Celebrating Kirklees Finalists at the Social Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber Awards 2023
· Start Up Award – The Nest Holmfirth CIC
· Small Social Enterprise of the Year –- Hive Huddersfield CIC & Our Creative Connection Ltd
· Environmental Award –- Eden’s Forest CIC
Less than 12 months after their success at the Kirklees Social Enterprise Awards The Nest Holmfirth, Hive Huddersfield and Our Creative Connection are once again finalists for another Social Enterprise Award – this time is the Social Enterprise Yorkshire and Humber (SEYH) Awards 2023.
‘It takes a village to raise a child’ – The Nest Holmfirth is one of 3 finalists nominated for the SEYH Start Up Award. With a mission to address the challenges of isolation parents face during the early years of their children’s lives, The Nest showcases the transformative power of community connection, empowerment and a commitment to emotional wellbeing (Read here for case study Social Enterprise Start-Up Competition 2023 finalist: The Nest Holmfirth CIC – Third Sector Leaders Kirklees (tslkirklees.org.uk).
In a repeat of the final of the Kirklees Social Impact Award, social entrepreneurs Gabby from Hive Huddersfield and Chris from Our Creative Connection are once again head-to-head to win a Social Impact Award. Both organisations have been on incredible journeys of growth, with real social impact since both their inceptions in 2021.
Hive Huddersfield, based in St Georges Square is not only a great place to go for a great cup of coffee, but it also offers a safe and nurturing space and volunteering opportunities for lots of different groups and people in the local community.
Chris was previously nominated in 2022 for the SEYH Start Up Award and since then his social enterprise has gone from strength to strength using photography for social change – telling stories through photographs, bringing people together to they can share what they care about. More recently Chris has expanded into the world of podcasts, helping explore how the role that photography is playing in different communities and organisations Our Creative Connection
And finally, Eden’s Forest are one of the finalists for the Environmental Award. After graduating from the School of Social Entrepreneurs Adam decided to set up his own social enterprise Eden’s Forest CIC, and was winner of the SEYH Start Up Award back in 2019. With a vision to improve the mental and physical health of children, young people and adults with the provision of health outdoor activities that has gone from strength to strength in recent years, it’s no surprise to us that with Adams leadership Eden’s Forest is one of the finalists for this award
Helen Orlic from TSL Kirklees said, ‘To have 4 Kirklees-based finalist out of a total of 22 from the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber is an amazing achievement, and shows that the work we’ve been doing over the last couple of years to support and encourage more social enterprise is Kirklees is paying off.’
TSL Kirklees would like to congratulate all the Kirklees organisations’ that have made it to the final of the SEYH 2023 Awards and wish with them lots of luck on the big night – 7th March 2024 at The Hospitium in York!