First CSEP Award Winners

 

The winners of the First Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership Awards were announced at the CSEP Conference which took place at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick on 26th March.
 

The 5 award categories were:

  • New Social Enterprise of the Year
  • Co-operative of the Year
  • Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year
  • Community Enterprise of the Year
  • Existing Social Enterprise Award of the Year
and the winners were ….
 
            

                          Representatives from all the award winning social enterprises and sponsors
 

New Social Enterprise of the Year

Sponsored by Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership

Winners:                  North Allerdale Development Trust

Judges comments: The Trust has created a way from a market town’s initiative to make a business entity, that enables work towards regeneration and revitalisation of the Wigton and North Allerdale area. A Chief Officer has been employed enabling them to move forward and grow the business.

Runners-up:             Fit 4 Life

Judges comments: This community gym runs as a social enterprise recognises the need to improve health, especially in the cardio-vascular area and has developed strong links with the PCTs and accessed funding to carry out GP health referrals in Allerdale. This was originally a project developed by West Cumbria CVS and is now heading for a very healthy business future.

  

Co-operative of the Year

Sponsored by Penrith Co-Op

Winners:                  Whitehaven Credit Union

Judges comments:  The Credit Union have increased their common bond area and have set year on year targets that they want adults and junior savers to increase by 5%. They are always encouraging current members which in turn grows the business for a more sustainable future.

Runners-up:             Moody Baker

Judges comments:  The judges where very impressed by the coop model they work to and their ability to manage the demand on products, quality of food, tasks are  shared equally between colleagues. Their achievement in increasing turnover and planning for the future.

 

Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year

Sponsored by Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership

Winners:              Lazonby & District Swimming Pool Association

Judges comments:  The Association has had the foresight to set  up a range of initiative, including on site re-cycling and a heat pump amongst others. They utilise local tradesman and businesses, so in turn reduce their carbon footprint.

Runners-up:         ECO-op

Judges comments:  This organisation collectively works together as a coop to solve environmental problems and find pollution and energy use reductions solutions working in the North West.

 

Community Enterprise of the Year

Sponsored by Development Trusts Association

Winners:                  Kirkgate Arts

Judges comments:  They showed a range of activities that benefit the community and have successfully gained funding in order to develop and maximise their income and long term sustainability. They are also so very good at encouraging volunteers to work in their organisation, which in turn benefits the business and local economy.

Runners-up:             Ambleside Parish Centre

Judges comments:  They have a good community focus organisation and link well with the whole community in South Cumbria .They  are constantly working towards a more businesslike approach and are investing time to plan for a more sustainability future for the business’s long term future.

 
 
 Kate Hilton, Development Officer of Kirkgate Arts said:
"The £1,000 training awarded by the Development Trust Association, as part of this Community Enterprise award, will be used to help the Board of Directors and the Development Manager in the process of business planning for Kirkgate Arts – focusing on the challenge of long-term sustainability."
 

Existing Social Enterprise of the Year

Sponsored by Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership

Winners:               Whitehaven Credit Union

Judges comments:  We liked the way they encouraged their local community to not only save and access affordable loans but encouraged them to help run the organisation. The business has grown by 40% and they have recruited three additional staff and committee members and are clearly dedicated to volunteer training and development.

Runners-up:          Lazonby & District Swimming Pool Association

Judges comments:  They have a passion for running their swimming pool, represent 3 villages and it is one of only a few  public, open air pools left in Britain. They work with local businesses and use local resources wherever possible and over the last 2 years have made a positive move to train local 16–18 year olds as life guards.

 

 
Zena Bergmann, Secretary and Andrea Dockeray, Development Officer for Whitehaven Credit Union, accepted the awards, said:
“It is an honour to accept these prestigious awards and to be recognised for all the hard work we do. The commitment of our volunteers, directors and staff across our common bond area to man collection points, attend meetings and raise awareness of our services is exemplary and worthy of these awards.”