November 2022

Social enterprise leaders have named our work as being amongst the best in Lancashire.

Selnet (Social Enterprise Lancashire Network) handed us the Large Social Enterprise of the Year award in its annual Enterprise in Society Awards. It follows another win with Selnet last year, as we earned the Environmental Champion award for our efforts recycling waste electricals and preventing food waste.

Selnet’s judges commended our mission to change lives and create lasting change by reducing reoffending rates, homelessness, food waste and food poverty.

In 2021/22 we have supported 106 ex-offenders into training and employment, to reduce reoffending rates to less than 5%. We have also delivered 3.2 million meals across Lancashire and Cumbria, preventing 1,367 tonnes of food from going to waste.

Alasdair Jackson, Chief Executive of Recycling Lives Charity, said: “We’re honoured to have our work recognised by Selnet again, this time as their Large Social Enterprise of the year. Selnet have been long-standing supporters of our work, supporting us as we’ve grown over the years and contributing to our successes. Our team had a great night at the awards too – a well-earned excuse to enjoy themselves, after putting in another year of hard work helping people to change their lives for the better.”

We had also been shortlisted for a second year in the Work & Training Social Enterprise of the Year category, for our work supporting people into employment, through volunteering, work placements and training opportunities.

Liz Tapner, CEO of Selnet, said of the awards: “On the biggest event in Selnet’s history, yet again we were absolutely blown away by number and quality of nominations this year! 62 separate nominations over nine categories show just how vibrant and successful this sector is. This is a massive night for Lancashire – the successes we celebrate are felt by individuals across the county who benefit from improved health and wellbeing, support to face daily challenges and newly expanded horizons.”