06 April 2010
Four successful social entrepreneurs from Leeds have received awards at a special ceremony recognising the achievements of individuals supported in a three-year programme from UnLtd, the world’s largest provider of support to social entrepreneurs and partnered by Sharing the Success, the Leeds LEGI programme, to support the development of social entrepreneurship across the most economically disadvantaged areas of Leeds.
UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, are a UK-wide charity who provide financial and non-financial support to individuals setting up their own ventures with a positive social impact.
The winners, chosen from more than 70 social entrepreneurs in the City, were presented with their awards by Hilary Benn, the Labour MP for Leeds Central.
The ‘Best Emerging Social Enterprise Award’ was presented to Paul Chatterton from Meanwood, who used his £3,900 of funding from UnLtd to set up ‘LILAC’, a co-operative housing society which is in the process of purchasing land in West Leeds from Leeds City Council to build 20 super-insulated, permanently affordable eco-homes from natural building materials.
Iteshiah Nelson, who set-up ‘Sports and Beauty for You’ won the ‘Best Learning and Development Achievement Award’. She received support and funding from UnLtd in 2008 to set up her fitness practice and is now a resident therapist and children’s fitness consultant at the Hamara Centre in Beeston.
Mani Ray, who runs ‘Invizible Circle Education’ won the ‘Best Social Impact Award’ for his company offering a variety of programmes and workshops which aim to empower young people and the wider community to make positive changes in their lives. One project, Streetlife, is a preventative weapons and gangs programme which has to date worked with over 1,000 young people across Leeds, raising awareness about the consequences of being involved in weapons and gang activity.
The fourth award for ‘Best Social Entrepreneur’ went to Chris Tremlett from TREE, a not-for-profit organisation that successfully designs and installs all types of renewable energy systems and energy saving technology in order to reduce harmful carbon emissions and energy bills.
Beneficiaries of the programme have gone on to secure additional funding in the region of £50,000 from other financiers and the programme has created more than 30 jobs in the city.
Shahed Molvi, Head of Region for UnLtd said: “It’s an honour to be able to recognise the achievements of these award winners, who act as shining examples of the entrepreneurial spirit which is thriving in Leeds. We are extremely proud of the results achieved across the city, working in partnership with Sharing the Success. We have supported a diverse range of social ventures and community initiatives and invested over £260,000 funding in the Leeds LEGI area. We look forward to a continued partnership which will allow us to support even more enterprising individuals across the region.”
During 2010, UnLtd and Sharing the Success plan to build on the skills and services it offers with targets to provide support to a minimum of 35 social entrepreneurs between April 2010 and March 2011. It also seeks to recruit at least 25 Leeds based and regionally based mentors and volunteers to provide ongoing mentoring, advisory and coaching support over the next year.
For more information, visit www.UnLtd.org.uk or see the UnLtd Review document far right.
Pictured:
Labour MP for Leeds Central Hilary Benn, award winner Chris Tremlett, award-winner representative Kirsty Hughes from LILAC, Simon Brereton, programme manager of Sharing the Success and Shahed Molvi of UnLtd