CARLISLE Mencap is celebrating after being among the winners in the annual Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership Awards.
The charity, which provides support and services for more than 500 adults and children across Cumbria, picked up the £750 first prize and certificate in the Community Enterprise of the Year category at the awards ceremony at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, on Tuesday. (March 5)
The award was made because of the important films produced by Carlisle Mencap’s Independence Studio based at the charity’s Grace Little Centre near the Kingmoor Park North estate in north Carlisle. The studio’s latest film – Tell Someone – was launched just last month and deals with the issue of mate crime.
Carlisle Mencap’s CEO Sheila Gregory, who was at the awards ceremony, was delighted to pick up the prize. She said: “We are extremely excited to win this prestigious award. I enjoyed attending this really interesting and important event. The members of the Independence Studio tackle very serious social issues in their work and we are pleased they have been honoured in this way.”
The charity’s chairwoman, Christine Bowditch, echoed Mrs Gregory’s comments and added that the charity’s trustees were thrilled that the efforts of the Independence Studio – which has also produced films on hate crime and the dangers of sexual exploitation – was gaining more and more recognition.
The annual awards celebrate and honour the work being done by social enterprises across the county.
Among the other winners were Time To Change West Cumbria, who took the Social Enterprise of the Year Award; and Lisa Dykes, of iCan Health & Fitness CIC, who won the Social Entrepreneur of the Year category.
