Pictured from left to right: Simon Fenton, CEO, Forward Carers, Liz Allen from The Connectives (award sponsors), Laura Hewson, Finance Manager, Forward Carers and Holly Pyke, Programme Manager, Forward Carers

We are delighted to have won Public Services Social Enterprise of the Year at the UK Social Enterprise Awards.

With stiff competition from many hundreds of entrants across 15 categories, these awards recognise the very brightest stars in the social enterprise sector, so we felt honoured to receive this prize in a glittering ceremony at London’s iconic Roundhouse.

The Awards are run by national sector body Social Enterprise UK and the ceremony was hosted by comedian, author and TV star Shaparak Khorsandi. We also enjoyed performances from a host of social enterprises that use music to empower young people and marginalised communities and were pleased to see many other social enterprises in the event’s supply chain.

Commenting on winning, Holly Pyke, Birmingham Carers Hub Programme Manager, said:

“This award means so much to us, not only because we were selected against such strong competition, but because it represents recognition for Carers. In parts of the country, one in four households has someone with Caring responsibilities. Whether those Carers are managing to combine work with their caring role, or whether they felt they had to give up work to provide this support to their family member or friend, it is critical that Carers’ contributions to their families and communities is recognised and valued.

We want to thank our local authority and NHS partners Birmingham City Council, Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and Birmingham Children’s Trust; and Walsall Council, for funding us to deliver public services that change Carers’ lives for the better via our network of fantastic non-profit delivery partners.” You can find out more about our work at www.forwardcarers.org.uk

We are one of an estimated 130,000 social enterprises in the UK – businesses that trade for a social or environmental purpose and reinvest at least half their profits to take on some of the biggest challenges we face, from homelessness to the climate crisis.

Peter Holbrook CBE, the chief executive of Social Enterprise UK and organiser of the awards, said:

“The last year has been a difficult one for businesses across the UK, and it has been no different for social enterprises. The Awards were a real evening of hope and inspiration and brought home the sheer ingenuity, adaptability and determination of the social enterprise community, which has continued to deliver for the people and communities they work with and support.

“The winners include businesses which are breaking down barriers for groups marginalised in the workforce, organisations at the heart of local economies, and those finding innovative ways to tackle the climate crisis. The ever-growing movement of social enterprise truly represents business at its best. Congratulations to all of the winners and to Forward Carers for their award.”

Find out more about the UK Social Enterprise Awards at www.socialenterprise.org.uk/all-about-social-enterprise-uk/uk-social-enterprise-award