Swansea based enterprises win at Social Business Wales Awards 2019

Gower enterprise wins at Social Business Wales Awards 2019

Gower based social enterprise, Down to Earth is this year’s Health and Social Care category winner at the 2019 Social Business Wales Awards, having won at last night’s (24^th September) awards ceremony in Llandudno. The company was selected for its project to create sustainable buildings to tackle inequality and social exclusion.

Down to Earth was one of six businesses to take home a coveted sector award, presented by Wynne Evans at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Founded in 2005, Down To Earth has worked with thousands of vulnerable and disadvantaged people to transform homes, community centres, schools and universities. Its remarkable approach means that the project delivers clinically valid healthcare to participants, as they assist with building affordable, sustainable houses for their community.

This award, sponsored by Acuity Law, was given for the project’s unique way of tackling both social inequality and sustainability whilst giving vulnerable and excluded groups a chance to thrive.

Winners from the Social Business Wales Awardswill go on to compete on a national level at the Social Enterprise UK Awards.

TheSocial Business Wales Awardsrecognise the excellence of social enterprises, co-operatives and employee-owned businesses in Wales. There are currently 2,022 social businesses across the country that contribute an estimated £3.18bn to Wales’ economy.

The Social Business Wales Awards are run as part of Social Business Wales, a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government as part of the Business Wales service. It is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Derek Walker, Wales Co-operative Centre CEO, said “The quality of nominees this year was outstanding. It is so important that we recognise the hard work of these social businesses and the impact they have on our society.

“On behalf of all of us at the Wales Co-operative Centre, we want to congratulate all of the worthy winners and wish them luck as they head to the Social Enterprise UK Awards.”

And the Social Business Wales Awards winners are…

• Aura Leisure, Deeside, Wales Social Enterprise of the Year Award
• The Community Impact Initiative, Bridgend, One to Watch Award
• Aura Leisure, Deeside, Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Award
• AwelAman Tawe, Swansea, Environmental Social Enterprise Award
• Down To Earth Project, Swansea, Health and Social Care Enterprise Award
• Innovate Trust, Cardiff, Tech for Good: Technology in Social Enterprise Award
• The Fern Partnership, Ferndale, Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise Award

The 2019 event was sponsored byNatWest, Legal and General, BIC Innovation, Acuity Law, Cowshed Communication, Doopoll and Social Investment Cymru.

Swansea based enterprise wins at Social Business Wales Awards 2019

Awel Aman Tawe (AAT), a social enterprise based in Swansea, is this year’s Environmental Social Enterprise Award winner at the Social Business Wales Awards, having won at last night’s (24^th September) ceremony in Llandudno. It was selected for its projects in energy, education and the arts.

AAT was one of six businesses to take home a coveted sector award, presented by Wynne Evans at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Founded 20 years ago, Awel Aman Tawe is a community energy charity that aims to tackle climate change and contribute to a sustainable future in the Upper Swansea and Amman Valley. The project engages people in climate change through tackling fuel poverty and further community energy and low carbon projects.

This award, sponsored by BIC Innovation, was given for the enterprise’s impressive impact on the community, and its progressive development. After raising £230,000 for a project, it installed 179kW of solar power on seven community buildings and schools, all of which have been operating successfully.

Winners from the Social Business Wales Awards will go on to compete on a national level at the Social Enterprise UK Awards.

The Social Business Wales Awards recognise the excellence of social enterprises, co-operatives and employee-owned businesses in Wales. There are currently 2,022 social businesses across the country that contribute an estimated £3.18bn to Wales’ economy.

The Social Business Wales Awards are run as part of Social Business Wales, a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government as part of the Business Wales service. It is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Derek Walker, Wales Co-operative Centre CEO, said “The quality of nominees this year was outstanding. It is so important that we recognise the hard work of these social businesses and the impact they have on our society.

“On behalf of all of us at the Wales Co-operative Centre, we want to congratulate all of the worthy winners and wish them luck as they head to the Social Enterprise UK Awards.”

And the Social Business Wales Awards winners are…

• Aura Leisure, Deeside, Wales Social Enterprise of the Year Award
• The Community Impact Initiative, Bridgend, One to Watch Award
• Aura Leisure, Deeside, Consumer Facing Social Enterprise Award
• Awel Aman Tawe, Swansea, Environmental Social Enterprise Award
• Down To Earth Project, Swansea, Health and Social Care Enterprise Award
• Innovate Trust, Cardiff, Tech for Good: Technology in Social Enterprise Award
• The Fern Partnership, Ferndale, Education, Training & Jobs Social Enterprise Award