Future Directions shortlisted in UK Social Enterprise Awards

Future Directions staff and clients celebrating an Outstanding CQC rating in January 2020

Future Directions, a social care provider which supports adults in Rochdale, has been shortlisted in the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising it as one of the leading social enterprises in the country.

The not-for-profit Community Interest Company is a finalist in both the ‘Best UK Social Enterprise of the Year and 'Best Health and Social Care Social Enterprise’ categories.

Despite Covid restrictions, Future Directions has ensured people continue to do things they love.

Staff have found creative ways to support people, including weekly video sessions, delivery of activity books, and a video Christmas party with 500 people attending, complete with music, food, and presents.

Commenting on being shortlisted, Paula Braynion, managing director of Future Directions, said: “The last 18 months our teams have worked on frontline through Covid to not only keep people safe but enable them to have the best lives possible during this pandemic.

“Being shortlisted for these awards really demonstrates how important their work as key workers has been and how values-driven teams really make a difference to people’s lives.”

The UK Social Enterprise Awards are run by Social Enterprise UK, the national membership body for social enterprises, recognise the nation’s most pioneering social enterprises. Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. There are 100,000 social enterprises in the UK contributing £60bn to the UK economy.

Previous winners have included a company set up to tackle furniture poverty, an IT consultancy employing people with autism, and a community energy cooperative – demonstrating just how diverse the social enterprise sector is.

Commenting on the awards, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said: “We have had a record number of applications this year, all of which have showcased the strength, dynamism and resilience of the social enterprise community through what’s been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period.

“Over the course of the pandemic, social enterprises have been going above and beyond the call of duty to support their teams, the individuals, and communities they work with, showing the grit, determination and innovation so inherent to this sector. 

“They’ve been operating directly on the frontline of the crisis, launching new products and pivoting their business models to meet the needs of communities and society as a whole.”

Future Directions will be joining other shortlisted organisations at the prestigious awards ceremony held at London’s Guildhall on 8 December.

Future Directions provides social care services to adults and young people with learning disabilities and other complex needs, helping them live an ordinary life by ensuring they actively participate in their local community.