To jump straight to a particular category, choose from the list below:
Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year
Social Entrepreneur of the Year
Social Enterprise of the Year
Social Enterprise Team of the Year
Social Enterprise Trainee of the Year
Social Enterprise Mentor of the Year
Young Social Entrepreneur
Sabrina Archbold
This entry should win because: This is a hard one obviously Sabrina is my daughter but she is a wonderful person who as goals and achieves them as far back as I can remember seabird as told me and others that god made her the way she is to help educate others, through this she as helped hundreds of disabled children and their families access their rights, but she is now about to make a major difference for all disabled young people through the Kids Aware programme.
Sabrina is truly an inspirations person the children call her their teacher on wheels, that really sums it up, even though the government refuse to allow disabled person sot teach children Sabrina as found a way to be available to do this and help others follow, she truly believes that children re not born discriminative it is something they are taught and by providing this programme which is a enterprise as well it I offering employment to their disabled persons, it is helping all children but mostly it is having an impact in making way for us all to live in an inclusive society.
Every day Sabrina as to battle the pain her body goes through to face discrimination to others being done and helps bring about positive changes, yet she never asks for anything in return, she is truly an inspirational person, and as her mother friend, I know she will continue her work and achieve her goals in life even though they are for others, this makes her happy each day she say to me every evening well ive been able to help someone e else today now I can go to bed knowing I have done good
Amy Carter
This entry should win because: Amy has faced many adversities since starting up her company Bespoke Experience, not least understanding the complexities of working in Mozambique, learning and working in a new language, surviving a near fatal car accident in which a close friend tragically died, overcoming the death from AIDS of their Mozambican right hand, funding the whole project and numerous other tasks. Nonetheless she has the determination and drive to succeed, and she is on a journey to change the way people view tourism whilst hoping to benefit tens of thousands of people, protect fragile environments and create life changing travel experiences. The local community of Guludo has a population of 1300. Life Expectancy is 37.8 years, and under-5 infant mortality is 29.5%. GBC employs 55 local staff, including 9 women. Between them, they support over 500 family members, with one-third villagers in Guludo itself supported by GBC salaries. Her impact on the local community where the first resort has been built is best summed up by the Chief of the village who said 'Before Bespoke arrived, everyone was hungry. Now no-one is hungry. Soon everyone is going to get really fat!'¯ Amy and the work she does is an inspiration and is an excellent example of a young social entrepreneur.
Sam Conniff
This entry should win because: Many companies talk about social enterprise and responsibility as something that'd be nice to do. Sam lives and breathes it. He wants to be profitable, to make money, to live well. But he wants to achieve this success through business ideas that inherently benefit the audience or the world at large.
Sam is also a marketing pioneer. He has won campaign awards for cutting edge guerrilla marketing, but has also raised the stakes by applying this creativity to socially responsible ideas.
His business vision has helped turn around the lives of numerous disadvantaged young people via Live Futures. Live Magazine was born out of a marketing brief to communicate to the young people of south London. But its success, led by Sam, created London's premiere youth-run publication which trains, educates and empowers young people and propels them towards training and employment opportunities. Live Futures Ltd, the non-profit company that runs Live Magazine, has grown substantially from its humble beginnings as a small community newsletter, to attracting public investment from local authorities and the European Union, and now looking to develop into Eastern Europe and the USA. The companies he has created have impacted positively on the community around them by involving and benefiting the local communities. Not only that, but through Livity his vision has been to persuade big companies like O2, Firetrap, and Sony PlayStation that they should invest in ideas that are socially responsible.
Coupled with an unswerving integrity and sense of personal and commercial responsibility on a local and national level I believe you are looking at a premium example of social entrepreneurship in action: a true innovator, inspiring his colleagues and clients, living his ideals, changing people's lives and facing a bright and successful future.
Rajeeb Dey
This entry should win because: Rajeeb has worked tirelessly since November 2003 to make his dream of establishing a national representative body for secondary students a reality. He began work on establishing the English Secondary Students Association (ESSA) whilst studying for his A-levels. This meant he had to juggle the demands of his A'level curriculum with networking, fundraising and advocating to ensure ESSA's successful development. He was able to find the financial and logistical support he needed to achieve his goal, and was not put off by the scale of the project.
In the pursuit of his goal Raj has made particular efforts to reach out to all sections of the education community that might be affected by the formation of a student association. This has included consultations with excluded students from deprived socio-economic backgrounds through to the leaders of national teaching unions and senior politicians. His ability to adapt his argument and communication skills to a wide range of audiences and exercise critical judgment under pressure make his leadership abilities particularly remarkable
Raj uses his natural charm, good manners and personal charisma to forward his cause but has not shirked from the long hours and hard work that have been needed to successfully establish a new and influential national organisation. He has also managed to balance a demanding academic curriculum with the most crucial and arduous phase of ESSA's development.
He is a young man of exceptional ability, being both intelligent and imaginative as well as honest, reliable and trustworthy. He is able to work efficiently either alone or as part of the team and has proved himself to be highly self-motivated as well as talented. His eagerness to learn and his ability to listen and to take advice when appropriate have earned him the respect of all those he has come in contact with.
Helen Distel
This entry should win because: Helen has never wanted to do anything other than promote language learning and be actively involved in its development.
Having set up The Language Company to do just that, her main focus is not only the service she provides, but also the way in which it is delivered to her clients. She is a peoples person¯ and concentrates on encouraging her clients to reach goals that they may once never have thought possible.
Helens drive and ambition within her work is coupled with a unique sensitivity to peoples needs and passion for languages.
She works extremely hard to ensure her company offers a personalised service that cannot be beaten. Despite having a team of linguists, she continues to play an active part in training courses and teaches French, German and English as a foreign language within business. She manages her team of linguists and designs courses in several languages, including Spanish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean for a number of businesses in Nottingham. Every course is different and is put together after Helen has met with the client and discussed aims, goals and objectives.
The recognition of an award would certainly mean the world to her.
Ailsa Holmes
This entry should win because: She is a one woman power house of ideas, determination and sheer guts. Nothing ever fails to deter her from her vsion of making the world a better place through art and environment. She inspires all around her from her Board of Directors to the youg offenders. She has convinced even the most hardened politician that green issues are important to everyone and has transformed areas of neglect into sculpture gardens the community can be proud of. Her vision for the future of pow wow is as a facilitator of eco building and education in Manchester. To work with communities to address social needs through respect for the environment - coming from me it sounds woolley - coming form Ailsa it is the best idea in the world - and that is why she deserves recognition.
Amran Hussain
This entry should win because: "Amran Hussain has given, and is still giving, an exceptional and ground-breaking service to others in his borough of Newham and other boroughs all over London. His services are all unpaid but especially selfless service to voluntary bodies and to his community. His work has surely brought distinction and quality to Newham life. His achievements are not from one area but of numerous different areas. He is a person that is admired, respected and looked up to, by the people that receive his selfless service. I believe it is time he should be rewarded for his noble work towards people in need and for making Newham a much better place to live in. Amran does not have a special target group for his voluntary work. He is prepared to provide his services to anyone who is in need and will benefit from his aid. Amran started off his voluntary work at his own school and went on to other schools in his borough until reaching out to other specialised institutions."¯ Evening Standard Newspaper.
"I wish to send my support for Amran's nomination for the Award. This young man has achieved more in his young years than most achieve in a lifetime by way of supporting his community. I am familiar with Amran's efforts to support his local and wider community. From a Mentoring Co-ordinator for both the hearing and the deaf, to a BSL and DBL interpreter, a befriending volunteer at The Royal London Hospital, interpreter for illiterate Bengali Newham residents, mobile Manicurist and Pedicurist (free for the elderly and disabled), Time Bank Volunteer, fund raiser and Reading Group facilitator, Amran has shown limitless dedication to providing support to others. Amran truly is an inspiration to all that meet him, especially those who benefit from his services. I am confident that he will be successful in all he puts his mind to. His voluntary community work is admirable, especially for such a young person. I have had the opportunity to read some of the supporting statements from the organisations that have benefited from Amran's work, and would like to contribute to this show of appreciation for his efforts and hard work in making a difference to so many peoples lives. I hope Amran is awarded recognition for his dedication to community involvement and would very much support his nomination for the Award."
(COUNCILLOR AYESHA CHOWDHURY, Beckton Ward, Chief Executive's Office, Newham Town Hall, East Ham)
"The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for the outstanding and innovative service you have provided to others in your school as Peer Mentor. It is very clear that your work is very much appreciated at your school; all the teachers are very proud of your effort to bring together the deaf community and the hearing community in your school.
The Prime Minister is very pleased to hear of your commitment towards your school and to your fellow students. Especially learning British Sign Language and Deaf and Blind Language to Mentor the deaf and blind students as well as the hearing. He wishes you the best of luck and hopes you carry on the outstanding work."
(Ms Katie Kay, Secretary to the Prime Minster, 10 Downing Street, May 2002)
Paul Jones
This entry should win because: Apart from his meteoric career rise in Newport Wastesavers, Paul has impressed his colleagues in the recycling field with his enthusiasm and energy from the moment he emerged from his volunteer status and was given a development role in 2002. .He has presented the recycling case in many conferences and seminars and understands very well what it takes to make a successful recycling operation. My only dilemma is whether to enter him for the Young Social Entrepreneur of the year or for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award category. I'll leave that to you
arif khan
This entry should win because: For my hard work and dedication working in my community and the wider community for the past 4 years. I also believe that it has made me a better person and has made a better community for me and other young people to live in.
Bryane Michael
This entry should win because: His business model is innovative, the idea of promoting international development by creating a "holding company" structure of companies and charities is innovative. So is "powering" the structure by inviting young professionals from all over the world to train to become directors and trustees (which the company does pro bono!).
Jonathan Robinson
This entry should win because: Jonathan is an inspiration and leader in social innovation. Time again he creates, re-invents and acts with passion in transforming ideas or problems into opportunities. He is a role model for others to learn from, and this is visible within his creation of 'habitats' both in the UK and abroad. His passion, interest and commitment to social progression, attracts others to reside and work with him, and this evident in the success of The Hub. The incubator space has overexceeded its expectations and is in overwelming demand by budding social entrepreneurs.
His experience is recognised and sort after by others worldwide, taking The Hub concept to an international level that will create another realm of learning and connections for social entrepreneurs worldwide. It is these attributes and skills that make a successful social entrepreneur - dedication and commitment, who should deserve recognition such as this award.
Tom Savage
This entry should win because: There is no doubting Tom's considerable entrepreneurial and business skills. He has founded highly-successful organisations (both for- and non-profit), won awards (including the 2005 United Nations SEED (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development) Award (the only person in Europe to do so), brings out the best in people to achieve amazing results on sometimes seriously restricted resources, and is able to spot market opportunities and quickly move in to exploit them.
It is 2003. John-George Bicky Manahira lives in a small village called Andavadoaka in the South-West of Madagascar. It is a small and extremely poor village, with its livelihood wholly reliant on fishing to provide its income. Bic, like all the men, is a fisherman. Over a number of years, Bic has noticed that the stocks of octopus - the main catch of the fisherman - are getting lower and lower. Sometimes he can't catch enough to feed his own family, let alone sell any to make money for other life essentials. He has noticed in his own lifetime the rapid deterioration of the ocean environment next to his village. He also sees his sons becoming disinterested in fishing and is worried that he won't be able to pass on the traditional fishing techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. With its complete dependence on fishing, Bic feels the village is dying.
It was in 2003 that Blue Ventures established its first conservation centre in the village and has been working with the local community to build up social, environmental and economic sustainability in the region ever since. Under Tom's management, the Blue Ventures team of up to thirty local and national staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly with the local community to introduce a marine conservation area, educate local communities and bring the region's plight to the international stage. They have helped preserve the traditional artisanal fishing techniques for future generations and are helping the community to diversify the economy and create opportunities through eco-tourism.
It is 2005. Bic is amazed to see the size and numbers of the octopi in the recently reopened fishing grounds in the conservation area. Now his family have plenty of food and he sells the large octopus at a good price. But these days there are new opportunities as well and Bic is considering offering fishing trips to the tourists who are now beginning to come to the area. He senses a new atmosphere in the village and, although still wary of the past, he feels much more secure about the village's, his family's and his own future.
But the story doesn't stop there. It's 2006. Other neighbouring villages get to hear of the success and now they want to take part and replicate the marine conservation areas all along the coast. Tom and his organisation embark on an ambitious programme to scale up across the region with the potential of affecting tens of thousands of people just like Bic and his family, and preserving some of the most beautiful and pristine marine environments in the world.
Tom and his team have used sound and innovative business practice to do an incredible amount for a region that would otherwise have gone un-noticed. It is hard to imagine a more worthy recipient of this award.
Bianca Todd
This entry should win because: She always gives her time without any thought of herself. Within the work the she carries out, she ensures that no young person is ever excluded, instead she works harder to ensure that their behaviour improves.
Like many who work with disadvantaged communities, their efforts often go unnoticed, so it would be a really positive for Bianca and those she works with to have what they have acheived formally acknowledged.
Heather Wilkinson
This entry should win because: Heather is an inspiration to other young entrepreneurs through her drive to make a positive impact on her peers and help them achieve their own enterprising ambitions. From identifying a gap in current support for young entrepreneurs, she set about forming Striding Out which aims to support them and be sustainable in its own right.
Over the last ten months she has committed full time to the design and development of Striding Out and has drawn on the support of over thirty people to make it happen. She has invested her own finance and resources into the enterprise and won Awards from Unltd and Kingston University in recognition for the work she has undertaken.
The impact of Striding Out is already taking shape, and young entrepreneurs in the network express the positive atmosphere and infrastructure that Striding Out generates through its activities. It has helped to combat isolation that self-employment can cause, and creates a safe and social environment for young entrepreneurs to make good connections and learn from each other in a fun but professional way. Peer to peer learning is an essential component for building strong relationships within the Striding Out concept.
Heather has ensured that the activities of the organization are divided across a range of areas. Heather continues to use her consultancy skills for undertaking research work with government, she uses her skills and knowledge to inspire young people in education, and she directly works with and supports her peers on a one to one basis.
Social Entrepreneur
Christopher Adams
This entry should win because: I believe that Chris Adams is a true Social Entrepreneur. I have known Chris for 9 years and watched him develop ideas into successful working projects. He has the Midas touch - everything I have seen him work on proves an overwhelming success. Chris is visionary - he will have an idea and drive it forward with enthusiasm, dedication and tireless effort. He is a great motivator of others and leads by example. When you are in his company you feel a surge of enthusiasm and the desire to excel in what you do.
The way in which Chris has developed RKdia has been truly exemplary. The Centre has provided services to over 2500 young people, accommodated 80 at risk young people and provided a facility for thirty community groups. Chris has raised funds through local/national grant makers including the Big Lottery/Comic Relief.
However I feel his greatest achievement has been the development of the Catering business at RKdia. From opening a Community Cafe/Conference Room in 2003 to launching an outside catering concern that has provided at 130 functions over the past year has been phenomenal to watch. The way in which Chris has encouraged and empowered others to adopt the RKdia vision has been so commendable and invigorating to see.
Chris has adapted the business as it has progressed often introducing new services/ideas and he recognises the need for change to achieve more.
In 2006-07 RKdia will gross £70,000 through the catering aspect a mammoth achievement.
Of all the people I have ever met I could not recommend a single individual more than Chris Adams. He is a person driven by the want to achieve for others but not for himself.
In conclusion I ask for Chris Adams to be merited with the acknowledgement and praise he so richly deserves.
Gillian Blake
This entry should win because: Last year Gillian was in the final shortlist of nominees for the Social Entrepreneur of the year. I am hopeful this year she will again be selected and recognised for her achievements. Gillian possesses the necessary qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur. Her Project has emerged from nothing. Its progress, success and development are purely down to Gillian's adept skills of developing partnerships as well as creatively using a range of business related skills. She was born to be a social entrepreneur and she exhibits all the skills of successful business people as well as a powerful desire for social change. Gillian has powerful ideas which she combines with visionary and real-life problem-solving creativity, she is determined to offer solutions and is 'totally possessed' by her vision for change. Gillian harnesses resources from all areas to ensure that her clients have the best opportunities possible. I know she owes a lot to Ebay and boot sales! Gillian is often asked to give presentations to other organisations that also want to make a difference to the lives of marginalized groups. She always does this willingly without paying attention to her sometimes dwindling energy levels. Gillian's passion for her work never wanes and she work tirelessly to bring about new opportunities and experiences for her clients. She has set up a job club at the project and works in partnership with Linked Employment staff to identify appropriate work opportunities and potential paid employment roles. Gillian is now involved in developing an evening club to enable her clients to meet other people in a social context and to offer trips to the local pub or cinema, something which very few people with learning difficulties can do without family support. Gillian is currently exploring grant bids to fund her new micro-social enterprise venture. The idea is to purchase a substantial die cutting machine to supply the local primary schools, children's nurseries and other voluntary organizations with art materials for displays, scrap books and card making. This small enterprise will provide her clients with a huge range of work skills development opportunities as well as the possibility of paid work. Gillian deserves to win this award in 2006 as she is a natural social entrepreneur who undoubtedly brings about enormous change for the benefit of her clients with learning difficulties.
Alex Bowen
This entry should win because: She never takes any credit for how valuable she is to the company, her staff and the excellent work we do. She is very modest and so hard working that she deserves some recognition.
Paul Crichton
This entry should win because: Paul developed and launched net-guide.co.uk, which has been given the RNIB "See it Right" award, and was shortlisted by the RNIB for a "Simply the Best" award in 2005.
The search engine has more than 6,000 visitors a month, and generates more than 20,000 page impressions a month.
Paul campaigned heavily with the RNIB and Tom Brake MP to promote the RNIB's campaign for good website design and net-guide even featured in an Early Day Motion about it in the house of Commons (http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=26997&SESSION=873).
Paul recently launched a new sponsorship programme to help support net-guide, and 50% of any income generated will be given to the RNIB.
Gordon D'Silva
This entry should win because: Since Gordon set up the charity ten years ago, over 8000 people have benefited from Training For Life programmes through a growing number of Prospect Centres in London. Prospect Centres are based in refurbished buildings that regenerate communities. They aim to improve the quality of peoples' lives by addressing employment, social, health, leisure, and sometimes the residential needs of local people. They provide long term unemployed people with the personal and vocational skills they need to get and keep a job, creating social enterprises that earn money for the charity and provide training and real work experience opportunities in real jobs.
The most ambitious and successful social enterprise is the renowned Hoxton Apprentice restaurant in Hackney. Since opening in 2004 it has been included in Harden's Best Restaurant Guide, voted as one of the top 320 restaurants in the UK by Tatlers Restaurant Guide, been selected as one of 50 Hot Restaurants in London by Time Out and has had numerous favourable reviews in national newspapers and magazines. It's a fantastic example of a social enterprise - successful, profitable and sustainable, providing benefits for the community and profits for the charity.
Prospect Centres and their social enterprises are now being developed nationally (and potentially internationally through a developing partnership in Italy) with Centres opening in Southwark and Dartmouth in the near future.
Gordon should win the Award as he has demonstrated all the attributes of a great social entrepreneur. Over a 10-year period he has developed 3 Prospect Centres in areas of high deprivation, with 2 more opening shortly. Through determination and resilience his vision has created successful social enterprises as part of a learning methodology. He has helped to regenerate communities by creating private and public sector partnerships that have delivered real and tangible benefits to all parties, not least those people most in need.
Jessie Douglas
This entry should win because: Jessie should win the award because she is passionate about her local community and because she has built so much of what she has done tragic losses in her own life. Her mother died when she was fourteen, she suffered the death of a still born baby before losing her 28 year old son in an accident. Two years after he was killed his best friend and his wife were also killed in a motorcyle accident leaving three children. Jessie has mourned deeply for all of these but most particularly for her son. In 1999 she came to work for the church to set up the Richmond Cafe. Niddrie has a poor reputation but Jessie believes in the good of her community and consequently still lives in the area. Her good reputation locally made a huge contribution to the cafe's success. Her ability to work with the local people, to inspire them and to motivate them all benefited the cafe. The cafe provides employment for two local people. It is more than a cafe. Twelve people volunteer on a regular basis enabling the project to run a food co-operative, nearly new stalls, a milk token scheme, lunch clubs, healthy eating initiatives and it is about to start its own furniture recycling project.
Richmond's Hope began in 2002 after a series of tragic deaths in the community which left young children bereaved. Jessie related what was happening to the children to her own experience and saw the need for them to have the opportunity to express their feelings. When,as minister, of the church I couldn't source any help for these children she worked to secure funding to set up Richmond's Hope. She brought passion to this venture as well. Along with myself she investigated all the other providers of bereavement care for children in England, Europe and the USA. She raised £300,000 to build a purpose built playroom within the church and for three years running costs. She has brought her skills in personnel and management to the project and ensured that there are able people to support it. Beyond all of this Jessie brings a wisdom gained from her own tragedies, a deep concern for other people and an unique ability to enthuse and motivate people. As a result of her optimism and commitment there are two projects which bring credit to an often maligned area and two projects which make real differences in people's lives. Jessie has infused both of the projects with her warmth and humour. I believe for these reasons she should win the award.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones
This entry should win because: I believe that anyone who is prepared to stick their neck out and 'tell it as it is' in the way that Wilfred has, deserves recognition. What he has to say is not always PC or particularly palatable, but in speaking the truth it allows people to move forward. Unlike many, Wilfred doesn't just 'talk the talk', he gets out there and makes things happen - the Scholarship is a perfect demonstration of this, and one that has sent ripples far and wide. Because of his own experience in fighting for everything he has achieved, his ability to mentor others and inspire them to achieve things beyond their wildest dreams is exceptional and one that I believe should be rewarded.
Michael Felse
This entry should win because: Mike Felse has spent significant years establishing Active Citizenship as the way forward for all volunteers. In just 3 years Mike has brought on board the biggest, proactive, respected, National Charity and Royal Charter holder in action learning and has developed The Individual Profile in Active Citizenship as the new award for community volunteering, social enterprises and corporate social responsibility.
Mike's vision started over 20 years ago when he helped redundant miners and unemployed youngsters to come to grips with the bad effects of coal mine closures. Mike began asking folk what they wanted for their community's future, discovering it is people power where answers would be found.
Taking the Active Citizenship message to Government Ministers he explained how young people in schools could go on to transform action into Active Citizenship (taking part) Awards. The success includes listening to what they want in the community, gaining recognition as good citizens, helping them applying for work or in starting their own business and defining who and what they are.
The award is also seen as adding value into neighbourhood management, regeneration participation and in identifying those who care about problems by getting sorted. Finding solutions is about taking part and here Mike is a vision and voice, taking Active Citizenship forward into social enterprise, corporate social responsibility and valuing volunteers. Launching Proud City Co-operative Mike has created the inspiring Active Citizenship Centre; signifying diverse contributions to society made by the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
Simon Fenton Jones
This entry should win because: I feel that Simon deserves to win this award due mainly to the fact that he is helping to generate new and genuine business opportunities for a sector of our London, and potentially national community, that traditionally find a large number of barriers being put into their employment pathway.
StreetShine through the direction and energy of Simon has suceeded in offering an accessible and realistic employment opportunity that not only employs the homeless but also offers them invaluable training and work place progression in a professional business environment.
To achieve our business aims it has been essential to forge positive relationships between both the corporate markets and the homeless charities, through Simons direction StreeShine has successfully achievd this by offering a service that fundamentally benefits both parties, The business world get to fulfil their need for Corporate Social responsibilities and also recieve a highly professional service; while the charities get positive employment outcomes for their funders and a move on culture amongst their own clients.
Simon with the help of his team have launched and developed a business model that incorporates all the values of helping the homeless gain employment with genuine salary expectations and the opportunity to stop receiving benefits and becoming financilly independent, some for the very first time.
Through the social enterprise model Simon feels that he is able to operate as a professional developing business while not losing the focus on his employees support needs and life progression goals.
Peter Harlow
This entry should win because: Peter should win this award because he has improved the lives of many people in developing countries through his work with One World is Enough, the Fair Trade business that he founded ten years ago, long before Fair Trade became fashionable.
Peter founded One World is Enough when he was spending a year travelling around Asia with his wife to be. He met lots of skilled tailors and craftspeople producing wonderful work and knew that there was a market for their work in the UK.
When he got home he began selling at local crafts market, then graduated via a small shop to become an internet based retailer and wholesaler. One World is Enough now has customers all over the World and is spreading the message of Fair Trade around the World.
One World is Enough works directly with 40 small family and community based producers in India, Nepal, Indonesia and Thailand. One World is Enough and itā€™s producers work in partnership, working together on new designs, using locally available materials, printing and production techniques. Peter spends a lot of Time travelling to Asia working with the existing network of producers and meeting new producers that wish to join One World is Enoughā€™s expanding network.
In the UK Peter is a local campaigner for Fair Trade. He was a founding member of the Cambridge Fair Trade Committee which managed to achieve Fair Trade City status for Cambridge.
Peter works in partnership with both suppliers and colleagues and empowers those around him by treating them with respect.
Sandra Horley
This entry should win because: Alongside Sandra's role as chief executive of Refuge, she is a committed campaigner and advocates internationally on behalf of abused women and children and lobbies for changes in policy in legislation. She has been key in developing the training of police, health, housing and social workers and was the first civilian woman to address the Association of Chief Police Officers. Last year, Sandra addressed a 900 strong British Forces audience in Cyprus at a domestic violence conference.
Sandra quickly recognised the power of the media and, since the 1980s, has lead numerous award-winning campaigns, working with high profile celebrities such as Sheryl Gascoigne and Ruby Wax and enlisting the support of companies such as Waterstones and The Body Shop. Early this year Sandra launched 'Refuges Don't Ignore It'. 'They Can't' campaign which highlights the impact of domestic violence on children - the silent witnesses of domestic violence. Sandra passionately believes that everyone has a responsibility to challenge domestic violence and in doing so protect children.
Sandra has published two books on the subject of domestic violence and has written numerous articles for the national press and professional journals. She is also frequently invited to give expert comment on domestic violence stories across the media spectrum.
Sandra's determination to effect change has led to her personal involvement in two high profile cases where women have been killed as a result of domestic violence. The Pemberton and Bernal cases (see notes below) have both highlighted serious failure by the system to protect women. Sandra is working with the families and vociferously campaigning for compulsory domestic violence training for police officers, the CPS and health workers in order to prevent more unnecessary deaths in the future.
Notes for information (excluded from word count)
In November 2003 Julia Pemberton was murdered by her estranged husband. He also killed their 16 year old son, Will. Refuge has been supporting the Pemberton family in its calls to the government for a full homicide review and an apology from Thames Valley Police, who repeatedly failed to answer Julia's pleas for help and ignored evidence of the threat Alan Pemberton was becoming to his family. A high-profile piece on Newsnight highlighted the failures of Thames Valley Police and put forward the argument that these murders were preventable. Sandra Horley put forward the case for the prosecution of Thames Valley Police on BBC's Newsnight.
Shamim Hossain
This entry should win because: Social enterprises provide a mechanism for bringing excluded group into the labour market, raising skill levels and increasing the chance of future employability. The realities of a 21st century economy mean that social and environmental issues should be increasingly viewed as commercial opportunities, and divers of business success, rather than as threats. I believe, to promote social enterprise as key component in the process of modernising and reforming our public services.
Social enterprises are dynamic, progressive business that we can all learn from. They experiment and innovate, and have the advantage of being able to draw upon best practice in the voluntary sector, as well as the entrepreneurial flair that exits in the best of our communities.
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Social enterprise can make a real contribution to our economy whilst also actively benefiting the communities and wider society in which we all live.
Objectives - My Social Enterprise:
Providing quality cleaning service.
Create Job opportunities for diverse community from on of the deprived areas of lBTH
Help to reduce long term employment.
Flexible working hours for people with child
Provide Capacity building, vocational Training
Provision for work experience scheme
Sustainable economy for the community.
Role model for communities.
I am currently working as a community development worker for Tower Hamlets Community Housing, which has given me extensive experience of many communities across Tower Hamlets and other parts of East London. I am able to relate to a wide range of people from very diverse backgrounds. People say 'Shamim has many entrepreneurial qualities - she is innovative, passionate, resourceful and flexible. In order to dedicate sufficient time to set-up this social enterprise¯ I am working 2/3 days per week, but do not take any salary from the business.
Craig Knights
This entry should win because: Craig has a very positive attitude and is full of ideas. He is passionate about Fairtrade and is a great ambassador for both Supplymasters and the whole Fairtrade movement.
Since Craig has been working with me, he has increased turnover from £110,000 to £230,000 with a projected turnover of £300,000 this year.
He has been nurturing good relationships with our existing and new suppliers making us very competitive in what is a very fast moving market.
Carmel McConnell
This entry should win because: Carmel is a formidable and inspirational force. Her drive and passion to use her skills to solve a social injustice should be bottled and sold. She cannot bear the thought of children living in the world's fourth richest economy not being able to have the right fuel for learning at the start of the school day. She has given up a profitable life in consultancy to get this problem solved in an innovative way and she asks nothing in return except that we give kids every opportunity to succeed. I have seen her touch so many lives and I'd like to see her be rewarded for her tremendous work.
Safia Minney
This entry should win because: Safia has dedicated her career to fulfill her vision of working with the most marginalized people in the world, enabling them to take control of their lives through trade. She has not been afraid to take on an industry notorious for its exploitation, realizing that the fashion has even greater potential to provide economic independence for people in the majority world than more traditional agricultural Fair Trade products.
Safia has persisted despite enormous barriers, refusing to allow challenging cash-flow (it is regularly necessary to provide 50% advance payments with orders, often nine months before sales revenue comes in), long lead-times on handmade clothes, and the fickle fashion world, to stand in the way of success. She has channeled her energy, ideas and drive into creating a collection that is not only stylish, breaking down the ethnic stereotypes of Fair Trade fashion, but also affordable, accessible and sustainable, benefiting thousands of individual producers, their families and their wider communities.
Safia is always looking for ways to extend Fair Trade's positive impact on the communities she works in. People Tree supports social development and environmental projects including funding two schools and a pre-nursery for hundreds of children who would otherwise not have access to education. People Tree also sponsors a representative for the National Garment Workers Federation, a major Union in Bangladesh, which campaigns for rights of the invisible sweatshop workers in Dhaka's garment industry.
Safia's conviction that Fair Trade offers the best solution to poverty, her passion and her dedication are infectious and inspirational. She has become an expert in her field, recognized by The Schwab Foundation as an Outstanding Social Entrepreneur, and presents on social enterprise at World Economic Forum events. She initiated World Fair Trade Day in 2002, endorsed by IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) to promote and campaign for Fair Trade internationally.
Jackie Nunns
This entry should win because: Since Kids' City's inception in 1995, Jackie has worked tirelessly to ensure the organisation benefits the community as widely as possible. While Kids' City's main business is running clubs for children, it is not only the children who benefit. Kids' City allows many parents - particularly single parents - the freedom to work or study which they did not have when they were tied to collecting their child at 3.30pm. Kids' City now offers 2,300 after-school club places each week making work and play easier for around 1,000 families in Lambeth - an area of high unemployment and deprivation.
Through its volunteering and training programmes Kids' City has helped countless people back into work and exciting new careers. Many of Kids' City's senior staff began as volunteers. One former Centre Manager is now training to be a clinical psychologist. These are just a few examples of how Jackie and Kids' City have made a real difference to people's lives.
Kids' City also runs Teenscene which provides sheltered work placements for teenagers in some of London's most deprived areas. These teenagers undertake paid work gaining valuable training and experience giving them enhanced self-esteem as well as a huge advantage in the job market.
Jackie has always realised that people have lives to live as well as work to do and her family-friendly policies won her a Daycare Trust Parents' Employer of Choice Award last year. All staff and volunteers receive free training and free or heavily subsidised childcare. Every year staff get to write their own job descriptions and this and many other policies means turnover of staff at Kids' City is 35% below the national average.
This year the charity changed its name from Trojans to Kids City as part of a massive expansion plan. Jackie hopes to open 300 after-school clubs by 2012, bringing the benefits of Kids' City to a much wider range of people.
Teresa Owen
This entry should win because: Teresa is passionate about fair trade and the benefits it can bring to everyone. She was frustrated at the way many fair trade businesses were being run; by well-meaning but inexperienced business owners who believed that products would sell just because they were fair trade, regardless of their quality or desirability. Fairwind has been trading for over five years and is now emerging as one of the leading fair trade gift retailers in the UK. She gave up a well paid job in the corporate world to develop this business because she wanted to show that fair trade means more than coffee and bananas, and really is a sustainable solution for third world poverty. Her business skills have helped to develop Fairwindā€™s professional approach to fair trade and customer service. And she is passionate about communicating the fair trade message to staff, customers and any one who will listen!!
Amanda Palmer-Roye
This entry should win because: Amanda embodies that rare combination of talents that makes a true social entrepreneur. She is both caring and empathetic, but she also has a keen business brain and a flair for PR. It was Amanda's determination that Eco-Actif's services should continue that inspired the creation of this soical enterprise. She has stellar record in achieving milestonesand has already received numerous accolades and awards. However, we feel she deserves this one too!
Pat Patel
This entry should win because: Pat should be recognised for bringing real entrepreneurial skills to a community project and developing it into a successful and sustainable business model. Pat has been innovative in his ideas and has worked all the way with the members of the organisation and in consultation with the wider community.
Pat has also been involved in mentoring other social enterprises and has brought a very clear business approach to the development of community organisations seeking sustainability.
Craig Paterson
This entry should win because: He took his business skills and created the most innovative and exciting new social activity seen for many years in Football Aid as a result of discovering that his son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The fundraising concept which has become a core component of the UK Professional football's core CSR activities reaches across the globe connecting fans with their dream and utilises funds to support charitable activities - including critical diabetes management and research activities.
Brilliant in its conception, the success and growth have been achieved by this one man's vision and determination within the toughest of business environments and has created something now envied and much copied across the corporate and voluntary sectors - but never equalled.
Simon Powell
This entry should win because: To come from a broken home and being a victim of domestic violence and using this subject matter for his firts film is a true accomplishment for a guy who was refused by the industry. To have the audacity to say "ok if they won't give me a chance then I'll create my own opportunities" in which he did...successfully.
Even to stiil be following his 10 year plan in which he began in 2001 by leaving the Health sector to pursue his dream is remarkable. 5 years in and he's set up his own organsition, made 2 films which have been selected for the Salford Film Festival and now runs workshops for those who aspire to set out on their own creative endeavours. Simon is currently in develolment for his firts feature film. This guy needs to be shown off and spoke to.
Carry Somers
This entry should win because: Carry strives to improve her producers' living and working conditions; empowering women through working principally with organisations of women producers; providing a new outlet for traditional skills; ensuring that products are sustainable through the reduction of chemicals and use of rainforest-friendly tagua nut buttons and supporting community development in rural areas.
The Ecuadorian panama hat industry has traditionally been dominated by middlemen at the expense of the weavers but Carry supports 400 women in the only panama co-operative. They receive excellent remuneration for their skills and profits are used for training, medical and funeral expenses, community development and pensions. Just as the commodities which were exploited by early colonists are now readily available as fair trade products - tea, coffee, sugar - so one of the ubiquitous symbols of colonial rule has a new life as a product created without the exploitation of the workers. Carry also supports a further 300 embroiderers, tailors, knitters and milliners in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Patrick Vernon
This entry should win because: It was his experience of mentoring and observation of young people and their families over a five year period that Patrick identified the issues which influence the social exclusion of black communities in deprived inner city areas: little knowledge of family history and absent fathers, cycle of unemployment and poverty, little family cohesion and respect between the different generation of family members, educational underachievement and school exclusion, poor image and perception of the black people and negative view of Africa, lack of awareness of cultural history and positive self esteem on achievement and success,anti social behaviour and impact of gun crime /gang culture.
Patrick should win because he has been:
- A positive role model and promoting Black achievement
- Challenging and advocating the role of cultural history in tacking social exclusion
- Supporting alternative perspectives on family history and genealogy
- Working towards better intergenerational communication between young and Older people in sharing experiences
- Helping Young people improve self esteem and supporting schools around cultural diversity and social inclusion
- Developing media campaigns e.g. Missing Generation Campaign (with the National Missing Person Helpline on the growing number of missing people from West Africa in Britain), 100 Great Black Britons Campaign, Caribbean Watch Campaign(Hurricane Ivan and Jeanne) and Black Gay achievers and Icons campaign
- Working around issues of cultural and Identity of young people of African Caribbean and mixed parentage identity around family history and links to Africa and wider diasporas communities.
Alestir Waller
This entry should win because: Alestir Waller has struggled to establish Media for All, from the outset setting as a mobile media training company, traveling to youth clubs around South London, each week to provide training to those who would not normally have the opportunity.
She has endured personal financial hardship, with earning no proper salary for most of the three years of operation.
Then after two years Media for All gained its own premises, then the hard work began to establishing a studio, production and post production facilities. But soon MFA opened to the community; local people can come to and make their own television productions. Alestir Waller had to, carved her production studio from a derelict part of a Peabody Trust building, with her bare hands and that of a few volunteers. Alestir has forged partnership agreements to ensure the future of Media for All and now has partnerships with the Peabody Trust, BBC and Defjam records and Sky Community Channel.
Media for All is a creative social enterprise which has the opportunity to create an inner-city production facility that will serve the community. Her passion and desire is to firmly establish the first community television studio, where people from low incomes, BME and the disabled can have the same opportunity to enter the field of broadcasting as their more fortunate counterparts.
Alestir readdresses the balance and creates media opportunities for many young people in South London. Media for All provides hope, encourages creativity and endless possibilities.
Mel Young
This entry should win because: As co-founder and Chairman of The Homeless World Cup Mel has created a global street soccer tournament, uniting teams of homeless people from around the globe, a forum where 74% of players change their lives forever.
It enjoyed huge success in Austria 2003, Sweden 2004 and Edinburgh in July 2005. South Africa hosts the 2006 Homeless World Cup. Support comes from Nike, UEFA and the United Nations. Several world-class football teams support homeless World Cup teams. England is supported and coached by Manchester United and Spain has links with Real Madrid.
By providing excluded people with access to football the Homeless World Cup creates the feeling of belonging; the challenge of integration and working in a team; the opportunity to regain a health-oriented attitude towards life; self esteem and the experience of fun. This powerful environment has already supported, encouraged and enabled tens of thousands of people to transform their lives. The 2004 Homeless World Cup Impact Report found that over 90% of players said it had a positive impact on their lives with 74% making significant changes to their lives as a direct result. Many find regular employment, come off drugs and alcohol, pursue education, improve their housing, and 16 players have taken up playing or coaching positions for semi-professional and professional football clubs.
The Homeless World Cup is also incredibly transformative for the spectators and the media as they witness and experience the courage, determination, spirit and unity of the players changing their lives for the better right in front of their eyes. The perception of homeless people shifts and some of the barriers of fear and misunderstanding that add to social exclusion are dissolved.
As a result, The Homeless World Cup has demonstrated that sport has a major, positive social impact on homelessness and opened up a whole new approach to social exclusion.
Social Enterprise
Acme Studios
This entry should win because: 2006 has seen the culmination of many years of hard work for Acme Studios: building 50 permanent and affordable artistsā€™ studios with property developers Barratt at The Galleria in Peckham, London, and working with Southwark Council and the South London Gallery to create a residency for a Peckham artist to work with the local community.
As part of a larger mixed-use development which includes private and affordable residential apartments, The Galleria is a working example of planning gain partnerships between artists, housing developers, local authorities and communities. To focus on the community, Acme is offering a one-year studio residency and bursary of Ā£10,000 for an artist resident in Peckham, in partnership with the London Borough of Southwark.
The residency is an opportunity for an artist involved in socially engaged practice, to develop significant relationships with cultural agencies and communities in the borough. It is also a financial breathing-space, allowing the artist to focus on the development of their practice.
The residency is supported by three key agencies: Acme, the local authority and the South London Gallery. Acme aims to nurture and extend the relationship between the artist, their work and the wider community, to achieve publicly visible outcomes at the end of the programme, which in turn encourages greater participation in arts practice.
Acme recognises that finding affordable studio space for artists is such a big problem, it can only be solved in partnership with property developers, the government and local authorities. Art and artists have a vital role to play in sustaining diverse communities and helping them grow in a way which is inclusive, accessible and creative.
Acme is always looking for new opportunities to create long-term affordable studio space and hope to develop similar schemes elsewhere in the future.
Ashton Community Trust
This entry should win because: The Trust operates at the frontline of community development in an area not only devastated by the deleterious effects of poverty but also civil conflict where in one square mile of its focal centre over 640 people were killed and over 2,500 injured. The organisation has not only survived during the most traumatic of times but developed into a social enterprise confident of sustainability and growth that can be used as a template by others seeking to establish social enterprises in areas of high deprivation levels. The Ashton Centre, the nucleus of the Trust, was built with the direct help of local people through a share issue and grant aid and loans from the government and the I.F.I. (International Fund for Ireland) which have been paid back. It has 400+ local people as shareholders. The successes of the Trust are in the main that it has graphically illustrated that a locally based entity can handle relatively large amounts of finance well and give hope to local people that positive change is achievable if people are prepared to work together.
Other successes have been:
- Track record of good delivery and evaluation of quality projects.
- Establishment of effective and efficient structures.
- Community spirit and willingness to take action to address problems.
- Network of support for local people.
- Commitment to engaging with and helping other areas
- Strong ethos of community self-help.
- Willingness to engage in collaborative work.
- Tenacity, innate optimism and vision of change.
The organisation sincerely believes that the key to sustainable regeneration in deprived inner city areas, is the adoption of the policy that,
'There are no failures just different levels of success'.
Every intervention and every process no matter how minimal will have a positive effect. The Trust always maintains that the community sector should always work to the premise: what if it did not exist, at what level of deprivation and disadvantage would the district be? The Ashton Community Trust works at the 'frontline' of community development and capacity building and these endeavours will continue no matter what the circumstances or barriers.
Asset Secure
This entry should win because: Asset Secure should win because it encompasses all aspects of our communities and enables them to effectively manage their work and play areas without the fear of litigation.
This frees up management time and allows charities, businesses and associations to concentrate on their core remit instead of worrying about the next lawsuit or if their work methods will harm anyone.
The system is backed by a qualification from the British Safety Council Awards and offers a route to reduced insurance premiums for all businesses that use the product.
I think this makes it social and highly enterprising.
Black UK Online Dot Com
This entry should win because: The needs of Britain's diverse communities are not being exposed or met sufficiently through media provision. Readership changes are not being addressed. Market shifts are not being realised. Players in the market are not realising or addressing diversity. Demographic changes are adding to complexity of reaching markets in addition to the rising costs of distribution and circulation (Source: Office of National Statistics 2003). We are addressing these issues.
Our website is gaining considerable support from the communities we serve. It currently receives over 100,000 unique visitors each month. We are working closely with a wide variety of groups, local authorities, police authorities, fostering & adoption teams and corporate organisations to achieve our long-term goal of becoming a leading source of news and information for Britain's mixed, black and Asian communities.
The Keep the Faith magazine is not reliant on distribution through the traditional outlets. It is distributed free via our unique database to faith, church and community groups, thus penetrating the market at source. It is read by over 200,000 people each month from all backgrounds and ages. The team writes all the editorial content. We do not carry news from other publications. Our news and information is not dated. We are non-political.
The team's determination and perseverance for the past 30 months, without any form of funding has resulted in publications and contributions to the community being recognised. We have been finalists in a number of major awards since launching in 2003 for community impact, best use of teleworking, best new small business and contributions to the community. We were finalists in Running the Gauntlet competition 2005.
The rewards for achieving our goals and objectives will not only result in us becoming financially self sufficient, we will also be able to offer the local and national communities we serve training, employment and career opportunities.
Blunsdon Village Shop Association
This entry should win because: We are coming up to our third anniversary of trading. We quickly became the hub of village life and even the environment has benefit
ted as people don't need to drive to a supermarket several miles away.
There are other hidden benefits too; The shop has given local people the opportunity to sell their home made produce and earn a small income.
We beleive we should win the award as an example of how a few people can have a simple idea, gain support of others and make it happen. Yes it was hard work, and yes our families regarded us as strangers at times, and yes we would do it all over again!!
Bryson Charitable Group
This entry should win because: Since founding in 1906, BCG has remained true to its aim of responding to unmet need of the most deprived in society. In its 100th year, BCG continues to develop new and innovative programmes that address its challenging agenda for social change, supporting the most vulnerable. Models of social economy best-practice are hard to find, particularly so in N.I. and BCG not only provides confidence to other wishing to follow this route but shares its experience openly with new entrants. As an Enterprise BCG is making a difference; care programmes such as Family Supports, Domiciliary Care, Home from Hospital and Personal Advocacy Liaison, address the needs of more than 15,000 people every year, as a leader in action for sustainable development its energy advice service assists 50,000+ people annually and its schools education programmes which focus on waste minimisation and renewable energy, involved over 500 primary schools and 60,000 children last year.
The huge success of Bryson Recycling, a joint venture with UK partner ECT ā€“ emerged from a modest aluminium can recycling business to become the largest recycling collection service in Northern Ireland and second in the UK provides a collection service to 200,000 homes, created 100+ jobs and contributed development funds for pursuing social change. This demonstrates how BCG makes a difference by being entrepreneurial and embracing the social enterprise model.
The BCG impact in N.I. has grown dramatically over the last twenty years. Every year the Group helps over 400,000 people in some of Northern Irelandā€™s most socially deprived areas. The whole Group recently achieved full Investors in People accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to supporting staff and providing quality services. It is well on the way to achieving EFQM accreditation through its quality assurance programme Journey to Excellence and has been recognised regionally/nationally as a pathfinder social enterprise.
Bulky Bob's
This entry should win because: Bulky Bob's deserves to win this award because we have created fantastic, viable business solutions to both environmental and social issues. We deliver excellent customer service both to our customers and to our stakeholders. We have managed to get Local Authorities to re-think their recycling strategies. We enthusiastically support other social enterprises in the re-use and recycling supply chain, for example, Create who repair the white goods that we deliver to them. We sell the furniture that we restore and recycle in our High Street shop Revive. This makes sure that low-income households have access to some great furniture at low prices. The public gains a feel-good factor through using the Bulky Bob service, as they know that their old items of furniture are going to low-income families whilst doing their bit for the environment.
Underpinning all of our services is the fantastic training and employment opportunities that we provide for the long-term unemployed. We give the long-term unemployed a career entry into the Logistics Industry. Each trainee on average gains five qualifications during the time with the company and 70% have gone on to another job. We are also committed to reducing our impact on the environment and from 2006/07 all of our trucks will be bio-diesel.
Candies Cuisine Ltd
This entry should win because: Candies have demonstrated that they can operate a sustainable commercially focussed social enterprise which adheres unfailingly to their key social aims and objectives.
They have created 22 real jobs in an 18 month period for clients, some of whom have profound learning or physical disability.
In the summer of this year they successfully tendered for and won the contract to provide full in house catering facilities for Falcon Catering, a kitchen equipment manufacturer with 250 employees. This contract means that Candies will be able to trade independently of any need for public sector funding from approx June/July 2006.
Chrysalis Youth and Community Project Ltd
This entry should win because: From its humble beginnings working in a 1 bedroom flat, with 1 full time worker on a council estate in Castleford, the Project has developed an innovative and succesful Project on derelict land on the estate, which consists of 3 Social Enterprises and an Education Centre. Within 5 years the Project as increased its assets from nothing to over £1.5 million and its staffing levels from 1 full time worker to 15 full time workers. Its innovative and entrepreneurial leadership and style has mentored other community organisations across the UK and Europe. Recent recognition includes the West Yorkshire Social Enterprise of the Year 2005 and The BURA Charitable Trust Award 2005 for regeneration and best practice. Driven by a Board of forward thinking Directors from the local community and a dedicated staff team, the Project is an inspiration to community regeneration across the country.
Community Cleaning Services Ltd
This entry should win because: Community Cleaning Services (CCS) is an ethically practice business, creating solution to social and environmental problem. The people in the organisation are passionate and driven to achieve social changes through new ways of working with the community. Identifying what works and what does not work. I have dedicated a large part of my life to help improve lives and welfare of people in our community. My aim is work closely with other organisation to crate a distinctive social enterprise culture within the business that is inclusive and culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse
The main ways in which CCS like to help people is to bring hope and give chances in life. The idea of helping people is to empowering and provides capacity builds programme.To enable them to gain confidences and becoming independent person on their own right.
The main beneficiaries of this Social Enterprise, working to help those in the community are Black Minority Ethnic Groups, especially Bengali Women, people with disabilities, young people, the elderly, unemployed and people on low income.
Training is a heart of CCS's core value. CCS is employing people who thought they will never get a job because the language barriers, lack of skills and knowledge and cultural orientation.
CCS wants to be a listening employer and services providers who is working together to achieve greater success in which we believe. Providing high quality customer focused services which is good value for money.
Create UK
This entry should win because: 55% of our workforce come from the Speke Garston area, second most socially deprived area in the UK. So far, about 200 people into full time sustainable employment.
We recycle or reuse 1500 used goods every week.
Every week we donate Ā£500 of products to people in real hardship, referred by Social Services and other agencies. We also supply social landlords, housing associations and other charitable organisations.
We have moved to being financially sustainable, with grant funding only for specific growth and development projects.
Creggan Enterprises
This entry should win because: We believe we should win this award because the Creggan Enterprises story deserves to be shared with others seeking enterprising solutions to rebuild and re-energise their communities through local ownership structures. Over the last ten years, through the work of Creggan Enterprises the local community has seen a number of extraordinary developments and initiatives and it has made a substantial contribution to the local community by levering in excess of Ā£9m investment, helped establish some 32 businesses/projects resulting in 192 jobs, established Thumb Print, a pathways to employment programme, that targets those individuals most excluded from the labour market find ways back to re-engage with the local labour market, established the Rath Mor 50+ Club as an independent older people's group that combats social isolation of the elderly, and allocated £90,000 of surplus profits to local projects, charities and groups within an urban neighbourhood setting that has suffered as a result of 35 years of conflict, industrial and urban decline. The Creggan area is recognised by government as one of the most deprived regions within Northern Ireland and Britain.
Cwmni Tref Caernarfon
This entry should win because: Since the trust began it has assumed increasing responsibility for establishing and implementing numerous projects and schemes within the local community inlcuding:
* Property development: Cwmni Tref Caernarfon has renovated and refurbished over twenty neglected and vacant properties in the town, which are now occupied by tenants. These units currently provide employment space for 86 people.
* It provides provides a range of classes in performing, dance and rock music for children and young people through its Arts Project (known as 'SBARC!'). The project, now in its sixth year, has become increasingly popular with over 200 local people taking part.
* The development of 'Galeri' has meant increasing the staffing levels of the company from a total of three persons at the end of 2002 to over 19 full time employees and 36 part time employees today. The range of new jobs has included marketing, theatre programming, theatre management, business development and finance and arts development. Galeri has also provided workspace units for 14 creative organisations.
* Caernarfon did not have a cinema or live entertainment venue for over 20 years until Galeri opened in March 2005.
Cycle Training UK
This entry should win because: A huge number of adults never learned to cyle in younger age. Many do not feel safe in an urban environment and our way of training allows them to finally find the confidence they need to learn and/or to cycle regularly. We have helped break this cycle. We have been promoting cycling in greater London and around the country for over 7 years. In our recent 'Cycle Training Works' survey, we asked our trainees how the training had affected their cycle use. 81% said that they now cycled more often and more confidently.We are a worker's co-operative; our employees own our company and as a not-for-profit organisation we do not have shareholders. All profits after wages are fed back into the company so that we can develop and improve our services and promote cycling.We have made a major contribution to the development of the National Standards for Cycle Training. These standards allow to train children and adult in realistic conditions. Our training has proved so succesfull that we now train instructors around the country. We have been pressuring local authorities to fund cycle training and to provide National Standard cycle training. Currently the majority of London boroughs employ National Standards cycling instructors.
ECT Group
This entry should win because: ECT is a fantastic example of a successful business delivering lasting social and environmental change. It is being nominated for the Social Enterprise of the Year award to recognise its overall success, as well as its recent achievements.
The group has risen to the challenge of being recognised as a credible alternative provider of public services, differentiating itself and its offer from private sector companies and local authority in-house service providers. This has not been an easy task and ECT has made tremendous progress in breaking new ground and paving the way for other social enterprises in the future.
ECT's strategy is one of growth and diversification and through this the organisation is enabling more communities to benefit from services delivered through the social enterprise model. ECT now provides community transport, community rail, and a London bus route, and delivers integrated waste management services, engineering services, and health care
ECT Group strives to be the best it can possibly be. It constantly benchmarks its services against the best in each industry, and fosters innovation and creativity in its approach to service solutions.
Partnership working is also crucial to the organisation. The group recognises the value in listening to, and working with, others to combine strengths and experience. ECT Group works with community groups, local authorities and commercial organisations, as well as other social enterprises, across the UK, to ensure the best blend of skills in all areas.
As their recent diversification demonstrates (ECT recently opened London's first nurse-led social enterprise health practice) there is a dedication, from the bottom to the top of the organisation, to spreading quality community service-provision as far as possible. This distinctive vision, combined with its commitment to the triple bottom line, really does set the ECT Group apart, and deserves the recognition of an Upstart Award.
Emmaus Gloucester
This entry should win because: Emmaus Gloucester has worked very hard to make its Community of previously homeless people into a successful social enterprise. Their business turnover is rising steadily due to the determination and commitment of the residents, staff and volunteers. Like all the best ideas, Emmaus Gloucester is based on a very simple premise; take people off the streets and give them meaningful work using a product that is unwanted by others and a safe place to live. The idea may be simple, but the effect on peoples'lives is much more complex. Not only are the men and women who live in the Community able to work on behalf of themselves and others, but the training, which ranges from specific skills such as carpentry or house clearance, to the 'softer' skills such as learning to live and work with others, ensures that the residents are equipped to move on with their lives. From the proceeds of broken down wardrobes and old bikes, Emmaus residents regain their dignity and sense of purpose, they help others even more needy than themselves, their recycling activities help to protect the environment, they provide a useful service to the wider community as a recycling service and a source of good quality, affordable furniture for low income families. As an organisation in the business of changing lives there are few as effective.
Energy4All
This entry should win because: Energy4All is a ground breaking social enterprise demonstrating that green energy generation, profit generating co-operatives and carbon mitigation can go hand in hand.
The team at Energy4All is consulted daily by groups around the UK, provides free information and has built a nationwide portfolio of renewable energy projects despite limited resources and working in a complex industry dominated by multinationals.
Energy4All is regularly consulted by official and unofficial bodies wanting practical advice on community ownership schemes as the UK lags far behind our European counterparts for social enterprises in the energy sector.
Energy4All has negotiated arrangements with selected developers to offer a share in their sites to the local community. In Scotland Energy4All is working on 7 sites including Boyndie Wind Farm Co-op, the first Scottish wind co-op, which will launch in May 2006. In England E4All is working in the Fens, Cumbria and in Bedfordshire for the community to own turbines on the wind farms and in Wales, negotiations are in hand with two developers to offer community involvement in new sites.
In addition to working with commercial developers Energy4All has enabled the Findhorn Foundation to finance plans to make their community self-sufficient in electricity and is assisting many other schemes through the early phases of development such as the Beech Farm scheme in Devon.
This year Energy4All will facilitate the development of three new renewable energy co-operatives as well as assist many more communities and organisations wishing to do their bit to reduce carbon emissions. Energy4All has achieved a leading position and built a portfolio of projects largely without grant support being funded by Baywind Energy Co-operative, a small amount of consultancy work and the goodwill of some of its employees in working for little reward plus support from the wider co-operative movement.
Energy4All launched a £3.75m public share offer for Westmill Wind Farm Co-op in Oxfordshire after gaining FSA-approval, the first IPS to do so under the new regulations. Westmill Co-op will be the largest community owned renewable energy scheme in the UK and the first onshore wind farm in the South East proving what can be achieved through effective co-operation and a desire to make a difference.
Fairwind
This entry should win because: Fairwind has been trading for over five years and is now emerging as one of the leading fair trade gift retailers in the UK. The owners, Teresa Owen and Martin Abel, gave up prosperous lives in the corporate world to develop this business. They always wanted to show that fair trade means more than coffee and bananas, and really is a sustainable solution for third world poverty. In spite of the problems on the High Street, they have managed to grow their business whilst maintaining their fair trade and ethical credentials. Their professional approach to fair trade and their desire to make their customers happy have created a loyal customer base in North London, and now around the UK as a result of their website. They hope to lead the way in demonstrating that fair trade is a sustainable, long term way of doing business for all organisations.
Fairwind employs mainly young, local staff to work in the shop and hopes to increase the number of staff as the website side of the business grows. Staff are taught about the benefits of fair trade, where Fairwindā€™s products come from and how they are made, and are given lots of responsibility to help them develop personally.
FareShare
This entry should win because: Recent research clearly indicates that poverty in the UK has not deepened but broadened, encompassing many more people:
In the UK 6.7 million people are affected by low income and over 4 million people cannot afford a healthy diet in the UK. The benefits of a healthy diet are well documented and research has suggested that the fresh fruit consumption of a large family on low income is the equivalent of Ā¼ apple per day. Coronary heart disease rates, diabetes and other diet related diseases are on the increase, especially in areas of high poverty.
At the same time, management of waste is one of the biggest challenges facing society in this new century as traditional landfill sites are rapidly being used up and not replaced.
The food sector accounts for over a third of the waste going to landfill in the UK (an estimated 17 million tonnes). Some research estimates that up to 3.8 million tonnes of this could have the potential for recovery and consumption by humans or animals.
FareShare is the only organisation equipped to tackle all of these issues on a national scale and is in a unique position to provide the food industry with a business-led solution to the challenge of waste and, at the same time, make a difference to thousands of people's lives everyday.
Last year 2,000 tonnes of food were saved from being wasted, helping business reduce C02 emissions by 13,000 tonnes. This food was then redistributed, along with other food related support services, to a community food network of 250 organisations. It contributed to over 3.3 million meals to 12,000 disadvantaged people each day in 34 cities and towns across the UK.
As well as also providing 250 work and volunteers placements last year, £5 million was saved by the network of local charities, which was reinvested into the community.
Fifteen
This entry should win because: We have a successful business model - in profit within three years of launch.
We consistently succeed in graduating highly motivated and skilled young chefs who get jobs in the best restaurants in the world.
We have successfully replicated the model in Amsterdam and next year will open two more, one in Cornwall and one in Melbourne.
We are a well run, ambitious, successful and growing global social enterprise brand.
FOCUS TO WORK
This entry should win because: We believe our extensive achievements over a short period, speak for themselves.
Since April 2003 we have:
1) Created in excess of 150 jobs for those identified as disadvantaged in the labour market.
2) Developed three separate social enterprises: A chain of restaurants, a construction company and a training company ā€“ all operating as commercial ventures
3) Over 500 individuals have received vocational training, motivation and confidence building courses and mentoring from Solutions Employment and Training.
4) We have worked with over 150 ex-offenders including some of the most persistent offenders and progressed over 40 into secure employment and 120 into vocational training with a re-offending rate of only 3%.
5) We have completed a 3 year Job Centre Plus Co-finance project two years early with a 96% success rate. This contract has now been extended to enable us to assist another 20 individuals. Another 26 jobs have been secured, mainly for individuals previously on Incapacity Benefits.
6) Social Firms UK are supporting the dissemination of the model of business used for Impressions Restaurants
7) We are developing a Construction Skills Centre with MHS Homes and North West Kent College in Rochester.
8) We have won a new contract in partnership with key organisations such as Sunlight Development Trust, Kent Association for the Blind, Kent County Council and Blackthorn Trust to deliver training and employment opportunities to those in Kent aged 16-21 with a learning or physical disability.
9) SRB funding has been won towards a new Impressions CafƩ/Restaurant recently opened in Folkestone.
10) In we have opened a community cafƩ at The Willow Centre in Ashford providing employment opportunities for people in that deprived area.
11) We were the first recipients of Local Investment Funding (LIF) a partnership between SEEDA and Financial Institutions.
12) Two ticks disability Symbol awarded by Jobcentre Plus.
It is clear from these achievements that we are turning our vision into reality for hundreds of people.
Forth Sector
This entry should win because: The common thread that links our support services is the expectation that they can make a positive contribution to the skills, aspirations, employability and emotional well-being of people who have experienced problems with their mental health.
In evaluating the benefits of our support services, Forth Sector found that people reported:
Increased self-confidence
Improved concentration
Ability to cope with and manage stress
Reduced isolation and better relationships
A sense of purpose and direction
Renewed optimism regarding employment prospects
Freeport Records
This entry should win because: London Urban Collective is unique as it provides a complete experience of the music industry food chain from end to end for thirty people at a time. It's unique because it's a pure example of independent business strategy applied to community outreach to achieve sustainable social change. It's unique because it actually releases the end product into the market and provides its students with something tangible that anyone can review, applaud, criticize and buy. Finally the Urban Collective formula is a proven model that can be transposed to any city world wide with powerful and positive effects on its participants and the wider community.
Green Dreams
This entry should win because: Green Dreams started just 3 years ago and it's growth is impressive (a turn over or Ā£0- Ā£1/2M in 3 years). It is highly professional and delivers top quality landscapes in a competitive market. Customers include the Primary Care Trust, Social Landlords and private gardens. Its USP is that it creates more than landscapes and parks; it creates community cohesion and financial and social wealth locally. The employees and trainees are almost all local to Bromley by Bow. The training programme takes 10 trainees every 12 weeks. They are teenagers who have left school without qualifications and they are more suited to landscape design and build than to learning in the classroom. The results are impressive. This age and social group are very hard to engage with and retain on training programmes. The drop out rate is almost 0 and most go from the course into work or back into education. Another benefit is that the team and trainees are from different ethnic backgrounds. The Bromley by Bow Centre youth project struggles to get Asian and White young people to mix socially but through the training programme it achieves this. Many are Bengali and landscape design and build is not something traditionally practised in this community. The local council struggles to recruit Bengali's to work in parks. The small team of 8 work very hard and are dedicated to Green Dreams.
Green Estate Ltd
This entry should win because: Green Estate is an example of a successful enterprise delivering social, environmental and financial benefits in a disadvantaged area. It does this by turning the areas liabilities into assets, using alternative and imaginative approaches to services that no-one wants to pay for. Namely green space management.
Using the principles of making the most of what you have, building on your successes and learning from you mistakes has resulted in a thriving, sustainable enterprise.
Green Estate empower the local community through employment, training, and involvement in productive activities in the area.
It manages a string of successful enterprises ranging from Tree Nursery, Green Waste composting, seed production and sales through to school educational visits, catering services and a high quality cafƩ.
These all tie in with the core activities of Productive Land Management and complement each other providing an efficient use of resources and maximising income.
Green Estate is a success story worthy or recognition in an area that is trying to shake off the image of past mistakes. For this reason Green Estate deserves consideration for this award.
Green-Works
This entry should win because: Green-Works offer a one-stop service to its members, to remove all their unwanted office furniture and redistribute or recycle it in an environmentally friendly way. Green-Worksā€™ initiative enables its members to fulfil their corporate and social responsibilities and, at the same time, meets the needs of their facility management and office relocation consultants. Green-Works supplies this quality office furniture at discounted prices, and at low cost can deliver to recipient organisations. In addition to the benefits of diverting furniture from landfill, we base our operations in deprived inner city areas to create jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled people.
Hackney Community Transport
This entry should win because: Hackney Community Transport provides the local community with:
Low-cost, accessible minibuses.
Three mainstream bus routes on contract from Transport for London.
PlusBus, a network of low-floor, fixed-route, local bus services.
Door 2 Door service (launched in 1985), which operates on a membership scheme.
The north-east London Mobility Bus network on contract from Transport for London.
HCT also operates a driver training scheme and delivers travel training for people with learning difficulties.
Heeley City Farm
This entry should win because: Regeneration that changes lives as well as places takes time. Over the 25 years of Heeley City Farm's work, one of the most deprived areas of Sheffield has been transformed. It hasn't been about big buildings or big new employers but a relentless onslaught on disadvantage and negative attitudes that has brought about this change. It hasn't involved millions of pounds of public money or European investments but has involved thousands of individuals changing the face of a community. The heroes in this story are not just a few employees of Heeley City Farm but a growing and organic (pun intended) movement of people.
Heeley City Farm is both a physical and an economic presence in a living and working community, 365 days a year. The four-acre city farm and gardens is a fun place to be, a visitor attraction and one of the largest local employers. About 50 staff are employed, over 60% living locally. The farm gives local people a huge pride in their area, it inspires others and is a refuge and place of hope for some.
Heeley City Farm is a lot of things at the same time: a regeneration agency, a training organisation, a local employer of disadvantaged people, a research and development agency, a leader in environmental good practice and a sustainable enterprise. We have been a significant presence and influence in our community and in Sheffield for the past 25 years and community demand suggests that we will play an even more significant role in the next 25 years.
This is no flash in the pan! It's a way in which other communities can and should be supported - with commitment and sustainability.
Home Appliances (Fimby) Limited
This entry should win because: As the Manager of Home Appliances i feel that the people employed by Home Appliances have worked very hard in a caring and understanding attitude towards success of Home Appliances, and feel that this award will give the workforce a sense of achievement.
we always strive to find new projects with an aim to creating new jobs and services within the local community.
in the last 18 months home Appliances have created 18 new jobs and are still trying to secure further jobs in 2006.
since we started recycling computers our revenue has increased by 400% helping to create 2 full time and 1 part time job. we also help other community groups through the provision of computer equipment.
we began a painting and decorating scheme in conjunction with Allerdale borough Council working on a homeles scheme in september 2005, this project now employes 4 people and are awaiting to start a new 12 month contract painting communal areas for a local housing association.
in the last month we have started a new gardening project with low income families and disabled people in mind. this again has created a new post.
Home Appliances have raised over Ā£600,000 in funding securing the long term sustainability of the project as a whole.
we were the very proud winners of the the Cumberland News Countryside awards Social Enterprise in 2005. we also won the catogory of Green Business award in 2003.
in the last 12 months we have won numerous contracts with local authorities for recycling and disposal of waste, diverting some 200 tonnes of waste from the local landfill.
winning this award will not only give our workforce pride in their work but will also give local communities assurances that we are a quality service provider.
Homeless World Cup (Pro Poor Sports Ltd)
This entry should win because: Within 3 years The Homeless World Cup has created a global street soccer tournament, uniting teams of homeless people from around the globe where 74% of players change their lives forever. It enjoyed huge success in Austria 2003, Sweden 2004 and Edinburgh in July 2005. South Africa hosts the 2006 Homeless World Cup. Support comes from Nike, UEFA and the United Nations. Several world-class football teams support homeless World Cup teams. England is supported and coached by Manchester United and Spain has links with Real Madrid.
By providing excluded people with access to football the Homeless World Cup creates the feeling of belonging; the challenge of integration and working in a team; the opportunity to regain a health-oriented attitude towards life; self esteem and the experience of fun. This powerful environment has already supported, encouraged and enabled tens of thousands of people to transform their lives. The 2004 Homeless World Cup Impact Report found that over 90% of players said it had a positive impact on their lives with 74% making significant changes to their lives as a direct result. Many find regular employment, come off drugs and alcohol, pursue education, improve their housing, and 16 players have taken up playing or coaching positions for semi-professional and professional football clubs.
The Homeless World Cup is also incredibly transformative for the spectators and the media as they witness and experience the courage, determination, spirit and unity of the players changing their lives for the better right in front of their eyes. The perception of homeless people shifts and some of the barriers of fear and misunderstanding that add to social exclusion are dissolved.
As a result, The Homeless World Cup has demonstrated that sport has a major, positive social impact on poverty and homelessness and opened up a whole new approach to social exclusion.
Inspired Sisters
This entry should win because: Inspired Sisters is a social enterprise which started in January 2003 with support from Terrestrial Learning in Rusholme who initially loaned them some PC's and space to meet. Through word of mouth and active networking, they have helped many women and at present service just over 1000 women members accessing learning opportunities and skills development to improve employability and career options. The project is popular and grew quickly and because of problems with space and the large number of learners we took up additional space in Longsight within the Burhan Centre.
Inspired Sisters caters for women from different backgrounds (ethnic minority, refugees, asylum seekers, disabled, single parents and unemployed). The main aim of their organisation is to identify different barriers these women face such as cultural, economic, social, transport and childcare and to develop appropriate measures through a range of innovative and cultural sensitive manner to help them overcome these barriers in order to ensure that they are able to access learning and development opportunities.
However they have been faced with a range of teething problems themselves which has only made them more determined and hardworking to make their mission a success and generate income to keep themselves sustainable for the future. They provide facilities from house training to personal and educational development in a socially and culturally sensitive environment at their multi-cultural centre. Their approach is to combine education and social interaction for women through coffee mornings, days out, discussion forums and other social events. This encourages women to share cultures, experiences, traditions and histories. This make them unique and the money they generate helps them to make a great impact on the different communities of cultural backgrounds that live in Manchester and given them an excellent mix of projects and opportunities to share their diversities and culture together in the community.
Intelligent Giving
This entry should win because: There is a clear need within the voluntary sector for the services that Intelligent Giving will provide. The British public gives more than the equivalent of the UK defence budget (£7-8bn) each year to charities. But despite scores of evaluation services specialising in finance, goods and services, it receives no guidance on how to invest in this sector.
A lack of information about the voluntary sector has led to a situation where public giving has fallen by 25% as a proportion of national expenditure (GDP) over the last decade (Charities Aid Foundation press release 13 October 2004). There is a lack of transparency on the part of charities and this engenders mistrust among the public.
Charities' embrace of transparency and donor participation is crucial to the rehabilitation of their reputation - and to their future.
Many organisations support charities, but none have the exclusive job of guiding donors. A handful of websites offer donor guidance (Charities Aid Foundation, Charity Commission, New Philanthropy Capital) but none is truly independent of the voluntary sector. No print media campaign targets the donor.
Intelligent Giving is the first venture of its type in this country ā€“ unique in its combination of audience, aims and approach. Besides its innovative blend of web and media work, Intelligent Giving will stand out in the sector in two respects: it will address the public in a journalistic style and it will be free to comment objectively since it will not be structurally tied to the charity sector. Through educating the wider public and encouraging debate, Intelligent Giving will significantly improve the relationship between the voluntary sector and the public.
Kids' City
This entry should win because: Since Kids City's inception in 1995, staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that the organisation benefits the community as widely as possible. While Kids City's main business is running clubs for children, it is not only the children who benefit. Kids City allows many parents, particularly single parents, the freedom to work or study which they did not have when they were tied to collecting their child at 3.30pm. Kids City now offers 2,300 after-school club places each week making work and play easier for around 1,000 families in Lambeth ā€“ an area of high unemployment and deprivation.
Through its volunteering and training programmes Kids City has helped countless people back into work and into exciting new careers. Many of Kids City's senior staff began as volunteers. One former Centre Manager is now training to be a clinical psychologist. These are just a few examples of how Kids City have made a real difference to people's lives.
Kids City also runs Teenscene which provides sheltered work placements for teenagers in some London's most deprived areas. These teenagers undertake paid work gaining valuable training and experience giving them enhanced self-esteem as well as a huge advantage in the job market.
Kids' City has always realised that people have lives to live as well as work to do and our family-friendly policies won us a Daycare Trust Parent's Employer of Choice last year. All staff and volunteers receive free training and free or heavily subsidised childcare. Every year staff get to write their own job descriptions and this and many other policies means turnover of staff at Kids City is 35% below the national average.
This year the charity changed its name to Kids City and now plans to expand Kids City to become a nationwide enterprise, opening 300 clubs by 2012.
Liftshare.com
This entry should win because: Liftshare has succeeded in transforming the concept of car-sharing into a realistic and successful travel alternative. For the first time ever car-sharing can be organised via a UK-wide integrated scheme, which enables users to find matches anywhere in the country.
Over 105,000 people have joined the Liftshare network and there are currently 21,186,842 trips registered over the next 12 months.
Our average member saves themselves £1,176 a year by car-sharing.
Liftshare currently has over 400 clients operating branded or private car-share schemes around the UK.
Liftshare estimates that altogether members are saving 25,970,819 miles a year. This is the equivalent of more than 269 trips to the moon.
Altogether 4,934 tonnes of CO2 is being saved by our successfully matched members.
Our members and clients truly value the service we provide:
'Thanks to this amazing new scheme I was matched with a driver offering lift to Exeter the same day I registered. For someone like me, who lives in an isolated area and who has to get to a placement for three months it was a perfect solution. Well done for setting it up.'
Mezzanine 2 Ltd
This entry should win because: The Mezzanine has been an enormous success. In five years it has grown from ten organisations with 100 staff, to more than 60 organisations employing some 400 people. The office space is high quality and offers small organisations such as ours space in a fantastic location. We would not ordinarily have access to, or be able to afford facilities such as conference rooms seating 100, meeting rooms, or top-of-the-range office equipment. Organisations here have worked collaboratively, submitting joint bids and sharing best practice.
The added value of co-location can be measured in terms of substantial cost savings on services such as internet access and low-cost telecomms, but there are other, less tangible benefits. Staff recruitment and retention, networking and profile are improved by working in a quality environment with like-minded organisations. The open-plan nature of the space encourages interaction, as does the provision of shared services, like the intranet. Visitors to the offices are always impressed by the innovative use of space and resources, and this in turn is useful in attracting support from corporate sponsors and charitable funders.
The high demand for the space has led to plans to replicate the project in other areas of London, and possibly across the UK.
Moving On
This entry should win because: This project meets the needs of the community by filling a gap in provision that the statutory agencies are currently unable to fill. It is unique as it addresses the issue of "worklessness". It provides " toe in the water" support to facilitate learning and employment for those people who are unable to access mainstream provision - as often the first hurdle is too great for them to take alone. It provides support and encouragement to help them build on their achievements and sustain their motivation. It provides one to one and small group support for people who have been "workless" for a long time. Most often the participants are people who are recovering from mental ill health, recovering from addiction (alcohol and/or drugs), older returners to learning, usually women who have raised a family and lost confidence, young single parents who dropped out of school, women emerging from the Women's refuge, who want to rebuild their lives and men who have been made redundant and suffered breakdowns as a consequence. All of them know they have something to offer but are afraid of taking the first step.
Outcomes in the first year are excellent: out of 40 referrals, in 18 months, 10 attend level 2 courses at local colleges, 7 people volunteer in the community, 4 have moved on to paid employment, 5 are about to embark on voluntary placements and are attending community courses, 8 are undertaking creative writing tuition and the remainder are at the one to one stage.
MPS Training
This entry should win because: From a complete start-up in February 2004, the organisation has built a service which is highly valued by 5 local authorities in the West of Scotland.
The turnover in 2004-05 was circa £170,000. This year it will be circa £400,000 and next year around £1,000,000. This has been achieved with no grant funding of any kind, but by good planning and prudent procurement of the necessary resources.
The staff, the most important factor in our success to date, have been recruited very carefully and trained to a very high level. All staff, with no exceptions, are currently training from HNC to Doctorate level. We acquired Investor in People status last year.
Most important of all, we achieved registered independent school status in December 2005 after rigorous appraisal by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Schools, reflecting the very good results we have achieved with our young people, the most important people in all of this.
Firm plans are in place to 'clone' JTEC in two other towns, namely Dumbarton and Barrhead within the next year. This will increase our bond with the relevant local communities, lessen travel for the young people and make us more accessible to parents and other professionals.
net-guide
This entry should win because: net-guide has been given the RNIB "See it Right" award, and was shortlisted by the RNIB for a "Simply the Best" award in 2005. The website has more than 6,000 visitors a month, and generates more than 20,000 page impressions a month.
We campaigned heavily with the RNIB and Tom Brake MP to promote the RNIB's campaign for good website design and net-guide even featured in an Early Day Motion about it in the house of Commons (http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=26997&SESSION=873). In support of this, we did a small survey of MPs websites, in an effort to make them think more closely about their own websites (see http://www.net-progress.co.uk/press/press_release_140305.htm for full details).
We are still campaigning with the RNIB on this issue and have just started a joint sponsorship programme that will in part raise money for their work.
Future plans for net-guide include introducing a mobile version and making net-guide available in other languages.
Nottingham Counselling Service
This entry should win because: The NCS is an unsung charity with a traceable history dating back to 1875. Customer satisfaction rating is 91% and 80% for achievment of objectives identified at the assessment prior to starting conselling. The NCS is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and psycotherapy. Demand for the service is greater than counsellors available. The NCS rovides volunteering opportunities and enjoys a high level of retention and goodwill from volunteers.
Osel Enterprises Ltd
This entry should win because: This registered charity encompasses businesses which serve the Island community - Wight Crystal Water and organic vegetable production at Sunnycrest Nursery. These businesses also serve the local economy. A high percentage of their employees have a disability. Clients referred for learning and training opportunities make many community links with local projects such as carnival activity. Clients referred for work experience find a supportive environment - yet stretching their boundaries. The support for people with a disability moving from unemployment to employment is sustained and based on individual need.
Patient Opinion Ltd
This entry should win because: Patient Opinion is all about enabling patients to share their experiences of health care, and by doing so help other patients - and perhaps even change the NHS. As well as allowing everyone to see what patients are saying about their services, it also offers a way to feed the experience of patients back to the NHS so that their insights and ideas can be put to good use. Whilst currently operating in a trial region, the plan is to go national and to provide real, informed patient choice on health services. By winning this award the public awareness of Patient Opinion will be raised and thus the benefits of the enterprise can be shared with more health service users.
People Tree Ltd
This entry should win because: People Tree is a dynamic Fair Trade and ecological company working in the highly competitive fashion industry and making a vast difference to the lives of thousands of people in the majority world.
People Tree is now the leading Fair Trade and organic fashion and accessories label in Britain. The collection is not only stylish, breaking down the ā€ethnicā€™ stereotypes of Fair Trade fashion, it is also affordable, accessible and sustainable.
It is often necessary for People Tree to provide 50% advance payments with orders and pay producers nine months before sales revenue comes in, making cash flow very challenging. However, People Tree has persevered to prove that fashion can be fashionable and desirable whilst empowering the people who produce it, and respecting the environment. In an industry notorious for exploitation and sweatshop production, People Tree celebrates its 5th birthday - a testament to its vision and staying power.
When People Tree was founded few people understood the concept of Fair Trade fashion. Today People Tree has evolved as a pioneer brand which is setting the standard for others to follow, including being showcased at World Economic Forum events as a model for socially responsible business, and being profiled this Fairtrade Fortnight across national and regional media as a leading authority on Fairtrade cotton and sustainable fashion.
People Tree continues to expand its activities to create more livelihoods for people in marginalized communities, and to further pressure the fashion industry to clean up its act. Current developments include developing a range of handwoven organic clothing for Autumn Winter 2006; initiating a project for CO2 neutral fashion with Bangladeshi social entrepreneurs and, continuing from their success in bringing Fair Trade fashion to the high street in Topshop, developing an exclusive range for the leading high street fashion store.
Peros
This entry should win because: Peros have enjoyed growth of 40% year on year since its incetion in 2000. The business has a projected turnover of 9.0million for 2006, and offers an outstanding service to its customers.
Peros have championed the fairtrade cause for 6 years and since its start has provided a rapidly growing and sustainable customer base.
Peros provides a fairtrade hotline for its customers, and offers regular updates for its customers and clients.
The companies foundations are built on sustainable partnerships, with its suppliers, staff and customers.
Peros have recently helped launch into foodservice the One Water concept, that provides a sustainable income to build unique roundabout powered wells in Africa. see www.we-are-one.org.uk
The Peros directors have been instrumental in creating a workplace that benifits all in our team, and beyond this ensuring that all team members are aware of the direct impact they can make on the lives of those in the developing world
Pogo Cafe
This entry should win because: Pogo Cafe is an oasis of healthy food and is a community hub in a deprived area of East London. The project sets an example for other projects of what can be achieved ethically and with collective decision-making.
Poptel Technology Ltd
This entry should win because: Poptel Technology should win this award because of their achievements since the company's formation in September 2002.
Poptel Technology's research showed that the best value for money for this sector would be achieved by provided a 'collaborative development' model. Where software is constantly upgraded and that the solution remains one that has comparable functionality to that provided by the expensive high-end solutions provided to the private and public sectors, such a solution will enable non-profit organisations to avoid short-termism, and keep pace with other sectors.
Poptel Technology have placed accessible web design on the map. Having built the first ever WAI-AAA rated website in the UK, Poptel Technology have consistently won awards for best-practice in this standard. Where the RNIB provided the lobbying power to put this issue on the map, Poptel Technology provided the capacity and helped develop the standards. In 2004, 49 local authorities in the North West (England) benefited from a Poptel Technology-devised work-programme designed to bring their websites up to the standard that users with visual impairments and other handicaps would require.
The Councillor.info project was devised to improve local democracy by encouraging Councillors to start managing their own websites and communicating with social groups that are not participating in local democracy. Within two years of the launch, twenty Councils have enabled their Councillors to manage active websites. As a result, the Government published a mandatory outcome insisting that every Council in England should follow suit.
But Poptel Technology's strongest claim is based upon its business model. In IT, salaries are high and skill-retention is very difficult. By using a representative (rather than direct) model of co-operation, the company has achieved all of the benefits of a tightly-run company with the creative advantages of co-operation.
RCMA Social Enterprise Ltd.
This entry should win because: The Riverside Community Market Association (RCMA) was set up in 1998 by a small group of local people in response to concerns about the lack of fresh and healthy food available locally. These concerns were compounded by the fact that many residents, particularly those on low incomes, found it difficult, both practically and financially, to get to shops to access healthy food.
Seed funding enabled RCMA to carry out a feasibility study, which involved running a pilot market, and undertaking a consultation process with local residents, potential stallholders, businesses and community groups. The information was recorded and used as the evidence base to inform the development of the market. RCMA harnessed a wide range of small scale development funding to buy basic equipment, and engaged the support of the local Council from the outset. Most of the development work in the early years was done by local volunteers
RCMA began by running a series of small monthly markets in a local park and after three years had grown to the point where it was able to relocate to a more central location. The Market began to operate on a weekly basis December 2003, and employed a Market Manager/Outreach worker. RCMA also set up a Company Limited by Guarantee to act as the trading arm of the Association. The Riverside 'Real Food' Market now has an average of over 25 stalls and over 1,000 customers from across Cardiff every week
RCMA also runs a Community Garden project based at a nearby allotment, which employs a Project manager and Outreach worker aiming to engage local community groups and residents in a programme of educational and horticultural activities. The plan is that in addition to the health, social and educational benefits for the participants, they will be able to sell some of the produce they grow at the Riverside market.
RCMA also initiated a range of other food-related activities in the community, including developing local networks; healthy food workshops; working in local primary schools; organising healthy picnics; and supporting local women to develop food related micro businesses. The RCMA has also supported the development of fruit tuckshops in three local schools as part of the wider Healthy Schools Project, and delivers an ongoing programme of activities in those schools.
Riverside Community Market Association
This entry should win because: Because over the last 8 years this organisation has worked closely with the community to meet local needs. The organisation is a major source of Welsh Produce in the area providing an income for local producers and strengthening the regional economy by developing local food links. The organisation is now in a position to offer training in horticultural skills and catering.
RKdia - Drum Housing Association
This entry should win because: I strongly believe that RKdia deserves this Award as the Project combines the provision of vital services for Youth and Community in a deprived rural area of East Hampshire with Social Enterprise.
The catering aspect of RKdia has developed from an idea to a concern that in the next financial year will achieve close to £70,000. The money raised will be reinvested in the Centre to ensure that services delivered will continue to grow. This will also dramatically reduce the reliance on grant funding which will prove most beneficial as the Project is in it's fifth year and it is increasingly more difficult to obtain funds for an established Project.
In five years RKdia has delivered services to over 2,500 young people through various support groups, drop-ins and 1:1 provision and it has accommodated 80 young homeless people in its supported accommodation. The core client group of RKdia are young vulnerable people that; are at risk of offending/offending, victims of crime/bullying, are victims of abuse, are excluded from school either temporarily or on a permanent basis, and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The Project has also offered training to over 250 people in Catering, IT, Budgeting, Health and sexual health, life skills and independent living skills. Of 11 young people offered full time training programmes within the kitchen at RKdia 8 have gained full time employment within the catering industry.
RKdia is an open access Duke of Edinburgh Awards Centre offering bronze, silver and gold awards.
The centre has also provided a venue for over 25 community groups.
The RKdia Project is the result of dedication, enthusiasm, and tireless hard work of a team of five individuals. They have shown passion, resilience and thorough determination to make a vision into reality achieving outstanding and commendable results.
SELDOC
This entry should win because: South-East London Doctor's Co-operative has taken an old business model and used it to provide a new service in which both doctors and patients get a better deal. Responsibility for out-of-hours care used to fall on individual GPs, making them work long irregular hours. SELDOC avoids this by sharing costs and responsibilities among the co-operative. In addition, where many Trusts have moved to an increasing proportion of non-doctors in their out-of-hours service, SELDOC patients know that there is always a GP ready to see them.
STEP
This entry should win because: Over the last 8 years STEP has managed and delivered a wide range of projects for the benefit of the local community. These include: A Business Advice Service, A Children's Centre, A Jobmatching Service, A Wood Recycling Project, An Out of School Club, A Community Education programme, An IT Training Programme, A Literacy and numeracy project and last but not least a 30 unit Business Centre. All of our projects have been delivered on time and to budget and all have been focussed on the needs of our local community.
Although the 'raison d'etre' of STEP is the benefit of the local Stocksbridge community, we have been asked to replicate some of our services in other areas and often help other local social enterprise organisations through advice and support. STEP has been used as an example of best practice within the social enterprise community and is highly regarded by clients, peers and funders alike. This recognition of STEP€'s vital role in the local community has led to its inclusion at many levels in the future plans of the local authority and the town's major employer, Corus.
Based on experience, STEP considers that it has been successful for two main reasons - a recognition that regeneration can only really work if the people who are most affected are given the opportunity themselves to steer the transformation of their community and that a community-led enterprise culture fosters -
- Self-help
- Reduces dependency
- Is the basis for a confident, thriving and active community
We are committed to achieving equality in all aspects of our operation. STEP opposes and challenges all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination against individuals or groups, believing everyone should be treated with equal respect.
StreetShine
This entry should win because: This is what some of our clients from both the volutary sector and the business sector have got to say about why StreetShine should win this award!!
"Working with Streetshine is a pleasure. It's great for McGrigors to be able to take part in such a worthwhile venture."
James Hunt, McGrigors Solicitors
"KPMG very much enjoys working with StreetShine. Our people really value the shoe-shine service for its quality, professionalism and accessibility. The social purpose of the service is also very important to us."
Mike Kelly, KPMG
Since starting on the Streetshine training programme, LG has seemed like a different person. His whole outlook has changed from being extremely negative about his current situation to one of real hope for the future. LG finally has something to focus on which makes him feel like he is worth something to society and that he has skills he can offer. The bitterness and hostility of old has gradually been replaced by a calmer, friendlier approach to life and the people around him.
Thames Reach Bondway support worker
Streetwise Productions Live
This entry should win because: First and foremost Streetwise Productions Live is building awareness of social enterprise within an emerging community of performing artists and a varied audience of tourists, businesses, schools and students.
It gives performing artists the platform to work with other like-minded people and create work they can be proud of. They discover new performance methods and experience performing in different places. For example street theatre, which incorporates a lot of improvisation, audience involvement and vocal use. They get to experience working within a team and overcoming creative differences.
They explore their skills and their work to see how they can use them to contribute to the community and earn income for the enterprise. In this way they are developing their own personal skills and learning essential product/business development skills. They are also learning how to run a theatre company with all the essential business skills that are involved. This includes publicity, sales, marketing, fundraising, sponsorship, finance and administration.
Streetwise makes theatre more accessible. It brings theatre out into the streets and make it more of a social occasion. It's Shakespeare production relives quintessential Shakespearean theatre. Professor Lisa Jardine says of 17th Century theatre ā€...it was somewhere between football and clubbing. It was mass popular entertainment. It was slightly disreputable¯. It is introducing innovative theatre to the general public in a way that it social, entertaining and educational.
It adapts performances for disadvantaged and socially excluded groups and performs once a month for free. In December the group performed for the Stroke club in the St. Mary's Centre in Islington. In this way it is bringing theatre to groups that are unable to attend traditional theatres and also the artists are developing new theatrical skills that are needed for a different audience.
The material that is used is based on historical stories, memoirs and particular playwrights and themes. The productions are therefore educational for the artists themselves as they undertake extensive research but also for the audience who are introduced to their history and heritage through theatrical entertainment. Basing the material on local community heritage also means the community feels involved and has a sense of ownership of the scripts.
Suma Foods
This entry should win because: Suma is a workersā€™ cooperative ā€“ a radical company owned and managed by its workers.
Established in 1977, we operate policies of equal pay, democratic management, equal opportunities and have the capacity for genuine commercial integrity and independence.
Our people are our best asset. We invest significant resources into their training and development and always seek to empower our people to make significant business decisions, either strategic or tactical. Training schedules for new employees are tailored to ensure that all business areas are covered, with particular emphasis being given to utilising existing skills of new workers.
New workers are encouraged to undertake wide ranging, cross-functional projects under the guidance of a project mentor. Some of these develop into new policies and directions, some remove longstanding operational thorns in the side of the cooperative!
We aim to operate our commercial relationships with integrity. We fully subscribe to the principles or Fair Trade and the Organic Movement and are taking active steps to become Carbon Neutral in our operational activities, by involvement with an independent monitoring body (Co2mittment). We are currently planting over 2 hectares with trees per annum in a local area that will help to reduce rainwater run-off and flash flooding. We take our responsibility to our local community seriously, both in our recruitment practices and in such actions as planning to take stewardship of the stretch of river immediately adjacent to our premises.
In short we should win because we are a responsible local employer, operating on cooperative principles which enable us to empower and benefit our local community. We temper this with global responsibilities towards the Third World, by actively supporting the principles of Fairtrade.
Tantrwm Limited
This entry should win because: Tantrwm has been around for five years. Over these years we have engaged and moved people to participate, think, achieve, dream and become part of their community. Tantrwm has high social and moral standards and beliefs. We strive for excellence in our work and pride ourselves on the recommendations that clients from our community and further afield constantly place upon us. We are innovative in our approach and introduce technologies and standards that leave many big commercial players to shame. The young people who work with us learn about cutting edge technologies that most university graduates would not have heard of.
Tantrwm geniunely believes that we are more socially and ethically aware and active than many of the social enterprises out there.
Winning this award would give the hundreds of people that have worked with us over the years some well deserved recognition.
The Black Farmer
This entry should win because: Black Farmer has at last opened the door to the world of agriculture for ethnic minority communities.
The Colour of Life
This entry should win because: In the last year, the organisation has made a significant impact in the communities within which it operates and has been able to successfully address issues of relevance, such as bullying, racism and poverty.
The key objectives hold such meaning and value to both the organisation and the people to whom it is called to serve. The issues dealt with are issue of life issues which are deemed to be priceless.
The education enrichment program, which is aimed at Primary and Secondary schools and is entitled Colour Your Life, saw the personal and social development of young people dramatically improve as they participated in the activities designed for this course. There was also an obvious positive effect on their motivation to learn and participate in other subjects on the school curriculum. The program has also challenged the stereotypes that young people are helplessly exposed to. The response to the program from parents and teachers alike was one of appreciation and the desire to improve their own awareness of our diverse society.
The organisation has been able to maintain steady growth while continuing to and develop program that are not only effective but sustainable. With one paid employee and a handful of volunteers The Colour of Life has been able to deliver valuable events such as the Akoma [heart] festival in association with Greenwich Council, a celebration of the diversity of cultures London. COL also has programs to encourage integration, which are delivered to large organisations.
The COL Exchange and Recycle program is the most recent development which will see electronic equipment such as computers and musical instruments donated to schools, hospitals and orphanages in less privileged areas around the world.
The Project Group
This entry should win because: THis is what our members say:
"Without being overly dramatic I can honestly say that becoming poart of The Project Group has transformed my life in real,m concrete and hown-to-earth ways... It is such a relief to no loinger be the only person in my life...I am truly findng myself and discovering that it is OK to be alive." MArk R.
"The PRoject Group gave me a future when I didn't know I had one." Sylvia Earthy, now technical assistant
"Nearly 20 years ago I was diagnosed manic depressive. The contact i have had with other peole in the group has been fundamental to me in beginning to accept myself and my illness. I can even imagine a day when what other people think won't be a problem for me. THis time last year that would have been unthinkable. THat is the strength of the group, it has thrown me a lifeline, given me acceptance, support, structure, inspiration, the space to let my hair down, have fun, be myself and most importantly it has given me hope." Liz K
The Project Group should win an award bacause:
- it has the above mentioned effect on our members
- provides shared learning
- empowers individuals with serious mental health problems to make choices
- it creates opportunities for mental health service users to make a real contribution
- enables individuals to achieve independence and possible employment and transforms their quality of life
- offers an aspirational environment both in the quality of the space and in the products and services we offer
- provides creative and inspirational activity for group members and for our new target groups in the community and business areas
- focuses on community integration and social inclusion
- is a life changing experience for participants - with or without mental health problems
The Riverside Centre
This entry should win because: This organisation SHOULD NOT win the award, the individuals that contribute to the organisation SHOULD because they make a difference and challenge discrimination by results.
An accredited Chartermark and National Training Award winner in 2005, the Centre harnesses the potential of all -learners disabled by other agencies have gone on to work at the Riverside (including the 2004 NIACE National Learner of the Year and the 2005 Regional Learner of the Year).
Projects like the 'Clubhouse' secured a visit from Health Minister Rosie Winterton and 2 Lilly Reintegartion awards, support from MIND and the DOH.
The DOH also supported the Centre's Direct Payments support service enabling over 200 people to manage their own care, and delivering training and support by the regions only accessible training bus.
The Centre also provides a 'home' for the Island's Carers Association, Victim Support, Advocacy service, MIND and DIAL, Footprint Trust, Alcohol Misuse service, and .......BBC Radio Solent.
Staff delievry disability equality training in schools, local tourist locations/employers, and facilitate social enterpise groups.
As a community centre around 100 groups use us regularly (from Probation to Housing, from Tea Dances to Line Dances), and our site is a green pennant award winner.
The team that delivers services from 7am to 11pm 7 days a week (inc breakfast briefings and a sunday Salvation army Church) meritis the recognition that this nomination reflects.
Torrington 1646
This entry should win because: As far as we are aware, we are the only such community enterprise in existance and have been approached by other communities wishing to learn from our experiences, both good and bad! This project has provided numerous opportunities for us to work with other organisations, both statutory and voluntary and to provide unique training opportunities in customer services; drama; education; marketing etc., as well as offering a "safe" environment for people with special needs who are able to work alongside the main team developing their life and social skills. In the process we have assisted local traders by bringing tourists into the centre of the town, encouraging them to use local shops and services by operating guided town tours throughout the high season. The team of "characters" from Torrington 1646 are also regarded as a community resource, being called upon to attend all major town events to add local colour, a role which the team are proud to undertake. We have also been instrumental in attracting a great deal of publicity for the town,having been featured on such programmes as BBC 2's "Working Lunch" and Channel 4's "A place in the Sun" as well as in the local/regional media.
Training For Life
This entry should win because: Training For Life works with some of the most disadvantaged people in society, those previously excluded from learning and employment because of problems in their lives
The impact and cost of unemployment is devastating. The only way out of a dependency culture is through helping people become economically independent. In our Prospect Centres we teach people how to:
Learn, and how to apply that learning to be successful.
Be fit and healthy.
Develop a positive attitude that views obstacles as something to overcome, rather than be disadvantaged by.
Budget and manage limited resources.
Build and sustain relationships at work, to manage conflict and confrontation more successfully.
Acquire practical work skills in our social enterprises to build confidence and provide experience before entering permanent employment.
Sustain employment and how to compete for jobs and promotion.
We have six key objectives for Prospect Centres:
1. To work with socially excluded people. Since 1995 over 8000 people have returned to education or employment as a result of our programmes.
2. To create social enterprises that train apprentices in real jobs, on real wages and in real work environments.
Apprentices leave with a professional qualification and an employers reference.
3. Job creation.
To date, Prospect Centres have created over 120 new jobs as new businesses in themselves
4. Community regeneration.
We are committed to locating Prospect Centres in refurbished premises, contributing to the regeneration of local neighbourhoods
5. Financial viability.
A sustainable business that generates profits to secure its long-term financial viability.
6. To generate profits from social enterprises to go back into the charity.
We currently have three Prospect Centres and social enterprise. We also have a family based IT focussed learning centre. Coming soon will be 2 more Prospect Centres and social enterprises in Southwark and Dartmouth.
Training For Life should win the award because its social enterprise model e.g the Hoxton Apprentice restaurant in Hackney, is a brilliant example of one that truly works; for the community, for trainees and for the charity. It is sustainable and the model is being developed to transfer to new centres planned and as a potential franchise model for others to follow.
Women Into the Network (WIN)
This entry should win because: WIN uses networking, to breakdown the barriers, which stand in the way of women's success in business; factors such as lack of confidence, opportunities, advice and support. Once women develop confidence and begin to believe in themselves as business people, they realise exactly what they are able to achieve.
We offer a whole range of services, including the online directory, networking events & training workshops, offer inspirational role models and provide regular newsletters and publications. Individually each area provides distinct benefits to members in terms of gaining knowledge, skills and contacts specific to their needs. Our members can dip in and out for the information they need, meet like-minded people, ask each other for support and turn to our experts for advice. We are driven by our members and are dedicated to providing a service that reflects their needs.
We work with a number of partners and actively educate the business support and service sector on how to develop more effective relationships with enterprising women. By working closely with such a wide range of people we avoid re-inventing the wheel and our members get the best possible support.
The vision of WIN is of a progressive and open network where women can learn how to get ahead and pursue their ambitions in an open and supportive environment.
Since it's inception seven years ago, WIN has helped facilitate the creation of over 600 jobs in women owned businesses and has gone on to achieve national and international recognition and win many awards (contact WIN for a list of these awards).
We are sharing aspects of the WIN model with partners in other areas of the UK including Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cambridgeshire. The WIN model is also being implemented in four different countries.
WIN were lead partner in the European funded Accelerating Women's Enterprise (AWE) partnership and worked with 10 organisations around the UK to ensure that a coherent web of women's business support services were developed in a strategic way at national level. AWE's focus was on excluded groups of women (eg, ethnic minority, lone parents, women returners, unemployed, disabled women, rural women and ex-offenders). For further information go to www.wbn.org.uk/publications and download the Accelerating Women's Enterprise final project summary and achievements.
Working with Words Ltd
This entry should win because: The people with learning disabilities who have been trained and supported by the Working with Words team have increased confidence and skills which has resulted in them taking a much more active role in their local community, and, for some of them, finding paid work. The team produces excellent work in written, audio, and dvd format and have just set up an accessible website for a team of people with learning disabilities in Greenwich. The work Working with Words did on "Out and About" helped Transport for London win a Plain English award.
It has been a struggle to find the resources to both develop as a social firm and to train and educate people with learning disabilities. Winning the award will demonstrate they are on the right track.
Social Enterprise Team of the Year
Chrysalis Youth and Community Project
This entry should win because: The team should win this award because of their determination and commitment to the young people of the area and the need to make this venture self-sufficient after being grant dependent.
In June 2005 after being fully grant dependent this team had just 2 months to re-package and sell an Alternative Education Package to Local Authorites, Schools and Colleges for the new academic year starting in September. To become self-sufficient the team had to sell placements totaling £125,000 per year.
With no sales experience and placements sold totaling £65,000 at the beginning of September, the team decided to take a risk, and work with the young people that had been booked on the programme and continue to try and sell the remaining places. After long and tedious hours, by December 2005 the team had managed to meet their target.
Over the 4 years the program has been running, 150 young people have attended. The team have achieved an incredible result, raising attendance levels from an average of 33% at school to an amazing attendance rate of 97% at the Project. 80% of young people attending the programme went on to gain full time employment, and a further 10% went into further education and training. Considering the young people who attend the program suffer from severe emotional and behaviourial problems, this is quite an exceptional team to achieve what they have.
RKdia - Drum Housing Association
This entry should win because: As a volunteer with the RKdia Project it has been a pleasure and honour to work with a team of such dedicated, hard working and enthusiastic people who have pulled together and gone out of their way to assist each other in achieving the goals and aims of the RKdia Project.
To build a catering business from scratch to a concern that in the next financial year will gross close to £70,000, all within a two-year period is a momentous achievement.
The way in which the team have mixed social enterprise with providing vital services for their local community is most commendable and I feel deserves recognition.
In order to build the catering aspect it has often involved all members of the team working in an area outside of their own working tirelessly, frequently in their own time and for long periods. The team have shown true dedication to their multiple roles.
The RKdia team adapt the business as customer requirements change and over the past year have delivered catering at a variety of events including anniversaries, birthdays, barbecues, funerals, corporate functions and weddings. (The team are constantly delivering new money raising ideas - the most recent being a fresh salad delivery round to local offices/businesses.)
All money raised is ploughed back into the Project to provide more services for young people.
The diversity of the Project has been the vision of Chris Adams, the Project Manager who I believe is a true Social Entrepreneur and he leads the team by example. His dedication and enthusiasm to the Project seems endless, as does that of the team.
Blythswood Care
This entry should win because: A totally committed team, working together for the benfit of others. Have moved from brownfield site at peppercorn rent to fully commercial premises covering all costs and developing their work.
IN 2005 THEY GAVE OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION POUNDS WORTH OF PRIORITY GOODS
TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS, HELPED THOUSAND OF VICTIMS OF FLOODING AND ARE FINANCING THE REBUILDING A VILLAGE OF 271 HOUSES IN KASHMIR DESTROYED BY THE EARTHQUAKE -
FOR A COMMUNITY OF OVER 2000 PEOPLE.
In addition, they have continued there development work in Eastern Europe and
the Balkans, helping people move away from dependancy and tomorrow will send the last of the 17,200 gift boxes to children, teenagers and adults most of whom would otherwise get nothing.
Sima Community Based Organization
This entry should win because: The organisation has experience in the fields and we received an award for disease prevention/education (STD/HIVAIDS) program in third annual pharmaceutical achievement awards in Boston, MA on August 8th 2004. Also the report indicates the next steps that are appropriate - we need networking and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to support the growth-oriented Group entrepreneurs. The document is based on the country assessment from Kenya, where the ILO has been supporting the team's entrepreneurship.
The paper finds that:
- the majority of group operate their micro and small enterprises (MSEs) under very adverse conditions
- education levels are low, they have responsibility for all domestic chores, and often have to seek permission from husbands to travel to trade fairs or for training
The authors argue that there is a need for better credit systems and organisation. In addition women need to be helped to identify higher-potential business opportunities, develop markets for their products, improve product quality and marketing skills, practice good financial management (e.g., costing and pricing) and secure better premises.
The report concludes that in the long run, for future generations of women entrepreneurs, two of the most important things are to improve women's access to education, and effect changes in the cultural, socio-economic environment to accord them higher status and ensure more control over economic resources.
salvation army hadleigh training centre
This entry should win because: the centre offers work based training to adults with a wide variety of skill bases in order to find employment or for those from social services a meaningful and productive occupational day experince. The work at this centre is unique and outstanding. Approaching social services provision from a very different angle a visit to centre is a must
Osel Enterprises Ltd
This entry should win because: This dedicated team is made up of individuals who are committed to supporting those disadvantaged through disability. Work is centred on individual need and there is real commitment to this. It takes energy to encourage disadvantaged people, but this is consistently and professionally carried out. The team involves the community through training links and local employers. Partnership working is given high priority - such work with local community initiatives as Stepping Stones; Skills for Care Sector; Disability Discrimation Act Task Group (partnership of all sectors) are proof of this.
I commend this team for an award.
Hoxton Apprentice restaurant, owned by Training Fo
This entry should win because: The Hoxton Apprentice restaurant is a social enterprise run by the charity Training For Life. It is managed by professionals but staffed partly by apprentice's long term unemployed and sometimes homeless people on six month personal and vocational skills training courses aimed at getting them into sustainable full time jobs in the hospitality industry
Working in a renowned, busy, high quality restaurant in a fashionable part of London is challenging at the best of times. It's a high pressure, high temperature environment where a reputation for quality and service is hard to achieve but very easy to lose.
Every few months add to this mix twelve people who may not have worked for a very long time, if at all. They usually come with other issues; poor learning histories, lack of confidence and energy, low self esteem, a poor attitude, conflict or confrontation difficulties. For some, just getting up and arriving for the course at a set time is a real challenge.
Because of the hard work of this team, their caring natures and dedication, they are able to turn the lives of these predominantly young people around. Following a period of personal development and basic training in kitchen, front of house and bar work, the apprentices are given real on the job training within the commercial restaurant. As well as doing their own jobs the team in the restaurant have to train and look out for the apprentices, producing great staff that provide the quality of food and service the customers expect to receive.
They influence so many people's lives in such a magnificent way enabling apprentices to realise their dreams and make a better life for themselves. These guys do this for the pure satisfaction of seeing someone happy and proud. And they are good at it! 80% of apprentices graduating move on to permanent jobs a real achievement.
CSV Avon Training
This entry should win because: The team demonstrates the effect of their effort in a number of ways:
Making a difference to the lives of around 30 adults with learning difficulties each year for the last 15 years. Past trainees have moved on to further training courses, voluntary work, where they are contributing to their communities, work in restaurants, cafes or canteens and other jobs in cinemas and offices.
Delivering practical training to people who would be unlikely to attend mainstream college and ensuring that it is tailored to their needs. Co-operating to ensure that the different parts of the training enhance each other.
Impacting on the community by helping people to become more independent, so that they need less support.
Helping members of the public to understand more about learning difficulties and to see people as individuals, rather than focusing on their disabilities.
Educating trainees and cafe customers about healthy eating and environmental sustainability.
The project has had support from the European Social Fund, in addition to working in Partnership with Bristol Social Services and City of Bristol College, so it has been validated by a number of organisations and is recognised as setting a standard against which other social enterprises are judged.
The team sets itself very high standards and ensures continuous improvement year by year.
Cornish World Media
This entry should win because: Cornish World Media is a social firm providing work experience. As this is very much a working office it specifically provides on-the-job training to unemployed people with health problems who may not be able to access more formal training programmes.
The trainees all bring skills and experience to share and develop, and the training programme works on the principle that unemployed people have existing skills that should be valued, utilised and nurtured, as well as the potential to develop new skills and gain new qualifications.
The trainees learn journalism techniques, design, desktop publishing, administration and office skills - and produce two commercially successful magazines.
Whether working individually or on group projects, they support each other with their skills and experience. Under the guidance of the two editors, Nigel and Genevra, they are democratic, making decisions together. In a typical day, every member of the team will have both learnt something from - and taught something to - another member of the team, including the two official trainers.
In the last year, two graduating Cornish World Media trainees have gained paid employment in journalism, while three more have gained places on design, journalism and professional writing BA and MA courses.
The training programme gives trainees the confidence, skills and experience necessary to compete for jobs in an area of high unemployment.
Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People
This entry should win because: The major successes of the team are twofold: working with organisations to ensure service providers fulfil their obligations under the DDA legislation so Deaf people can access their services; and developing the team into a dynamic and dedicated social enterprise.
LSLIS strives to work in partnership with other key organisations within Leeds to ensure people with a hearing loss have access to their preferred method of communication, whatever situation they are in. These organisations include Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, PCTs, Social Services and Leeds Mental Health Trust. Establishing these partnerships took much time and negotiation to encourage these organisations to recognise the need and commit to serving this part of the community. It is a credit to the team that they have set up and continue to develop these agreements within their 10 years of operation. Every year they fulfil 4,000 assignments, serving approx 125,000 people in Leeds who have a hearing loss. Demand is met year on year, and confidentiality is maintained by omitting patients' names from any documentation.
The profits from the team's activities are reinvested to expand the team's services (for example by providing further Human Aids to Communication) and to develop other projects associated with the development of activities for sensory impaired people in Leeds (such as funding a Business Development Manager to develop other social enterprise initiatives benefiting people with a sensory loss).
The teamā€™s infrastructure has evolved into a best practice model, through learning and adapting ideas. The emphasis is on strategic planning, sustainability, accountability to stakeholders (guided by an Advisory Committee including service users and purchasers); a readiness to improve continually (shown by the recent introduction of our new out-of-hours interpreting service); measuring achievement (we keep accurate diaries and records of assignments and feedback); and staff development (we pride ourselves on our fully qualified interpreting team, trained in specialist areas, which demonstrates our commitment to retaining, developing and motivating a multi-skilled team).
Stonelaw High Fair Traders Young Co-operative
This entry should win because: The members of this young co-operative are inspirational and like all good social enterprises are keen to share their secrets of success. At the 2005 Young Co-operatives Congress, members passed on their top tips to other young co-operatives.
Through selling fair trade products, the teenagers are not just learning about the difference that fair trade makes, they themselves are making that difference. By working as a co-operative they are learning about the wider co-operative movement and promoting its values and principles. Having established the direct link with Dr Bland in South Africa, the members are learning first hand about the sorts of life and death situations people are having to deal with. The co-op's efforts, tirelessly guided by teacher Isabel Gilchrist, are certainly appreciated. As Dr Bland herself wrote from South Africa: "If it hadn't been for you helping so much last year, we might not have had the courage to continue."
youth ambassador programme
This entry should win because: They have worked extremely hard over the past few months to get themselves off the ground and established, and have a very bright future ahead of them working very closely with decision makers. For most of these people it has been their dream to make a difference and this is what they are doing and I believe their dream should be recognised!
Creative Academy, Slough Borough Council
This entry should win because: The Slough Creative Academy gives new beneficiaries a taste of the real work that goes into starting a business or social enterprise at the same time as supporting and developing existing ones. The result is that through working in partnership both social enterprise and individual gain valuable skills and experience. The team is dedicated and responsive to individual need. This extends from planning and programming to follow-up support. Everyone in the team is able to support social enterprise from a leadership stand-point right down to supporting IT and finance skills. Beneficiaries are even encouraged to support one another in providing complementary expertise, from developing one another's websites or marketing, to working together on joint intiatives. Creative Academy builds on the strength of strong partnership and inspires the beneficiaires with the entrepreneurial bug. At the same time, projects provide a genuine result for local communities as many of the enterprises reach disadvantaged communities and engage them in the creative industries for the first time.
From manager to finance officer, everyone has their input into the social enterprises and individuals supported. Many social enterprises are working with European funding for the first time and the operational team are as innovative as the leadership in providing direct support in advising in the preparation of budgets and financial systems for the social enterprises. Slough Creative Academy is dedicated to supporting equal opportunities for their communities and social enterprises and through innovative thinking and responsiveness, have enabled the entrepreneurial culture in Slough to grow in ambition. A team that is always enthusiastic and positive, it has grown from strength to strength and has formed the glue that binds the social enterprise growth to the creative communities in Slough. This is a partnership that has risen to the challenge and will only grow stronger and stronger. It is a pleasure to nominate them for their vital contribution to Slough's creative economy and community.
Social Economy Belfast
This entry should win because: It would be very exciting and progressive if Social Economy Belfast won the Team award; exciting because they have assisted so many groups and individuals to develop social business and that recognition would endorse their work. It would help to motivate and encourage us so much because the team is working within an environment and against a background where the concept of the social economy has still got to fight its corner. That is the progressive nature of their work; they are not promoting a concept in a manner that says that this is the way to do things but they are saying that here is another alternative that may help towards sustaining the various good works that many of us groups carry out.
Against a background where reliance upon funding has been prominent and where there has been competition among groups for any available funding, here is an initiative which is a wee bit outside the box and offering support to those who need that assistance. Training is on offer; mentor support is on offer and conferences, seminars and best practice visits have all been used to help to build networks and to share ideas. The most positive result of all of this is that the message is getting across; more and more groups and individuals are looking at the social economy model as a means of delivering essential skills and as a means towards their own sustainability.
I believe that the Social Economy Belfast Team would be excellent recipients of the Team award; they would be great ambassadors for the awards in general and it would be recognition for all those in Belfast who are promoting and using the social economy model.
Advance Ards
This entry should win because: The Advance Ards Programme focused on developing the social enterprise culture within community groups to help build confidence, develop business skills with the ultimate goal of becoming sustainable and therefore contributing to the local economy. Within a short time frame of eighteen months over thirty groups, community businesses and organisations in the area have benefited from the programme through mentoring, training, networking, signposting and best practice study visits.
The success of Advance Ards has been through the drive and enthusiasm of the team and the support of Ards Business Centre and Ards Borough Council. The Social Economy in Ards is now talked about and statutory agencies and stakeholders have tabled it on the agenda to see how they contribute.
The organisations and groups involved now realise their importance. They are no longer seen as the little brother to private and public sectors but recognise their influence on employment, economic generation and regeneration and wealth creation within their areas.
The success of the programme has been delivered to a back drop of escalating violence since Peace, an area that is both rural and urban and possesses single identity communities. Both sides of the community have come together; have visited other social economy projects outside their areas and network with each other.
The team celebrated the success of Phase One of Advance Ards with a Conference and Exhibition showcasing the social economy within Ards and drawing over ninety delegates from community businesses and influential organisations from across Northern Ireland.
Advance Ards has been the foundation for the development of a strong social economy on the area. Building on the momentum generated and making sure the social economy in Ards does not slip from the agenda. Advance Ards team is currently looking to develop its next stage of support and assistance.
North City Training Ltd
This entry should win because: North City Training currently provides employment and training programmes to over 400 young and adult unemployed, at 5 locations throughout the North Belfast and Newtownabbey areas, which serve all sections of the community on a cross community basis.
The Management Team has developed a 5-year strategy for the company to develop staff, services and resources and maximise potential in providing employment and training services to its clients. This Strategy is reviewed bi-annually to determine performance and ensure evaluation takes place.
The Team provide a strategy for the provision of training, employment, education and guidance services to young people and adults through the North Belfast and Newtownabbey areas. Their work is intensively focused on the new Targeting Social Need (TSN) areas, which highlight multiple measures of deprivation. The areas targeted are among those in the top 10% most deprived in Northern Ireland.
This Team have managed to provide for over 18 years a localised quality service in the North Belfast and Newtownabbey areas. They have developed the company to become one of the top 5 Training Organisations in Northern Ireland, holding numerous quality and training awards as well as being only one of 3 Education and Training Inspectorate Grade 1 Centres in the Province.
FOCUS TO WORK
This entry should win because: Teamwork has brought significant achievements since 2003:
1) Created in excess of 150 jobs for those identified as disadvantaged in the labour market.
2) Developed three separate social enterprises: A chain of restaurants, a construction company and a training company ā€“ all operating as commercial ventures
3) Over 500 individuals have received vocational training, motivation and confidence building courses and mentoring from Solutions Employment and Training.
4) Worked with over 150 ex-offenders including some of the most persistent offenders and progressed over 40 into secure employment and 120 into vocational training with a re-offending rate of only 3%.
5) Completed a 3 year Job Centre Plus Co-finance project two years early with a 96% success rate. This contract has now been extended to assist another 20 individuals. Another 26 jobs have been secured, mainly for individuals previously on Incapacity Benefits.
The team offers a unique resource for those who are most disadvantaged in the labour market, offering an alternative to the cycle of social exclusion, poverty and disadvantage. They offer real jobs and work experience in a safe and supported environment in which employees have a full and effective voice in the management, development and future sustainability of the enterprise.
Each team member provides specific assistance to enable our employees to overcome barriers by providing individual mentoring, workplace training and support for personal development, guiding them to a fulfilling role in society.
The team is committed to equality of opportunity for everyone seeking employment or training. They work together to ensure that individuals with mental, physical, economic or educational disadvantages have the chance of holding real jobs, receive competitive wages and access opportunities for career development and profit-sharing. The team achieves these goals by offering access to training, employment, advice and guidance.
The proven success of this small team in getting people from benefits to achieving independence through meaningful employment and training is what makes them worthy of this award.
several companies - including equalexchange - deta
This entry should win because: This team should win this award due to its development of an innovative and successful business model that has social enterprise at its heart. With a clear common goal the work has begun by using a team of experts across four different companies in order to begin making the dreams reality. Turning dreams into reality is of core importance to the nut collectors. Since we started the co-operative its as if we've gained our freedom. It feels like we're not slaves any more. We have more income, more work and more dignity, says Benedicto Gonzalez, a nut gather from COINACAPA in Bolivia.
The purpose of the team is to bring challenges to the world nut mark by developing a Fairtrade supply chain for brazil nuts. By using Fairtrade as an alternative trading system, brazil nut collectors in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil will be able to get a decent return for their work thereby ensuring sustainability for their communities. It also enables the collectors work to continue to harness extra value from the Amazon forests to help in the fight against deforestation.
The world nut market is dominated by a small number of large trading houses, with local traders and processors controlling supply chains in some of the world's poorest countries. Those at the bottom of the chain normally gain little in return whilst their crops generate significant returns to those further up the supply chain. Many have seen the real value of their crop decrease year on year and they are struggling to survive.
The team will continue to work towards the common goal of setting up a Fairtrade nut company a joint venture which will include Twin Trading, equalexchange, Candela and COINACAPA. The aim being to have an innovative company structure that includes producer ownership at its heart and seeks to redress the balance of unequal trading relations between north and south.
ECT
This entry should win because: ECT staff are personally committed to providing the best services possible
Just Fair Trade
This entry should win because: Staging such a successful large-scale event needs a great team, and that's what we have. The technical sophistication and professional standards in a fun, relaxed atmosphere is a testimony to everyone involved. Everyone involved is valued, and shares the events success, no matter how small they feel their role is.
Everyone recognises it isn't just about the show, it's an experience both for them and the audience: buying Fairtrade and taking action on issues of trade justice count. Every team member's commitment is clear, they are there to put on a show, and, at the same time, to work together to change the world.
This team demonstrates all the benefits of volunteering and working together with very few of the frustrations. They share ideas, skills and enthusiasm and most of all they keep coming back and bringing new people to build and develop the team. No matter what the problem, someone has the solution and no matter what the task, someone does it, often without being asked.
The old hands support the new recruits who in turn inspire and energise everyone. New skills are learned, old talents polished. Everyone is able to add something to keep the show fresh and fun. Volunteer experts from local business, unions, charities, voluntary organisations and faith groups come in to complement the team's skills and support the event. Individuals are challenged and supported to try new things outside their comfort zone and are empowered by their success.
Most importantly the team has inspired and supported others outside the show. We've supported new Fairtrade fashion companies, introducing their clothes and accessories. This team has developed a model that works and is now being copied across the UK as members of the team advise and empower them to put on their own Fairtrade fashion shows.
Co-operative and Social Enterprise (CaSE-da)
This entry should win because: We are proud of the work we do for our clients, helping them on the road to realising their dreams. For 23 years we have worked to make a difference to the lives of people, helping them change the way they work and achieving their ambitions by helping them through any barriers they face.
The success of CaSE-da has further been achieved through the commitment of all members of staff in promoting an extremely professional and caring approach towards clients and all aspects of the work. We are successful because clients know that they can trust us to always deliver the best possible service in a culturally appropriate manner and in a way that ensures the client's current and emerging needs are properly analysed, understood and addressed.
Established in 1982 CaSE-da is one of the UK's longest standing social enterprise development organisations. We have national and international recognition for our work and a reputation for innovation and continuous improvement. This competitive edge has been maintained by recruiting, retaining and developing quality staff and constantly seeking and promoting new areas of development.
The success rate of the social enterprises we help illustrates how the agency makes a difference to people's lives in a positive way, and in turn reinforces the achievements of the dedicated CaSE-da team.
The best thing about CaSE-da is the continuing support they give to co-ops and social enterprises. New organisations get the guidance they need to start up and established groups feel there is help available if needed. We wouldn't be where we are without them. Long may their work continue. Client comment.
Pogo Cafe
This entry should win because: Pogo workers are a remarkable example of dedication and hard work. The workers either support their Cafe work with other jobs or work exclusively for the benefit of the project. They have supported each other and the project through the extreme challenges of the first 18 months of trading in the catering sector and deserve recognition for their achievements as well as the support offered by this prize.
Social Enterprise Trainee of the Year
Michelle Baharier
This entry should win because: Michelle has worked tirelessly through Cooltan Arts, helping thousands of people change their lives. Cooltan Arts has become a landmark in the local community and has helped bring about important changes in services for adults with mental distress locally. Cooltan Arts offers adults real alternatives for recovery with no hidden agendas. The public exhibitions held by Cooltan Arts help to break down the stigma people with mental health issues often suffer. They help people build up their self-confidence and enable them to aspire to their dreams. People begin to create interesting artworks around their local area. Peer learning is encouraged, and people learn how to obtain their rights in the own areas and communities. Thus they become more involved in activities outside of their own homes, spending their time usefully, so that they can begin to overcome their depression and feel a sense of their own worth. The standard of work produced at Cooltan Arts is in itself a testimony to Michelle, along with the many public exhibitions she has helped to organise. She has helped inspire the artists, many of whom have had problems of low self-esteem, to take a well deserved pride in their work.
Siddika Begum
This entry should win because: Community Cleaning Services is developing to provide community base Social Enterprise a business. This is creating a hope, opportunities for excluded people from the black minority ethnic groups, especially Bengali women in to diversify their income stream.
My aim and objectives:
This is an integrated training and employment support programme and unique project targeted at young Asian/Bangladeshi adults and people with learning disability.
Since we have started trading from last October I have trained 11 people. 6 of whom now working as a paid workers who previous refused by the employer due to languages barriers, lack of confidence, communication skills and lack of work experience.
I have been providing capacity building and empowering individual to reach to their highest potential.
It is an amazing and rewarding when you give people respect, allow to explore and experiment in an innovated ways. It motivates and inspires people to do their best what they choose to do.
Siddika is an amazing person who suffers from learning disabilities. She is hard working, helpful, who wants be more independent and open to learning new skills. Siddika is responsive to her career development she is enjoying her time as a trainee cleaner. She is inspirational and a role model to others who experienced negative attitude towards their disability.
Siddika's wining will bring hope, inspirations and joy to the community. It will be flagship for the employer to introduce new structure within the Organisation to do more for excluded people. It will allow us to build community empowerment and sustainable society. Which we all can benefit from.
Carol Hughes
This entry should win because: Carol has achieved such a fantastic amount on the job that she deserves to win this award. Carol now has several qualifications ranging from her LGV Theory Test right through to her ADR Licence. These qualifications are transferable and will make Carol more employable. Carol has loved learning on the job and actually getting out and about on the wagons. The work is tough, physical and demanding but Carol has proved that she is more than up for it. As Carol herself says, she now has better options for both her and her children.
Carol's not a quitter and after the disappointment of failing her LGV Theory Test first time around picked herself up and put herself straight back in for it again. She is a great team player and has offered invaluable support to one of her fellow trainees Brahim Babouri, a refugee from Algeria. Brahim is quite a shy character but he felt confident to approach Carol for help and advice on the Theory Test and Carol has given Brahim real practical help with his driving.
Carol always gives 110% and the great thing is Carol does not feel like this is any more that what should be expected of her in the first place. As Carol's Manager says Carol is, "Reliable, mixes well and is also great at keeping the men in line too!!" Carol has helped change the culture of the Logistics Team. Now that the crews have worked with Carol they know that women are more than up to the job. Carol has blazed a trail for other women thinking about becoming drivers and because Carol has been such a huge success we have been able to use Carol in our recruitment campaigns nationally. Consequently, we now get more women applying for the jobs.
Margaret Krowicki
This entry should win because: Margaret should win this award as she is a strong and inspirational disabilities awarness trainer. She is involved in training Doctors, Nurses,and Social Workers and others in the caring profession. She does this with minimum support. She makes people feel comfortable in asking questions and the way in which she challenges issues round disabilties leaves the professional that much wiser and this has a posative impact on the lives of other people with impairments.She uses her own vast personal exprience, knowledge and humour in the sessions to maximum impact.
She runs advocacy groups in Day Centres.
With her kindness compassion and humour Margaret is passionate and active in her local community.If she sees somone
in trouble where a great many of us would walk away. She will do her best to help them whilst being mindful of her own safety.
Margaret is a fanatactic inspiratinal person to others as she has a very optimistic attitude to life.
Bt winning this award Margarets amazing achievements and inspiratinal work would be recognized (and it would tickle her pink!)
Tahira Kulsoom
This entry should win because: Relatively fresh from university, having finished her course in January '06, Tahira works with boundless enthusiasm, across all communities and cultures bringing a common appreciation of everyone.
Why should Tahira win the Trainee Award? Through her own initiative and common sense approach, Tahira:-
Has 10 groups she is supporting directly at the moment, ranging from small community groups seeking to diversify their income streams to individuals starting music-based youth projects
Helped 6 people into work through advice and motivation
Manages an innovative programme of monthly advice workshops and has established a linked programme of bite-sized training events for social enterprises. These are a major success because the attendance is approximately 30 - 40 people with extremely positive feedback from participants; if it wasn't valued, people simply wouldn't turn up!
Started as a student placement some 2½ years ago, but continued to work for Wycombe District Council because of her commitment. When she returned to university, she dropped down to just 2 days per week, but continued to put in the same level of dedication and commitment as when she worked full time. Successfully completing her studies whilst running two major contracts was particularly challenging, both with the Learning & Skills Council.
Always with an eye on the bottom line, Tahira's real expertise is her ability to push people to the limit with a smile; as the trainee, she has taught us all many lessons and is held in great respect by all that work with her.
Alberto Nardelli
This entry should win because: Alberto is a social entrepreneur himself. He has a knack for finding opportunities where most people see obstacles and applies this thinking to the projects he supports with great enthusiasm.
Jessica Nugent
This entry should win because: Jessica has constantly been keen to learn new skills and at the same time has shown great ability in applying such skills in different contexts, she has had the confidence to take responsibility proactively often beyond her role. Above all she has aways demonstrated excpetional interpersonal skills in developing relations with the diverse range of young social entrepreneurs from very different backgrounds that she works to support on a daily basis. In a nutshell she has had the interest to constantly learn and the ability to adapt learnings to her personal strenghts. Having been part of the UnLtd team for a while, she has also contributed greatly to the rest of the UnLtd team, including providing invaluable support to new team members.
Bernadette Wright
This entry should win because: Bernadette Wright:-
If we honestly, truly and openly believe in values of adult learning through participation, inclusion and self-determination we must award Bernadette Wright with The Trainee of The Year Award. Here we will begin to capture her life-story as a significant study in explaining why The Respect Agenda 2006 must reach out to us all. Challenge hardly explains the pain and exclusion faced by Bernadette Wright during regeneration of her local community as we are looking at one determined, spirited, passionate individual who makes a difference daily in her neighbourhood. Bernadette, what a fascinating story, provides a true community voice, driving social inclusion and opening avenues of respect across the intergeneration divide. In 2002 her determination took her onto the School of Social Entrepreneurs course in Salford where she went on to be a Fellow of the SSE. The journey picked up a pace until in 2005 Bernadette became the first woman in the UK to complete the City and Guilds Active Citizenship Award. With a life-long interest in the arts, culture and history, Bernadette created a time-line record from digital photography spanning across community groups in Salford and Manchester. Bernadette's achievement is as an independent community network cutting out bureaucracy to hand the time-line to the citizens around her. In the last year challenges in regeneration were met by her participating in community committees across a range of subjects. Learning became her solution and Bernadette used the Active Citizenship journey to come right to the forefront. Soon we will see her awarded with the Community Champion Award being sponsored by The Community Foundation and Home Office. It takes one special person to simply let us all realise how we can achieve our own success. The Story of Bernadette Wright is one amazing performance we must proudly salute.
Social Enterprise Mentor of the Year
Sharon Bamford
This entry should win because: Sharon should win the award because she has been an incredible mentor to me for the last 6 years and has continually sought to assist me with my enterprises. Therefore I know how good she is first-hand. In addition, I know from spending time with her and her colleagues that I am by no means an exception. Her role as the head of SIE allows her to reach a number of people and promote the aims of social enterprise and she does this whenever and wherever she can.
First let me say congratulations to the Scottish Institute of Enterprise for running 5 amazing years and wishing you many years ahead in helping students and entrepreneurs encouraging and guiding them, and working with creative students and connecting them together and connecting them with the right people in order for them to shine. I'm so proud that I was a participant and a part of an event that was organized by SIE. To all of you who are trying to find your way trying and wanting to achieve more SIE- is the answer. It's an amazing experience on all levels; both academic and personal. Shatha Al-Haj, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, Jordon (quote from International Summer School delegate and a student at the university, Sharon mentored in setting up their own business plan competition.
Liam Black
This entry should win because: Liam should win the mentor award because he has shown Fifteen's trainees the value of persistence, determination and the principles of effective business that can only be learnt on-the-job by someone with his entrepreneurial mind. Combined with his commitment to social justice, Liam has inspired others to think about how enterprises can change the way society works. His dedication to young people should not be overlooked.
Trevor Burchick
This entry should win because: Trevor Burchick was the winning adult in the Pride of Manchester Awards run by Manchester Evening news 2005/06, being recognised for his successful Directorship in organising, motivating, mentoring and running the multi-sports "PrideGames" as part of the renowned ten day Manchester Pride Festival. Trevor's visionary approach to sports attracted 700 athletes from around the world, engaging activities into many community facilities and inspiring groups from across the wider community.
Volunteers came on-board from the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association) FA (Football Association) Commonwealth Games Volunteers and from an array of community groups. A legacy of PrideGames is its transformation into a people's co-operative legally constructed by help from the expert advisory group Co-operatives UK. Achievements by Trevor further include mentoring of volunteer teams and setting-up constituted groups, as a shared network, helped and supported through his professional skills as a Graduated of the IPD (Institute of Personnel and Development). Trevor inspires many employers, attracts sponsorship, and develops individuals' confidence, empowerment and pride.
Moving on - Trevor recently became the UK's Director for GLISA - the GLBT International Sporting Association that is holding the major WorldOutGames sports event in Montreal, Canada (July 2006) with greater participation numbers than was seen at the last Commonwealth Games. This outstanding achievement has been developed during 10 years while Trevor developed a small swim club, now with 1,000 members. Trevor's exceptional abilities are motivating others at many levels of authority across international communities, bringing into focus life-skills, wellbeing and social inclusion.
A jewel in his crown of success is an inspirational DVD where PrideGames lists the magnificent credit list of its supporters and makes us realise neighbourhood engagement means the sky is the limit.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones
This entry should win because: I believe that anyone who is prepared to stick their neck out and 'tell it as it is' in the way that Wilfred has, deserves recognition. What he has to say is not always PC or particularly palatable, but in speaking the truth it allows people to move forward. Unlike many, Wilfred doesn't just 'talk the talk', he gets out there and makes things happen - the Scholarship is a perfect demonstration of this, and one that has sent ripples far and wide. Because of his own experience in fighting for everything he has achieved, his ability to mentor others and inspire them to achieve things beyond their wildest dreams is exceptional and one that I believe should be rewarded.
Marian Giles
This entry should win because: - she recognises the potential of good projects
- she takes on the role of mentor to support even small scale projects which work with unpopular causes
- she is generous in sharing her expertise, particularly in the area of seeking funding and legal advice
- helps us to plan our future through joint projects
- helps us to work on realistic development plans
- allowed us to learn from her experience in building up a social entreprise
Margaret Krowicki
This entry should win because: Magaret should win this award as after spending 24 years in a day center not using her skills or knowledge she has become a strong inspiratinal disabilities trainer. She is involved in training Doctors Nurses Social workers and other in the caring profession. She does this with minium support. She makes people comforable in asking questioins & the way in which she challenges issues concerining disabilities leaves the prosessional much wiser and this has a posative impact on the lives of others with disabilities.In the sessions she shares her exprience and knowledge as a person with multi-impairments along with her great houmour with maxium impact.
Magaret runs advocacy groups in Day centers.With her kindness compassion and great sence of houmour Margaret is an active member of her community.If she see's somone in trouble where a great many of us would walk away Magaret will do her best to help out while being mindful of her own safety.
Margaret is a fanastic insipirational person and trainer and fun person to be round. Where others had given up on her Magaret never gave up on herself.(& if she won she would be tickled pink!)
Harriet Lamb
This entry should win because: Harriet should win this award because it specifically acknowledges an aspect of Harriet's multi-facetted role in the Fairtrade Foundation which would otherwise remain unsung. Harriet's leadership has been crucial to the vision which now guides the strategic direction Fairtrade is taking both in the UK and internationally but within the many circles Harriet has to move, her particular personality and example are an inspiration to many individuals. These individuals are inspired to go the extra mile for Fairtrade producing a mushrooming of enthusiasm and this results in the remarkable energy, commitment and creativity which characterises the whole Fairtrade movement.
Despite moving in the highest circles of government, the commercial world, international institutions, etc, Harriet remains committed to visiting Fairtrade farmers around the world, committed to engaging with campaigners across the UK and committed to supporting her staff in the Foundation. This combination of high level and grassroots engagement is what makes Harriet a particularly inspirational mentor.
John Pepin
This entry should win because: Because you wont find anyone else who has made such a lasting impact on so many organisations. John has transformed the way I work and has helped us build a charity that now helps thousands of people.And because he's a very nice bloke, with a nice sense of humour...
Barbara Phillips
This entry should win because: Quite simply Barbara should win this award because her achievements are significant and because shares the benefits of her considerable knowledge and experience with many, many people, giving her time in a very selfless way.
Steve Round
This entry should win because: I believe Steve Round should win this award for his steadfast support and continual contribution to this sector. Over the last 17 years Steve contribution is impossible to measure; his work has changed innumerable lives. He has inspired and enabled countless people to further their dreams, goals and aspirations. As an individual he is always free with his knowledge and experience, and has constantly strived to use this to positively influence his surrounding environment.
His work as Chair of London Rebuilding Society, has helped enable the financing of many Social Enterprises around the capital, not to mention the countless lives that will be changed as a result of the successful Ā£5.7 million bid to the Treasury and Cabinet Officeā€™s The 'Invest to Save Budget' (ISB). This will enable London Rebuilding Society to develop and deliver a new equity release product designed for low income and vulnerable homeowners living in housing disrepair in Newham.
Stephen Sears
This entry should win because: Stephen Sears should win the mentor award as he has been an example to other social entrepreneurs, driving the business forward and promoting the value of social enterprise to the next generation. He has shown that social businesses need not remain community-based but can be commercially successful and still retain the high ideals on which the enterprise was founded. He has shown leadership and has been more than willing to share his experience on numerous occasions. Stephen has done all this with humility and grace.
Heather Wilkinson
This entry should win because: Heather is committed and dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs one
hundred percent. Her passion for the sector resonates throughout all the
work she undertakes and the individuals she supports. We believe she is an important pivotal resource for social entrepreneurs and that she provides a good example for others to follow. As a mentor she shows time and energy in supporting others to flourish and develop their own ideas, and is dedicated to inspiring and educating other young people about the opportunities that social enterprise can offer as a career.
As a mentor she inspires, motivates, nurtures and connects social
entrepreneurs to the right resources to enable them to achieve their own
enterprising ambitions.
Holly Berry of www.reclaimfashion.com is one of Heather's mentees.
'Heather has been very helpful and important for me whilst taking the scary first steps of starting my own company with her direct and hands on approach to getting things started. Through motivational talks and meetings, I feel as though she has taken away a lot of the pressure. By splitting the stages of starting a business up, into small and manageable projects, she has enabled me to move forward quickly and more straight forwardly than if I were to attempt this alone. She has been resourceful in providing a constant stream of contacts, information and sources that I have been put in touch with who have helped the business move in some way.
All in all I have and am really enjoying working with and alongside Heather through Striding Out, and I cannot thank her enough.'
Sarah Wilson
This entry should win because: There are several things which when put together mean that Sarah should get this award.
·Sarah is a well known and valued member of the local community as well as the wider social enterprise world. She is constantly being asked for help and advice by those around her as she is so approachable and versatile.
·She is used as a resource by the community.
·She has the ability to learn what drives people and their methods of learning and uses this to take them forward.
·She diligently follows up to make sure people get the most out of her work and know what the next steps should be.
·She has helped people look beyond the obvious and has encouraged them to stretch their capabilities and ambitions so they and their organisations don't just survive but grow.
·She is highly organised, committed, reliable and has a great sense of humour
·She is non- judgmental
·She sets boundaries within each relationship so expectations can be managed and some clear rules are set.
·She realises she does not know everything, and so is always looking to learn and improve so she can help others more effectively.