Birch Tree Cafe, Stamford Junior Knights and The Conversation Stamford named as finalists for the Best Social Enterprise title at the Mercury Business Awards 2023
Three organisations which are working to support the community are going head-to-head in the Mercury Business Awards this year.
Birch Tree Cafe, Stamford Junior Knights and The Conversation Stamford have been short-listed for the Best Social Enterprise Award, sponsored by Stamford College.
Stamford Junior Knights is a youth basketball club which was set up by husband and wife Adam and Jordane Edwards-Maddock in April 2019.
At the time, their children were keen to take up the sport but there was nowhere local for them to do so. Jordane signed her husband up for a coaching course and they launched their own club at Borderville Sports Centre with 10 members.
Earlier this year, the couple took on their own business unit in Casterton Road, Stamford, and they now train more than 100 young people aged between eight and 18.
Jordane said: “Our ethos has always been to create a community. The club is run by volunteers and it’s massive commitment but it’s amazing to see children growing in confidence. It’s a very inclusive environment and although Adam and I have our own two children, it now feels like we have more than 100.”
The club has just launched ladies and walking basketball sessions and works with Visions Day Centre to offer sports opportunities to adults with additional needs.
Adam said: “It’s a team effort and we couldn’t run the club without the support of our volunteer coaches.”
Birch Tree Cafe opened in Easton-on-the-Hill in January 2022. It was set up by the charity T-21 with the aim of providing meaningful opportunities for over 18s who have Down's Syndrome.
It is partly staffed by young people who have Down’s Syndrome. They are accompanied by carers and professional staff, who also provide additional activities on site such as crafts and gardening.
Trustee Tim Nicol said: “We’re delighted with the number of people the cafe is supporting and what they are getting out of it. There is huge variation in their individual abilities but they are all growing in confidence and have benefited from the social interaction.”
The cafe will soon be able to offer DIY sessions thanks to a donation from Cummins Generator Technologies for a new workshop.
The Conversation Stamford is also in the running for the social enterprise title.
The community interest company runs school workshops based around the curriculum for personal, social and health education (PSHE), including mental wellbeing, puberty and sex education.
The core programme starts with year five pupils, aged nine and 10, but the team also run a project for year two pupils based on mental health. They work with 35 primary schools and 15 secondary schools.
Director Gemma Holbird said: “We’ve been running for four years and are really proud of how many schools we now reach. We also work directly with families and businesses which has been really effective.
“We want to ensure that all children have access the the fact-based knowledge they need.
“We’re always looking for new projects based on people’s needs and next year we’ll be looking at supporting parents when dealing with digital and social media.”
The winner of the Social Enterprise Award will be announced at Rutland Hall Hotel on Friday, September 15. This year’s event is sponsored by Upp.
If you want to find out more about the Mercury Business Awards, you can visit www.mercurybusinessawards.co.uk
We also have sponsorship opportunities for businesses which want to support our event. To find out more, e-mail our head of events at: sharron.marriott@iliffepublishing.co.uk
With grateful thanks to our headline sponsor Upp and our category sponsors: PVS Media, Alltech, Stamford College, South Kesteven District Council, Chattertons, Hegarty Solicitors, Stork of Stamford and Downtown.