On 2nd December 2021, at the Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, Selnet’s 10th awards event for social enterprises highlighted how social businesses adapted services to Covid challenges, in order to continue supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people across Lancashire.
Selnet is the lead organisation representing social enterprises across Lancashire, increasing our sector’s competitiveness, sustainability and impact. We support and enable the vital work of frontline social enterprises, from training, to contract delivery and enabling partnerships.
Enterprise in Society Awards 2021
Lancashire’s social enterprise teams “perform miracles: day after day after day”
Social Enterprises across Lancashire celebrated and promoted for their phenomenal impacts and achievements throughout Covid at the Enterprise in Society Awards 2021.
They have gone above and beyond expectations in response to Covid-19, helping people in crisis and keeping lives together. Our phenomenal sector deserves the recognition, celebration and wider promotion, joining together and sharing impactful stories in person at the Enterprise in Society Awards 2021.
The story from Twitter
Start Up Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by The Sewing Rooms, presented by co-Directors Paula Gamester and Maureen Fazal
Growing Resilience CIC
“We are just under a year old, set up to support people around mental health. Teaching people how to cook with foodbank items, horticulture, introducing different concepts of mental health, meditation, conflict resolution, chaotic lifestyles, becoming physically and mentally better, working with UCLan to support LGBTQ+ communities and homeless people.”
Glen Duckett, Growing Resilience CIC.
Highly commended award presented to We Be Kids CIC (collected by Suzanne Murray, Groundwork)
Shortlisted were Beanstalk Business Support CIC, Growing Resilience, Mindsight and We Be Kids CIC.
Small Social Enterprise of the Year
Presented by awards judge Adam HoldenDivine Days Creative Arts
“We tackle inequalities with health, working with people with complex needs or disabilities, helping them access social entrepreneurship we use the arts predominantly. Everyone in our category is phenomenal, so we are just so thrilled, everyone is just absolutely wonderful, and we are absolutely honoured!”
Katie Whitehead, MD
Highly commended award presented to Let’s Grow Preston.
Shortlisted were Barks and Recreation, Brew Me Sunshine, Divine Days Creative Arts, Let’s Grow Preston and SHAPE Lancashire.
Large Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Unity Trust Bank, and announced and presented by Margaret Porter
Furniture Matters
“I didn’t expect this at all, we’re 20 years old, we work in Morecambe and the surrounding area of Morecambe, through Covid we really came into our own, what we’re about is helping people in need, in crisis, – where others closed around us, we kept on going and honestly, we had a really great 18 months!”
Steph Buchanan, Manager at Furniture Matters.
Shortlisted were Child Action Northwest, Furniture Matters (Calico Enterprise Ltd), Intact, Lancashire Women, Recycling Lives Social Enterprises and Travel Assist.
Social Enterprise Covid Hero Award
Presented by David Allen on behalf of the sponsor ‘Recycling Lives Commercial’@TheGrange Community Centre
“The Grange is right sat the centre of Grange Park in Blackpool, we support the residents of Grange Park, during Covid while services closed, we stayed open and we supported the people that were the most vulnerable – most of all what came to light out of it, is there are some very vulnerable people who were not known to use before Covid, but now they are known and have support and care put into place so a lot of good has come out of the work that was done during lockdowns – we did meals on wheels, Christmas dinners, housed people off the streets – and that support just continues and continues. We’re very proud of what we do!”
Ellen Ryan @TheGrange
Shortlisted were CANWe Solutions CIC, Intact, New Era Enterprises, The Sewing Rooms and @TheGrange Community Centre.
Work and Training Social Enterprise of the Year
Sponsored by Livv Housing and presented by awards judge Paula Brown
Brew Me Sunshine
Video “Thank you very much for this award, it means so much here to us at Brew Me Sunshine, it’s been really rewarding to see our volunteers overcome their challenges and develop their confidence and skills throughout our training schemes – it’s been even greater to see one of those volunteers join our team as a member of staff, who will also get a well-deserved nomination in one of the other categories this evening. We are incredibly proud of our team and we are not just a café that serves a cup of coffee and delicious cakes. We continue to be a safe, accessible community space for some of the most isolated members of our community. Thank you again and you are all very welcome to see us here at Brew Me Sunshine to celebrate the hard work of all of those this evening”
Claire Lloyd – Cafe Manager
Shortlisted were AFC Fylde Community Foundation, Brew Me Sunshine, Calico Enterprise Ltd, Child Action Northwest, Recycling Lives (Social Enterprises) Ltd and Social Enterprise Solutions.
Social Enterprise Employee of the Year
Awarded by Selnet Membership Lead, Yvette HoldenNatalie Hall CANWe Solutions
Accepting the award on her behalf was Michelle Dixon, Head of Service at Child Action Northwest:
“I have the pleasure of working with Natalie and her team. She’s heavily pregnant and was advised to take some time off to rest! Working with Natalie she’s amazing, she gives her all to everything – on behalf of Natalie thank you very much!”
Shortlisted were Carl Simms of Child Action Northwest, Craig Kirby of The Sewing Rooms, Jez Palmer of CANWe Solutions CIC, Julie Smith of SHAPE Lancashire, Natalie Hall of CANWe Solutions CIC and Vicky Hutchinson of Lancashire Women.
Striving for Equality Award
Sponsored by Calico Enterprises and presented by Sam Howarth
Equalities and Justice Northwest
Presented to Zed Ali, Chief Officer:
“We help organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector to implement best practice policies that promote equality. We provide advice and advocacy on a whole range of practical issues and we are absolutely blown away to win this award, all I can say is thank you!”
Shortlisted were Child Action Northwest, Equalities & Justice Northwest and URPotential.
Environmental Champion of the Year
Presented by Chair of Selnet, Graham JonesRecycling Lives Social Enterprise
When asked how he would sum up what Recycling Lives’ actions are, Alasdair said:
“I think that in a nutshell, I have a team that perform miracles, day after day after day”.
Alasdair Jackson, Operations Director at Recycling Lives.
Shortlisted were Furniture Matters (part of Calico Enterprise), Let’s Grow Preston and Recycling Lives (Social Enterprises) Ltd.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Presented by Selnet’s Deputy CEO, Donna Marshall
Jessica Marina Bridge Renaissance UK
“I’m a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and I work with Renaissance UK, volunteering hours with them, I work with individuals suffering with sexual health issues, trauma, addiction, drugs, alcohol and the LGBTQ community as well, so I was working with them while I was qualifying as a CBT therapist and since then I’ve been volunteering my hours ever since. I couldn’t imagine not being with them, they’re just a brilliant team!”
Jessica Marina Bridge, Renaissance UK
In recognition of the shortlisted candidates’ work, awarded highly commended certificates were presented to: Beryl Lymer of Spring into Action, Donna Hannigan of URPotential, Katy Smith of Child Action Northwest, Krysti-Ann Monroe of Lancashire Women, Tina Calderbank of SHAPE Lancashire and Yasmin Shakir of PUKAR.
Social Enterprise Champion 2021
Presented by 2019 Champion Paula GamesterTony Carr Social Enterprise Solutions CIC
Tony was very surprised, on accepting the award he said:
“It’s very kind and thank you to the judges, and everybody who has been involved in this awards ceremony. I’m very lucky – I’ve had 2 careers, my first career was 30 years as a retailer, then I moved to our sector and its given me enormous job satisfaction, because now I enjoy going to work and I enjoy the results of the work, which is something that never happened before.
That work was all money-based, and this is about people. Job satisfaction is everything: when we can see the fruits of our work and see that peoples’ lives have changed. So, thank you very much for this award!”
Shortlisted nominees were Annie Wynn of Let’s Grow Preston, Dave Scholes of Mindsight, Linda Markey of URPotential and Tony Carr of Social Enterprise Solutions CIC.
Social Enterprise of the Year 2021
Sponsored by Social Enterprise UK, presented by Liz Tapner on behalf of SEUK
Child Action Northwest
“I work with these wonderful people, the only thing that I can say is that everyone does an amazing job, day in, day out – as I’m sure everyone does in the room, to win it the second time – we thought there was no way, so I’m absolutely thrilled, I’m more thrilled with friends and colleagues who stand by me because they’re the ones who go out every day and do what they do – thanks guys, you’re brilliant!”
Michelle Dixon, Head of Service at CANW
The final category, sponsored by Social Enterprise UK, shortlisted 27 candidates from all social enterprises shortlisted at the 2021 awards.
A huge thank you to our sponsors
On behalf of all our members, Selnet Directors would like to thank the following organisations for supporting the Social Enterprise in Society Awards 2021!
Twitter Feed
#SelnetAwards http://www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk/latest-news-and-features/social-enterprises-honoured-at-regional-awards @SelnetLtd Can’t tell you how proud this makes me feel. So many great nominations and phenomenal winners thank you Tony @SESCICUK #buysocial
#SelnetAwards winners are hiring fab opportunity with @DivineDaysUK @SelnetLtd
#SelnetAwards we simply cannot do this with you - thank you from everyone @SelnetLtd to: @recyclinglives @SewFabAcademy @CalicoSkills @LivvInvestment @unitytrustbank @SocialEnt_UK we missed you @peteholbrook
A BIG thankyou to all the amazing #SocEnt's that made the #SelnetAwards such a great night! Well done to all the winners & all those nominated...& a special thanks to our wonderful sponsors....@recyclinglives @SocialEnt_UK @SewFabAcademy @CalicoSkills @unitytrustbank
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We could not be prouder of our BBO team for dual win at the #SelnetAwards last night 🤩🎉
Second consecutive year 🙌
Thank you @SelnetLtd for a sensational celebration and congratulations to all the other nominations and winners of the night 🤝
So so funny 🤣 Thanks goodness you soon put your trousers on 🤦♀️ @publicitybox great night, top draw host, loved it 😊 @SelnetLtd #SelnetAwards
This makes so happy 😃 @KatieWh63260421 glad you had a good night and congratulations 🥳 @SelnetLtd #SelnetAwards
