Posted on 24th June 2009
The two winners of the Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur Awards have been announced at an event held in Christ Church Spitalfields on 25th June.
Columba 1,400, an organisation based in Skye which delivers high-quality leadership programmes for young people from difficult backgrounds won the higher tier award.
Anne Wexelstein, programme director, said, “The funding will allow for transformational growth of the organisation.”
A Way Out, a Stockton-based charity for women and young people at risk of poverty, addiction and abuse won the lower tier award.
Jessie Joe Jacobs, founder of A Way Out said, “The funding now means we have the potential to deliver services in Stockton and beyond.”
The higher tier offers up to £5m in loan funding, free of interest and arrangement fees for three years, or a one-off cash donation of up to £500,000. The lower tier offers up to £1m in loans, free of interest and arrangement fees for three years, or a one-off cash donation of up to £100,000.
The other finalists were:
- London-based Bright Ideas Trust, a social enterprise for 16-30 year olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) who have the ambition to start up their own business, started by Campbell.
- Glasgow-based Gladiator Programme, an organisation which helps children in difficult communities access sport and recreation activities.
- Glasgow-based Maggie's Centres, which provides ground-breaking care and support to cancer sufferers.
- Hinckley based anti-bullying charity Abs Kids set up by 16-year-old Abbi Morrall, who is editor-in-chief and writer for their website.
The two winners will also receive mentoring from one of the UK's leading social entrepreneurs Liam Black.
Black, co-founder of Wavelength and former chief executive of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, is also one of the judges. He says, “The funding or donation prize from the Bank of Scotland is only the first part of the picture. Money can’t solve everything, but it certainly helps.
“Hopefully the advice and guidance that I can provide will prove to be useful.”
