A community project which supports vulnerable and socially isolated adults has been crowned Scottish social enterprise of the year.
The Grassmarket Community Project won the award at the Social Enterprise Awards Scotland event, which took place last week at the Scottish Parliament.
Originally developed in partnership by Greyfriars Kirk and the Grassmarket Mission in Edinburgh, the project supports vulnerable adults with a range of services.
Through mentoring, social enterprise and training, it aims to develop skills, which enable participants to reach their full potential and move away from ‘cycles of failure’.
It operates a community café, woodwork and tartan social enterprise, as well as running cookery, baking and photography classes.
The project also offers a free drop-in meal every Monday evening, which is open to anyone in the wider community.
‘We are so delighted to win social enterprise of the year 2017,’ said project chief executive, Jonny Kinross.
‘I’m so proud of our team, our volunteers, our staff but above all the members of our project who inspire and motivate us. We’d like to congratulate all the winners and finalists tonight – together we have created a sector to be proud of and proven time and time again how business can change the lives of our most vulnerable, creating a fairer, more inclusive world.’
Among the other award winners were the Community Resources Network Scotland, which won the ‘buy social’ market builder award for its work to provide a more sustainable and affordable choice to customers and local authorities alike, by offering the option of purchasing re-use furniture instead of new items.
And Chris Martin, the managing director of Callander Youth Project Trust received the social enterprise champion award.
He has been managing director at the trust for six years and has shown exceptional strategic leadership taking the project from a small room in McLaren Learning Centre to establishing a successful suite of social enterprises consisting of a five star hostel, café and events venue in the newly refurbished Callander Hostel.
The Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for communities, Angela Constance, said it is ‘vital’ that ‘we continue to recognise and celebrate the talent of Scotland’s social entrepreneurs’.
‘Throughout Scotland, these individuals work tirelessly to improve their communities through the power of social enterprise, reinvesting all profits into social or environmental missions,’ she added,
‘I am pleased that this year’s social enterprise census shows there are now 5,600 social enterprises in Scotland – one social enterprise for every 1,000 people. There are now more start-ups and more social enterprises trading directly with the public than ever before.
‘Our nation is now recognised as a world leader in social enterprise, and is confirmed as host of next year’s Social Enterprise World Forum,’ added Ms Constance.
‘This is another excellent opportunity to put Scotland’s social enterprise sector on the world stage, welcoming friends and neighbours from around the globe and celebrating all we have achieved.’