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:
New Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Pennine LEAP
And the winners are… Spring into Action
Spring into Action provides services for people with disabilities and/or specialist needs, offering developmental opportunities for children, young people and adults to help them to fulfill their potential. Working in partnership with other service providers in Lancashire, we aim to enable each individual to achieve their capacity for independence, self-awareness and self-determination. Our services will fall under 5 areas of provision; leisure, volunteering, work opportunities, training and mentoring.
Small Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by SENW
And the winners are… Smart Kids Childcare
Smart Kids Childcare provides quality and flexible childcare and
education for children from age 3 months to 11 years. In 2009 based on an absolute calculated risk we made the huge decision to take on finance in order to sustain and grow the business from a small charity into a social enterprise providing a facility of excellence for children of Fulwood and Preston. The nursery now provides places for 106 children, previously 30 and our main source of funds is from trading income.
Large Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Key Fund
And the winners are… Bootstrap Enterprises
Bootstrap Enterprises, with offices in Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington and Rawtenstall, began in Blackburn in 1987, to provide advice, training and support to people intending to set up a business. Bootstrap is now the largest provider of “Welfare to Work” services in Pennine Lancashire with a staff of 130 employees.
In addition to delivering employment orientated advice and guidance Bootstrap manages other social enterprise services, Accountancy Services, Rebound 2nd hand books, Prestige Home Helps and Bootstrap in the Parks Day Service.
Environmental Champion of the Year
Sponsored by Recycling Lives
And the winners are… LESS
LESS is a Lancaster-based Community Interest Company established in 2007 to promote sustainable living. Starting with a single member of staff, we now employ ten people and work with over 50 volunteers to deliver food and energy projects. Our innovative projects are helping local people to reduce their carbon footprint, save money and lead healthier lives.
Excellence in Training
Presented by Richard Caulfield (VSNW)
And the winners are… Community Solutions North West
Community Solutions North West (CSNW) is a community based social enterprise. With 21 staff, 320 volunteers and 150 partner agencies, our services include Befriending, Food Bank, Training & Employability, Volunteer Management, Street Soccer Academy and Community RePaint East Lancashire. We specialise in identifying and offering a range of community support.
Most Effective Partnership
Sponsored by Unity Trust Bank
And the winners are… Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd
Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd was established in 1983 to provide supported housing for individuals with Learning Difficulties. We continue to do this and also support individuals with Mental Health problems, Physical Disabilities, Autism, Sensory Impairments and Dementia.
We have a long history in Social Enterprise and all of our SE’s have been established to provide better opportunities in life, and the employment market, for people with disabilities.
Volunteer of the Year
Presented by Liz Tapner (Selnet)
And the winner is… Emma Owen (Breathe Therapies)
Emma has been with Breathe for 2 years and has gone above and beyond with her input of time, effort and enthusiasm into her work. She has worked late into the night and met early mornings to deliver, organise and co-ordinate service user groups and services. She has spent hours putting volunteer rotas together and planning and delivering training (on a Saturday!). There are projects that would not have been delivered if it wasn’t for Emma’s dedication, commitment and patience. Above all she has made working fun and achievable.
Long Service Recognition
Selnet honoured a very special person for their lifelong contribution to the sector. The award was presented by Tony Carr of Social Enterprise Solutions who was last year’s Long Service Award winner.
Well done to Ann Marie Wrigley for her tireless work for the sector over the years. It’s a pleasure working with you and learning from you.
More than 25 years ago she co-founded a co-operative that sold Fairtrade goods and was an education centre. She then joined New Era Enterprises – a body that was set up by the local Trades Council – and activists in the Co-operative movement to develop local solutions as a way of improving the lives of people of Pennine Lancashire.
Among her many achievements, she has a degree in education, a masters degree in Social Enterprise, she’s an accredited business advisor and she was a founder of both Selnet – and Co-operatives North West. She continues to sit on a number of different Boards in the Third Sector, giving them the benefit of her experience and knowledge.
And last but certainly not least…
our 2013 Social Enterprise Champion
Lancashire’s new Social Enterprise Champion was named as Elizabeth Taylor, the chief executive at Blackburn-based Bootstrap Enterprises. She received the accolade from the outgoing champion, Peter Cousins MBE.
Elizabeth has been the senior manager at Bootstrap Enterprises since 1989. She has led the Charity to embrace Social Enterprise ideals and ethics to now provide advice, training and support to people and enterprises in their local area. The organisation also provides a series of linked activities around worklessness, training and personal development. As a specialist in welfare to work, Elizabeth provides representation for third sector sub-contractors at national level. A business adviser herself, Elizabeth’s work experience has covered worker cooperatives, social enterprise development and the management and delivery of welfare to work programmes.
Liz Tapner, chief executive at Selnet said:
“The awards are the highlight of the calendar for local social enterprises and I am delighted the evening went so well.”
“It is a great occasion to reflect on and reward the great work that is happening across Lancashire where firms are working to a social mission and reinvesting their profits back into the business or to a good cause.”
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