Moray Social Enterprise Network

  Supporting Social Enterprises in Moray

Moray Social Enterprise Awards 2009

Following the success of the Awards event held in 2008, the Moray Social Enterprise Network and REAP are pleased to announce the details of the 2009 event. As last year, the event will seek to recognise the dedication and determination of many individuals and businesses despite the challenging trading conditions experienced recently. The invited guests will include local business leaders and representatives from organisations whose remit is the promotion of social enterprise, which will present a wonderful networking opportunity for all those attending.  For more details see events.

Moray Social Enterprise Awards 2008

The first awards ceremony for social enterprises in Moray has taken place at Innes House on March 28^th 2008.

The event was funded with the generous support of HIE Moray and Communities Scotland.  Local MSP and Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead spoke at the event which was a celebration of the distinctive contribution that social enterprises are making across Moray.

Kevin McDermott of MSEN said “This is the first time we have held an event like this in Moray and we are really pleased at how it went. There are a lot of excellent new and emerging social enterprises in Moray, and we really want to get the message out about the positive role that social enterprises can play in delivering innovative services and products.”

The awards were for the individual Moray Social Entrepreneur of the year; an award for Excellence in Training; an award for the Best New Social Enterprise and the Social Impact award which was for the organisation that has made the biggest impact over the past year. 

Award Winners

There was also an award of Agency Champion for Franziska Smith from HIE Moray in recognition of her contribution to the sector and the support which HIE Moray has given to social enterprises in Moray.

Nominees

Social Impact Award

Forres Credit Union - Forres Credit Union saw a 25% increase in membership this year as they moved to High street premises which were purchased with member’s savings. They lent out £140,000 last year and have now developed savings clubs in 6 local schools.

Elgin Youth Cafe - Now in its seventh year the café has continued to provide services and a safe meeting place for young people in Elgin. They have greatly increased their income from external use of the building over the past year and have additional space now that they have seen Outfit Moray move on to new premises after a long and fruitful relationship with the Café

ReBoot - were short listed in the Social Impact category for their work in delivering quality recycled computers at affordable prices to low income families and community and voluntary groups. This year saw ReBoot energised with a new board and new income streams through welcoming walk-in business from members of the public as well.

Moray Reach Out/Wastewatchers  - for their work in providing quality training and work opportunities for adults with learning difficulties in their can recycling operation in Buckie. They have been nominated for two awards – The Social Impact Award and The Investing in Excellence award in recognition of the great work they have done in helping trainees gain nationally recognised qualifications as well as developing their own photo-evidence based training portfolio which gives trainees real ownership of their learning and progress.

Earthshare -  was set up in 1994 to provide locally grown organic veg & soft fruit at an affordable price for local people. They are financially self-sufficient and produce boxes for up to 200 local households as well as employing 6 people. They have also been involved in the local food apprenticeship scheme, and are part of the Soil Association’s Open Farm scheme.

Moray Art Centre - is the first centre for excellence in the visual arts in Moray in a building which uses cutting edge sustainable technologies and is a 100% ‘green’ energy self-sufficient public building. The Centre gallery space is of international museum-quality level, such that the centre is now able to borrow great works of art from museums and galleries in the UK and the rest of Europe.

The Green Home - Social Impact Award Winners

Best New Social Enterprise

VIP childcare -  opened towards the end of 2007 from a base in Elgin and after the usual challenges and set-backs which all start-ups face they have  established this provision and are now looking to take the next step and establish a second base elsewhere in Moray. They have a real  commitment to quality training and staff development and aim to enhance the importance of valuing Childcare Practitioners and the role they fulfill in society.

Moray Art Centre - Best New Social Enterprise Award Winner

Down To Earth - is aiming to develop a new affordable housing social enterprise in Moray. Firmly rooted in the principles of sustainability and self-building this new enterprise has made great achievements such as achieving Rural Housing Body Status from the Scottish Government and developing a partnership with Langstane Housing Association.

Investing In Excellence

KDRA - a successful and established social enterprise which operates a train service between to towns of Keith and Dufftown -  a service which carried 14,000 passengers last year. KDRA feel that their provision of challenging and responsible volunteering opportunities for older people, predominately men make them fairly unusual in the social enterprise sector.

Moray Reach Out/Wastewatchers  - for their work in providing quality training and work opportunities for adults with learning difficulties in their can recycling operation in Buckie. They have been nominated for two awards – The Social Impact Award and The Investing in Excellence award in recognition of the great work they have done in helping trainees gain nationally recognised qualifications as well as developing their own photo-evidence based training portfolio which gives trainees real ownership of their learning and progress.

Kim Siu /Down To Earth - is aiming to develop a new affordable housing social enterprise in Moray. Firmly rooted in the principles of sustainability and self-building this new enterprise has made great achievements such as achieving Rural Housing Body Status from the Scottish Government and developing a partnership with Langstane Housing Association.

The Loft Youth Project and Trading Company - Investing in Excellence Award Winner

Moray Housing Partnership - The Partnership has been nominated for their work in developing and supporting a board which is made up entirely of tenants of the Association.  It is really refreshing to see a housing association in a social enterprise award ceremony and hopefully an indication of the potential for stronger links with this particular sector in future.

Social Entrepreneur of the Year

Fiona Birse has been described as the ‘rock’ behind Elgin Youth Café. Fiona’s passion and commitment have been instrumental in the success of the café and has had a major impact in fundraising, managing and volunteering within the café.

Lorna Creswell was a founding member and has been involved as a director and volunteer with Forres Credit Union since it began.  Lorna has a passionate belief in ensuring that the democratic structures of the credit union are functioning well and that members are encouraged to get involved in the wider governance of their co-operative. A major long term aim of securing shop front premises was achieved in 2007, a vision which Lorna has pursued with determination over the years.

Stewart Noble for his continued development of LETS activity in Forres.  Stewart has put vast amounts of time and energy into setting up a community co-op, which is allowing a local economic trading system to flourish, helping people to start their own businesses and artists to sell their work.  He has developed the idea of Shopshare within the Lets Picnic café as a bank of individual shop compartments which have been created where people with an entrepreneurial idea can hire a space to sell their goods.

Kim Siu has been nominated for her drive and determination  which has saw her  embark on her own learning journey which has saw her grow in confidence as more and more people understand and accept her vision of providing affordable and sustainable housing for local families.  Her efforts have recently been validated through her securing Level 2 funding from Scotland Unltd to help move Down to Earth on to the next stage.

Heath Gardner - Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner

Randy Klinger has been described as someone who turned a dream into reality.  The Art Centre is the culmination of years of voluntary activity from Randy to realize his vision of creating a quality art venue in Moray which could both support local artists and bring high quality exhibitions to the people of Moray. His personal commitment to the project and networking skills have been instrumental in getting buy-in from a diverse range of stakeholders and backers.

Kevin McDermott of MSEN summed up the evening "Congratulations to all our nominees this evening. It is all too often easy to be cynical and passive in the face of the challenges that we face as a community and a society.  All of the nominations tonight show how people can and do make a difference, and that whilst not a panacea, social enterprise does suggest a different way of doing business."