Introducing Digital Freedom 2023!

Selnet and Lancashire’s Digital Skills Partnership have secured funding through Lancashire County Council to support vulnerable residents aged 18 and above who are Digitally Excluded.

This project is gifting digital devices (tablets/laptops) with internet connection and skills support to enable Lancashire residents to engage with digital health services.

A combination of barriers that can be addressed in partnership;

Support eligible Lancashire individuals with no digital device by applying on their behalf.
Enable online access for Lancashire residents with no connection to the internet, or who are unable to afford a data package.
Provide support and training to make effective use of these resources including accessing information to save money, accessing health related information and services and to attend health related appointments.

Applications for organisations to be Distribution Partners are now open – For more information and to apply please complete the Partner Application form below and return this to yvette@selnet-uk.com as soon as possible.

Selnet’s role is securing and managing opportunities for funded work for social enterprises, so you can focus directly on your specialist work with disadvantaged people across Lancashire. For information about this project please send your enquiry to hello@selnet-uk.com.

Digital Freedom 50+ (archived)

In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, Selnet and the Lancashire Skills Hub secured funding from the Community Foundation for Lancashire, to provide digital devices and connectivity to disadvantaged over 50s in Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.

Over 40 organisations working with local residents applied and became Distribution Partners, who submitted applications for support on individual beneficiaries’ behalf. The funding for this project secured a limited number of devices for residents in every district in the County, ensuring residents across the 14 Lancashire districts could be supported.

At the end of 2020 the project team had allocated 510 devices for older people who had been digitally excluded, helping connect them with people and services during lockdowns.

Find out more about Lancashire’s Digital Skills Partnership and support available through Lancashire Libraries.

Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership was announced as the Winner of the Digital Leaders 100 Award in 2020.

Case Study

Click here to read feedback from a mature man whose life was transformed when he received a device and support from project partners

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Lancashire social enterprises celebrated and promoted for their phenomenal impacts and achievements!

The story from Twitter

And the winners are!

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

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

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

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

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!