ford
Winner – Recycling Lives Social Enteprise
Recycling Lives Social Enterprise is changing lives. Our rehabilitation programmes equip people with skills and confidence to improve their lifestyles and employability and reduce re-offending rates. Our food redistribution work supplies charities and community groups with goods to feed people in need, tackling food poverty while also preventing food waste.
Shortlisted were Active Lancashire, Child Action Northwest, Communicate SLT CIC, Lancashire Women, Recycling Lives Social Enterprise, Shelter Lancashire
Work or Training Social Enterprise of the Year winners Active Lancashire ©Andy Ford
Winner – Active Lancashire
Our application focuses on Active Lancashire’s Pendle YES Hub (PYH) and Rossendale Works (RW), two employment and training programmes we designed in partnership with councils, the DWP and others, with our colleagues delivering services.
PYH launched in February 2021 as a base to support young people in Pendle affected by Covid-19, offering tailored access to courses, work opportunities, and health and wellbeing activities.
RW launched in 2018 to reduce unemployment in Rossendale. Alongside one-to-one coaching and job fairs, it offers a skills course in collaboration with employers, featuring interviews at the end.
Shortlisted were Active Lancashire, Calico Enterprise Ltd, Divine Days Community CIC, Groundwork CLM, Lancashire Mind, Recycling Lives Social Enterprise, Renaissance UK Ltd
Social Enterprise Employee of the Year winner Dominic Hawke CANW ©Andy Ford
Winner – Dominic Hawke CANW
“Dominic goes above and beyond with his participants on his caseload to make sure that they are supported throughout their journey. He is helpful, cheery and a team player and does not let his barrier of being partially sighted get in the way of work; from helping us move furniture within the office to picking up young people in a taxi ensuring they are supported with appointments.”
Shortlisted were Aisha Sharif – Lancashire Women, Amanda Cane – URPotential, Ammara Jamil – Community CVS, Angie Thomas – URPotential, Bushra Nawaz – CANW, Carl Simms – CANW, Dominic Hawke – CANW, Jez Palmer – CANW, Louise Taylor – CANW, Maira Butt – Lancashire Mind, Maria Corr – Calico Enterprise Ltd, Michelle Dixon – CANW, Rachel Denby – Groundwork CLM, Sally Hardaker – URPotential
Striving for Equality Award winners Renaissance UK Ltd ©Andy Ford
Winner – Renaissance UK Ltd
Renaissance-UK supports all members of the LGBTQ+ community, those suffering with substance misuse and issues around sexual health, which naturally encircles complex mental health issues. There is a constant drive and unwaivering focus to ensure all strands of equality are recognised and advocated for.
Highly commended award won by Calico Enterprise Ltd
Shortlisted were AFC Fylde Armed Forces Project, Calico Enterprise Ltd, Divine Days Community CIC, Lancashire Mind, Renaissance UK Ltd
Environmental Champion of the Year winners Child Action Northwest ©Andy Ford
Winner – Child Action Northwest
CANW promotes environmental sustainability across our services and is committed to reduce waste, limit energy consumption and procure sustainably. An Environmental Task and Finish Group convenes bi-annually to monitor / review agreed organisational targets.
Shortlisted were Child Action Northwest and Shared Future CIC
Volunteer of the Year winner Kizzy Felstead of Spring into Action ©Andy Ford
Winner – Kizzy Felstead Spring into Action
“Kizzy is one of a group of ambassadors, all of whom have lived experience of a learning disability, physical disability or autism. During lockdown, the group did lots of work to promote friendships via zoom, they spoke to people in the NHS and organised a friendship conference which took place in November 2021 when people were able to gather in larger groups. Kizzy has shone over and above in her role as a volunteer ambassador, taking it upon herself to organise the other ambassadors, as well as supporting them both within sessions and outside of sessions.”
In recognition of the shortlisted candidates’ work, special recognition certificates were awarded to Caroline Roberts – Spring into Phab, David Smith – URPotential, Emma Swanson – Lancashire Women, Katie Middleton – His Provision CIC, Nicola Larnach – Calico Enterprise Ltd, Reagan Kelly – Divine Days Community CIC, Sarah Cewe – Rainbow Youth Centre
Social Enterprise Champion 2022 winner Martin Needham of Rainbow Youth Centre ©Andy Ford
Winner – Martin Needham Rainbow Youth Centre
Martin established the Rainbow Youth Centre after personal experience made it clear to him that help and advice surrounding Trans / LGBTQI+ issues, and mental health in children, was incredibly hard to obtain and harder to access. Having closed his business to concentrate on providing support in this area, Martin self-financed the youth centre for the first 2 years.
Shortlisted were Karen Livesey – No Whispers CIC, Mandy Taylor – Lancashire Women, Martin Needham – Rainbow Youth Centre, Wesley Partington – AFC Fylde Community Foundation
Social Enterprise of the Year 2022 winners Communicate SLT CIC ©Andy Ford
Winner – Communicate SLT CIC
Communicate SLT is a Community Interest Company providing high quality speech, language and communication services and training, predominantly in Lancashire. We empower individuals aged 0-25 years directly and through others, using high-quality, evidenced-based approaches to maximise impact where they live and learn. Our mission is to enable effective communication for all to improve children and young people’s inclusion, independence and life chances.
The final category shortlisted 27 social enterprises from all categories entered at the 2022 awards.
A huge thank you to our Sponsors
On behalf of all our members, Selnet Directors would like to thank the following organisations for supporting the Social Enterprise in Society Awards 2022!
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The decision to leave the European Union will shape profoundly the future of our communities. Despite Brexit though, Britain has guaranteed local European Funds (ESF and ERDF) until 2022.
Network For Europe represents VCSE sector in North West region in all matters relating to the European Union. Selnet have now hosted two EU Funding Briefing events with Network For Europe. These briefings offered a comprehensive update on ESFii and ERDFii , what is happening here in Lancashire, and how it affects the Third Sectorii.
The presentations and additional details are available below.
What will Brexit mean for our sector?
The Brexit process is underway and Network For Europe is working to respond to the loss of EU funds and ensure that the VCSE voice is heard.
We are in a period of transition following the Brexit vote in March and the UK is entering up to 2 years of negotiations on what our future relationship with the EU will be. Brexit will mean the loss of European funding in the form that the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) have known it over the past few decades.
Network for Europe working with partners in the VCSE sector across the North of England to respond to the loss of these funds:
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“Of course, EU funding is about money, but it’s also about the way the money is spent and what it is spent on. EU funding promotes innovative projects, based on partnerships which support inclusion, gender equality, and protection of the environment.
It’s important that we lobby and campaign, not just to make sure the EU cash is replaced, but to protect the kind of projects that have previously been supported by EU funds.
– Andy Churchill, CEO, Network for Europe
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Over the coming months, Network For Europe will be:
Have your say
Network For Europe are collating thoughts, concerns and ideas about how the loss of EU funds will affect organisations and individuals in the sector. Please let them know your views.
You can contact Andy Churchill on andy.churchill@networkforeurope.eu or John Hacking on john.hacking@networkforeurope.eu .
What Next?
Selnet and Network For Europe will be hosting a further briefing in November which will be advertised in due course. We hope to see you there!
Resources
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We are delighted to announce the winners of our 2017 Enterprise in Society Awards
Enabling Ability Award
sponsored by
Media Village
Winner
THOMAS
Finalists
In Di Go
Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd
Willow Garden Project
Wonderful Things
Environmental Champion of the Year
sponsored by
Recycling Lives
Winner
SAMS
Finalists
Emmaus North West with Furniture Matters
Urban Organic (UK) CIC
Willow Garden Project
Excellence in Training or Mentoring
sponsored by
Periscope Productions
Winner
Advocacy Focus
Finalists
Best at Solutions CIC
Lancashire Equalities
Most Effective Collaboration
sponsored by
Bootstrap Enterprises
Winner
The Sewing Rooms
Highly Commended
CANW
Finalists
Castle Supported Living and Access Ability CIC
Food Redistribution Centre – run by Recycling Lives in partnership with FareShare
UR Potential & Strawberry Fields Training CIC
Small Social Enterprise of the Year
sponsored by
Unity Trust Bank
Winner
Dig In North West cic
Finalists
Preston Vocational Centre
SEED / Breathe Therapies
Strawberry Fields Training
Wonderful Things
Start-up Social Enterprise of the Year
sponsored by
The Sewing Rooms
Winner
Spring into Phab
Finalists
Podio Magazine
SHAPE Lancashire
The Dog Inn
Social Enterprise of the Year
sponsored by
HR Savvy
Winner
UR Potential
Highly Commended
Urban Organic (UK) CIC
Finalists
Age Concern Central Lancashire
Castle Supported Living
In Di Go
Reachout Darwen
Volunteer of the Year
Winner
Jackie Leeming (n-compass)
Finalists
Dorothy Vose (Age Concern CL)
Wonderful Things Youth Volunteer Team
Lancashire’s Social Enterprise Champion 2017
sponsored by
First Ark
Winner
Peter Green (Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd)
Finalists
Alistair Clarke (Tick the Publicity Box)
Deborah Terras (UR Potential)
Photos Coming Soon!
Thanks Again To Our Sponsors
“We are keen to encourage the growth of a strong social economy in Lancashire. Working with Selnet allows the First Ark Group to recognise how we can best provide support and appropriate mechanisms to deliver growth and social impact within the sector.” Tony Cahill, First Ark
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Are you looking for new ways of working collaboratively, in partnership with likeminded organisations?
This is the event for you – This interactive session aims to give attendees an overview of the ways in which collaboration can help your organisation to achieve its goals. An overview of the different models through which organisations can collaborate will be provided. We will also explore motivations for collaborating and what factors are likely to make it a success.
Mutual Ventures is a socially-focussed consultancy, operating nationally, and committed to supporting charities and social enterprises to grow sustainably.
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And the winner is…
Methodist Action NW
Lancashire has over 100,000 properties standing empty – 40,000 for over 6 months. In response, Methodist Action has delivered an Empty Properties Restoration Programme, working collaboratively with local authorities in Preston, South Ribble and Lancaster. It creates truly affordable, rented homes for anyone in acute housing need who encounter barriers through traditional housing routes.
Highly Commended – Furniture Matters
And the winner is…
Diane Marie Price at In Di Go
In Di Go’s vision is a society where all children and young people with a disability are able to realise their goals and aspirations, with a right to community inclusive activities and services which supports them and their families. The In Di Go team are dedicated and caring, and work together to produce the best possible outcomes for our disabled children, young people and their families. It is about working together, it takes a bit from everyone to make it work.
Highly Commended – Wonderful Things
And the winner is…
Pauline Taylor (Groundwork CLM)
Pauline Taylor is a Senior Ecological Officer and embodies everything Groundwork is all about because she changes places and changes lives. In her work and personal life, she has encouraged hundreds of people to take an active interest in appreciating and caring for their local environment.
Highly Commended – Green Elephant Cooperative
And the winner is…
Jobs, Friends & Houses
Training and improving the skill sets and wellbeing of team members underpins all that Jobs, Friends and Houses does. Every member of the organisation – from trainees in recovery to established and experienced tradesmen, and both serving police officers – takes part in training. From community certificates in customer service to BA Hons degrees in health and social care, our team members are improving their knowledge, practical skills and confidence in a variety of ways.
And the winner is…
Jane Booth (in Di Go)
Jane’s voluntary role has been a lifeline for her and she is going from strength to strength. It has been wonderful to watch Jane grow in confidence and self esteem and for her to go on and begin to believe in herself. Jane is a valued member of the In Di Go team.
And the winner is…
His Provision CIC
Originally established under the Start Up Lancashire programme, His Provision has rapidly grown to meet the needs of some of the most disadvantaged people in Blackpool. The two women behind it, Jackie and Chris, are just amazing. The social enterprise is an extension of the church-based work they were already doing, providing free meals and food parcels. However Chris and Jackie took it to a whole new level.
And the winner is…
Learning Together Northwest Ltd
Learning Together Northwest was set up as a social enterprise in August 2013 and delivers consultancy and training in all aspects of disability awareness, positive role models, positive group work, equality, language and labels, person centred approaches and self-advocacy. All trainers have learning difficulties and are experts in inclusive and person centred approaches, passionate about self-advocacy and great role models for society.
Highly Commended – A Place to Live
And the winner is…
Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd
Integrate has been in existence for 32 years. In that time we have continuously strived to innovate and deliver unique, meaningful services to those with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and autism. Despite the current economic climate we have continued to grow and now employ over 300 staff who support to over 160 individuals.
Highly Commended for SE of the Year – Groundwork CLM
And the winner is…
Steve Hodgkins
Steve founded Jobs, Friends & Houses CIC in May 2014 and was seconded, full-time, from Lancashire Constabulary to lead the enterprise. The CIC supports, empowers and employs people in recovery from addiction, offending, homelessness, mental health problems, long-term unemployment or family breakdown. Since its inception Jobs, Friends & Houses has grown from strength to strength. The company saw a £1million turnover its first operational year and today employs 35 paid staff and supports 15 volunteers.
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A NEW DAWN FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN LANCASHIRE
Lancashire has a new Champion of Social Enterprise in the form of recycling guru Dawn Welham.
The annual Selnet Enterprise In Society awards sees dozens of social enterprises from across the county competing in a host of categories and the highlight of the night is the announcement of our Social Enterprise Champion – the person who, in the judges view, has done the most to promote our sector in the last 12 months.
This year’s winner, Dawn, from Lancashire Community Recycling Network through her role at Leyland-based waste giants Global Renewables is able to link together a range of the county’s social enterprises that are involved in recycling.
The awards ceremony, staged at the impressive De Vere Hotel in Blackpool with more than 250 guests, was a good night for the community sector on the Fylde coast.
Blackpool-based rehabilitation centre, Spiral Health community interest company (cic) won Social Enterprise of the Year, a community initiative which involves Lancashire Police called Jobs, Friends and Houses cic won Start Up Social Enterprise of the Year and a new category this year, to highlight the role of business advisers, was scooped by Janet Fraser who is based in Lytham.
Social Enterprise – where the profits go back into the social good rather than to the directors – is thriving in Lancashire and its work is spearheaded by the Social Enterprise Lancashire Network, Selnet. Its chief executive, Liz Tapner, said:
“The Selnet Enterprise In Society awards are like no other. Every year, we see fantastic examples of ways in which social businesses are making a real difference to people’s lives in Lancashire.
Take the Enabling Ability award for example. Community Gateway Volunteer Drivers in Preston started with just one vehicle and now there is a fleet of cars out and about helping to break down people’s isolation.
We were also able to reward the excellent partnership between Lancashire County Council, the Care Foundation Trust and Advocacy Focus where the third sector is playing a key role in helping the public sector.
Other worthy winners on the night were Total Reuse from Skelmersdale, Diane Price and Integrate Preston and Chorley for their Woodhouse initiative.
This is now the fifth year of the awards, we had the highest amount of entries yet and the largest number of guests at the ceremony so I am very proud.”
The full list of winners and highly commended reads as follows:
Start-up Social Enterprise of the Year
Winner: Jobs, Friends and Houses CIC (Blackpool based)
Jobs, Friends and Houses CIC does what it says on the tin! We provide meaningful employment with training and qualifications, stable accommodation and positive peer support for individuals who were once in drug addiction or alcohol dependency. We enable them to sustain abstinent recovery. We inspire current individuals in addiction to aspire to become abstinent.
Highly Commended: Dig In (NW) CIC (Preston based)
Small Social Enterprise of the Year
Winner: Total Reuse CIC (Skelmersdale based)
Total Reuse is a community interest company based in West Lancashire but operating throughout the North West. It exists to find alternative uses for the things people throw away by finding them a new home or repairing, restoring, refurbishing or remanufacturing them into new products. It’s about making a difference to the environment and improving the health and wellbeing of the individuals and communities with whom it comes into contact. It gives people a choice: be part of the solution, rather than the problem.
Highly Commended: Spring into Action CIC (Pennine Lancashire based)
Enabling Ability Award
Winner: Community Gateway Volunteer Drivers (Preston based)
Community Gateway Association’s Gateway Tenants Committee decided a community minibus were a must for this new company. In 2006 staff were tasked with sourcing a vehicle that could be used for promotional purposes to transporting our local residents including those with disabilities. The first vehicle was delivered to CGA in Aug 2007, after getting off to a very slow start, which saw the minibus being used mainly for company business. By the start of 2007 that had changed with lots of community use, which has only grown since this time.
Highly Commended: Peter Cousins (Jnr) (Skelmersdale based)
Unsung Hero
Winner: Diane Price
Diane’s vision is a society where all children and young people with disabilities are able to realise their goals and aspirations, with a right to community inclusive activities and services which supports them and their families.
Diane says “It is about working together; it takes a bit from everyone to make it work. Tiny steps BIG differences”
Highly Commended: Ben Mathew (Blackpool based with UR Potential)
Business Adviser Of The Year
Winner: Janet Fraser (Lytham based)
Janet’s business background in setting up and running two successful small businesses in the 80’s and 00’s and in management roles in the public sector responsible for business development and innovation led her to become a business adviser. She is a CMI qualified social enterprise business adviser.
Highly Commended: Tony Carr (Blackpool based)
Most Effective Collaboration
Winner: Advocacy Focus, LCC & Lancs. Care Foundation Trust
Lead commissioners LCC and LCFT, together with Advocacy Focus has successfully led the establishment of an opt out system to maximise benefit for clients subject to the Mental Health Act. The partnership has been awarded an LGC Innovation in Commissioning Award in 2014 and is looking to develop a national toolkit to enable other authorities to replicate the service.
Highly Commended: Emmaus Preston
Environmental Champion of the Year
Winner: The Woodhouse (Integrate Preston & Chorley Ltd)
The woodhouse is a social enterprise run and managed by Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd.
It offers a wood recycling service to the construction industry and has a wood resource centre from which sales are made, it is open to everyone.
Landfilling biodegradable waste contributes to the emission of greenhouse gasses, is environmentally, socially and economically unsustainable. By diverting this waste from landfill we are removing it from the waste network and ensuring reuse and recycling instead of disposal, helping construction companies in reducing their environmental impacts.
Highly Commended: Total Reuse CIC
Social Enterprise Of The Year
Winner: Spiral Health CIC (Blackpool based)
Spiral Health provides the people of Lancashire and the Fylde Coast with two centres of excellence for rehabilitation, a stepping stone between hospital and home, where patients recover from accidents, illness or major surgery.
We help people ‘Get back upon their feet’
Lancashire’s Social Enterprise Champion 2014
Winner: Dawn Welham (LCRN)
Dawn has coordinated the Lancashire Community Recycling Network for 6 years. She facilitates essential bi-annual networking events for members, is a vital source of current and legislative information, marketing and publicity support, promotion online/via social media, fundraising and contract tendering expertise.
She works directly on projects that prevent resources being landfilled, provide training and employment for marginalised people and help secure sustainable revenue.
More photo’s will be added to this article in due course. For now the full photo album is available at :
www.dropbox.com/sh/zijdm33y1tzadxk/AADHbKbnZLVZUQlpsFBZmGnca
Selnet would like to thank everybody involved for making the 2014 Awards our best one yet!
We hope to see you again next year 🙂
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The Ribble Valley Business Awards (or RVs) is all about championing the people and enterprises that make Ribble Valley such a great place to live, work and visit.
This awards initiative – new for 2014 – is organised by the volunteer mentor team at Enterprising People – a project offering free, one-to-one mentoring support for local people and organisations with innovative ideas they want to make happen.
This first of what we hope will become an annual and prestigious part of the local business calendar will be officially launched for entries in July 2014, with the winners announced at a glittering awards ceremony at
NOMINATIONS WILL START ONLINE IN JULY.
To see a full list of awards and sponsors, please click here.
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A GLITTERING NIGHT FOR LANCASHIRE’S SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
Lancashire’s army of social entrepreneurs were out in force at the annual Selnet Enterprise in Society Awards 2013.
The glittering event was held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel at Clayton le Moors on December 5th and is one of the largest awards ceremonies for social enterprise in the country.
Hundreds of people from social businesses across Lancashire were vying for top position in categories such as Excellence in Training, Large Social Enterprise of the Year and the ultimate crown of being Lancashire’s Social Enterprise Champion 2013.
Now in its fourth year and building every year, the awards attracted support from key partners including Recycling Lives, Unity Bank, Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, The Key Fund and SENW.
The main winners on the night were:
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