Santander announced that three Edinburgh-based social enterprises have won cash awards of £5,000.
The award has been given as part of the bank’s Social Enterprise Development Awards (SEDA) which are
given to social enterprises and trading charities looking to grow their business and improve their local community.
The winners are:
• Space Artworks he
lps promote artwork from adults with long-term health issues including physical and learning disabilities and mental health challenges.
http://www.spaceartworks.co.uk
• Tinderbox Project organises community based programmes and events for young people in music and the arts. http://www.tinderboxproject.co.uk/
• Crags Community Sports Centre offers sporting facilities to the Dumbiedykes area. http://www.cragssports.com
In total 146 social enterprises from across the UK, including 30 from Scotland, were given SEDA awards this year amounting to £1.2million in prize money. Winners receive awards of between £5,000 and £20,000 to fund a specific growth project that will help to increase their social impact.
Alongside the prize money, the winning social enterprises receive a business support package from Santander which includes business webinars, full funded internships, consultancy days and the opportunity to network with other social entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Graham Silcock, Santander Regional Director, Scotland, said: “This year’s SEDA winners have demonstrated great potential to grow their business. We hope that the financial assistance and the support programme will help them reach their potential and increase their social impact.”
Santander’s support for the social enterprise sector also includes funding for UnLtd’s Spark scheme, which enables social entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and inspire others to set up a venture; and Social Enterprise UK’s SE Places programme, which is promoting areas of the UK where social businesses are thriving.
For further information on the SEDA awards, go to http://www.santanderseda.co.uk
Submitted by Miles Freeman
