Northern Trust wins Social Enterprise Award

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust have been awarded the Social Enterprise Market Builder Award from Social Enterprise NI at an awards ceremony earlier this month. The Award is presented to an organisation that has demonstrably made efforts, within its own organisation and remit, to create more opportunities to buy from social enterprises.

The Northern Trust has implemented a social enterprise strategy which commits to strengthening the social enterprise sector locally in order to increase opportunities for independent living for clients.

Hugh Nelson, Planning and Modernisation Manager for the Northern Trust, said: “We are delighted with this recognition from Social Enterprise NI. The Trust is committed to helping people live independently at home for as long as possible but we appreciate that as this increases, the requirement for a vibrant local social economy does too. The more we obtain products and services from social enterprises, the greater the opportunities for recovery and independent living for our clients.”

The Trust currently assist social enterprises through recycling schemes, a Social Enterprise Forum, partnership working and providing opportunities for social enterprises to directly promote their goods to the 12,000 staff employed by the Trust.

Juliet Cornford, Director of Social Enterprise NI, said: “Again we have seen the innovation and excellence of the Social Enterprise sector across Northern Ireland. This year’s award winners have contributed to not only the local economy through job creation for those often furthest from the labour market but through the regeneration of some of our most challenging communities.”

11th December 2013