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2124 Educators providing Charity courses delivered Online

Links Therapy Company

links therapy company

Leamington Spa

Baginton Fields School, Coventry admits secondary aged students with severe and complex SEND. The school commissioned Links Therapy Company to provide specific advice, support and expertise to further develop a newly implemented curriculum for students with ASD. Links Therapy provided a bespoke support programme including student observations and assessments, staff tutorials and feedback sessions that focused on personalising best practice for individual students within the context of the emerging curriculum. Staff expertise was enhanced considerably as a result of mutual professional respect and aspiration to provide optimum opportunity for student progression. I was particularly impressed by the extensive expertise demonstrated by Links Therapy colleagues who were flexible and professional throughout their time at Baginton Fields. Simon Grant - Headteacher, Baginton Fields School, Coventry We were very pleased with the work carried out with one of our students. There was a variety of OT packages to choose from. We decided on an initial consultation and a follow up of 6 "hands on" sessions. These were carried out weekly on a 1:1 basis. The practitioners were very professional and liaised with school staff throughout. We were provided with a detailed report after the intervention and will continue to implement the detailed guidance. I would definitely recommend Links Therapy and would use them again in future. Julie Miles SENCo St. Elizabeth's Primary School, Coventry Links Therapy Company were originally commission to provide professional support to our Occupational Therapist. Being a small charity our therapists are at a greater risk of becoming isolated from their profession. Links Therapy company have provided a link for our therapists to discuss any professional queries they may have. Their role has developed to the point where they are now helping us to develop and take our service forward. Their input has been essential to us now having an Occupational therapy team in place. There friendly and professional approach to their work has impressed us greatly and look forward to continuing our relationship with them. Sarah Hemings - Centre Manager, Tiny Tims Childrens Centre, Coventry RNIB Three Spires Academy cannot recommend highly enough the services of Links Therapy. All our pupils have special educational needs, some of these can be quite complex. We understand that interventions such as Sensory Diets are so important to helping pupils self-regulate and get ready to learn. Becky has worked closely with our teachers and school leadership to develop individualised programmes for our pupils as well as advising on the purchase of specialist equipment plus delivering in-services training. Becky takes the time to get to know our pupils and how our school functions so that a truly tailored approach is delivered. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Links Therapy.

Standout Programmes

standout programmes

London

Penny started her career as a corporate lawyer at City firm Freshfields. On a career break she became involved as a volunteer in her local prison which led her to train as a tutor with Prison Fellowship and lead the restorative justice based Sycamore Tree programme in HMP Wandsworth for 12 years. She was involved in rolling out Sycamore Tree in HMP Bronzefield and HMP Pentonville and also has experience of tutoring the course with people in prison long term. Penny was a Trustee of Prison Fellowship for several years and acted as Interim CEO in 2015. Penny has also volunteered with the Prison Reform Trust, supporting work around mental health and criminal justice issues. She has a Masters degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from King’s College London and believes in second chances and releasing potential. Andy Bater, Head of Operations Andy joined the StandOut team in October 2022 from a community organisation based in Holborn. With a background in project and operations management working with various large corporate organisations, he brings his breadth of experience and knowledge to StandOut. Despite his career achievements, Andy would much rather talk about his time being a mature student in Canada, starting a wellbeing and employment social enterprise and especially about rugby, boxing and the Andrew Kaufman book 'All My Friends are Superheroes’. Rich McStraw, Fundraising Manager Rich joined us in April 2022 from Clinks, the infrastructure organisation for the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. He spent the last three years as Clinks’ Fundraising Officer, and prior to this worked as a freelance fundraiser and sales manager for renewable heating systems. He has previous experience of fundraising regulation and compliance, sales and marketing, and developing training programmes. Louise Harbert, Communications Officer Louise is passionate about supporting people with lived experience to share their stories. Before joining the StandOut team, she worked for a health charity to amplify the voices of volunteers and shine a light on health inequalities. A strong believer in social justice, Louise is determined to change the narrative around prison leavers, and is excited to contribute to StandOut’s development and growth as our first full-time comms officer. Alex Rose, Coaching Manager Alex joined the team in April 2018 from Prospects where he was a National Careers Service advisor. Previously he worked as a behaviour change manager and an achievement coach working on gang prevention and exit programmes. Alex is passionate about helping people who have been in prison back into work and recently completed his OCR Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance & Development. Amrit Hunjan, Lead Coach HMP Wandsworth Amrit joined the StandOut team in September 2019 having previously worked as part of a council multi-disciplinary team working collectively to improve the well-being, participation and attainment of young people in mainstream education. Amrit connected with StandOut whilst volunteering with the youth mentoring service Trailblazers at HMP Wandsworth and she is passionate about using a relational approach to build confidence and unlock potential. Amy Young, StandOut Coach HMP Wandsworth Amy joined StandOut in November 2022 after completing an English Literature degree at KCL. During and following her degree she voluntarily set up Shakespeare and poetry workshops in HMP Brixton, believing in the power of arts in Criminal Justice. She found she facilitated enlightening and illuminating conversations, using literary themes to generate powerful reflections and increased emotional awareness. She looks forward to coaching at Wandsworth and supporting trainees with a holistic approach, offering guidance and practical help post-release. Hannah Jolley, Lead Coach HMP Pentonville Hannah joined StandOut in February 2022. Prior to this, she was Lead Coach on the Spear Programme, supporting young people who face barriers to employment and also coached corporate delegates on various topics. Hannah graduated from Durham University with BA Criminology, and spent time volunteering with vulnerable people in prison at HMP Durham. She is passionate about reducing reoffending rates, through showing that there is hope and are opportunities out there for those leaving prison. Erin Crombie, Lead StandOut Coach Erin discovered StandOut in 2018 whilst completing her Masters in Criminological Research at the University of Cambridge, when she carried out an evaluation of the charity for her dissertation. On graduating, Erin joined the education department in HMP Pentonville as a Student Support Worker, whilst maintaining contact with StandOut in a voluntary capacity. She joined StandOut at the beginning of 2020 and is now in a new role leading our expansion to a third prison. Erin’s favourite thing about working for StandOut is seeing the trainees’ confidence grow over the duration of the Phase 1 course and getting to celebrate their achievements. Louisa Laven, Lead Community Coach Louisa joined the StandOut team in November 2020. Prior to this she was on the Unlocked Graduates Programme, working as a frontline prison officer for two years while completing a Masters in MSc Leadership and Custodial Environments. Louisa loved the relational and support aspect of the officer role, but wanted to move into the charity sector and focus on the critical resettlement period after prison. She is enthusiastic about helping people leaving prison to get back on their feet and build towards a positive future. Iona Warren, Community Coach Iona joined the StandOut team in September 2022 after spending two years as a prison officer on the Unlocked Graduates programme. Whilst working in a women's prison, she completed a Masters in Applied Custodial Leadership, writing a dissertation on the women's experience of trauma informed practice in their establishment. She loved building relationships with the women on her landing, and relished the opportunity to support them whilst in custody. She is particularly excited to now be working with those transitioning into the community, and is passionate and motivated to see them thrive. StandOut Trustees Joe Froud, Chair Joe is the co-founder of Paloma Capital LLP, a London based real estate private equity business that was established in 2015. Paloma raises equity from foundations and endowments, pensions funds and family offices and invests in UK commercial real estate projects. Prior to this he was the founder and Managing Partner of Columbus Capital Management LLP, a real estate private equity joint venture that he established with Schroders plc in 2008. Joe is married with four children and lives in West London. Liz Delacave, Trustee Liz Delacave is a leadership consultant, experienced in training leaders, developing teams and coaching individuals to excel. She studied Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, worked in Citibank’s global commercial and investment banks, becoming chief of staff for Citibank’s European Private Bank. While Divisional Finance Director of a multinational engineering company, she was responsible for managing a global change programme. As a Non-Executive Director, she has helped turn around an underperforming NHS Foundation Trust hospital in East Anglia. Liz has advised a number of charities, including the International Federation of the Red Cross in Geneva and Prison Fellowship. Marion Peters, Trustee Marion Peters studied English Literature at Reading University before joining the Post Office fast track graduate management scheme. After 4 years in marketing and development roles Marion entered the charitable sector, working for international and small local charities in a generalist capacity. Marion has led client service teams, HR departments and spearheaded major fundraising projects and most recently worked as CEO of a heritage almshouse. Since stepping down from this role, Marion has continued to offer her operational and organisational skills to not for profit organisations on a voluntary basis. Passionately committed to the Justice System, Marion has been a volunteer within Her Majesty’s Court Services for over 20 years and is a great believer that where we have come from does not determine who we are. Joseph Ewing, Trustee Joseph studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, has worked in a range of research, campaigning and public affairs roles - including three and a half years in public affairs at Cancer Research UK - and now works in policy at the Academy of Medical Sciences. His work includes policy development, advocacy and strategy. He became a trustee in April 2019 and is still inspired by StandOut’s belief in people. StandOut Consultants Jo Fellows, Programme and Coaching Consultant, Co Founder Jo's background is in group facilitation and project management and she has extensive experience leading employability services for those with additional barriers to employment. Her experience includes 4 years working with the award winning Spear course, partnering with IBM through her work with City Gateway and designing a 1-1 service for those leaving custody or care. Jo is passionate about equipping people coming up for release with the tools, skills and confidence to step into sustainable and fulfilling work. Jo has a Postgraduate Diploma in Voluntary Sector Management from CASS Business School. Jo co-founded StandOut with Penny and now supports StandOut as a consultant bringing her expertise in programme design and coaching skills.

Cultivate Tees Valley

cultivate tees valley

Stockton-On-Tees

Cultivate Tees Valley (CTV) is an environmental organisation that works in partnership to build a better world by growing food security for those living across the Tees Valley and by transforming unused urban and rural land into spaces where food is grown. Initiatives focus on combating isolation and improving mental health by connecting people through food and environmental initiatives, with a strong focus on recruiting and equipping teams of volunteers, alongside training and education programmes. Programmes incorporate art to help beautify more derelict spaces and up-cycling of items that would normally go to the landfill. Cultivate currently works across the Tees Valley developing urban food growing gardens and within ten youth centres across Stockton running an environmental education programme that aims to educate young people on the issues of climate change and how they can help change their environment for the better. The work of Cultivate Tees Valley has been partly inspired by Bonton Farms in Dallas, Texas, an organsation that one of our Directors worked alongside during his time living in the US. Bonton is located in an area with high levels of poverty, terrible health outcomes and poor access to fresh food. Bonton Farms was set up to grow fresh food for local people to combat their health and hunger issues, and put food on their tables. The other great impact of their work on their community was through the work they did mentoring local people through the running of the farm while providing meaningful activities for those facing isolation and loneliness. Growing Sites Arlington Park Arly Park is based in Parkfield and is run by the Cornerhouse Youth Project. This new initiative involves the development of an unused field into a safe growing space for local children, young people and families. CTV and Cornerhouse use this space to support pupils from Bowesfield Primary School during school time hours and work with local young people through evening drop in sessions. Thornaby Allotments Youth Direction asked CTV to develop their two allotments that had become overgrown. This growing space is used for vulnerable young people through one-to-one work, for volunteer days and for adults looking to improve their mental health through gardening. Harty Road Cafe Garden, Hartington Road Hartington Road is located in the most deprived area of Stockton. The Little Sprouts Charity have been working with residents through cooking programmes, bread making and a Pay As You Feel cafe. CTV started an urban garden on Hartington Road to provide training and education opportunities to residents while growing food for the cafe. Elmwood Community Centre Based in Hartburn, the Elmwood site has raised beds and a poly tunnel. Teesside University, NCS and Bright Minds Big Futures have partnered on this site. St Michael's and All Angel's, Norton 2020 will see us develop part of the Church grounds into a growing space that can be accessed by the local community and users of the food bank based at the Church.

Southern African Social Policy Research Insights

southern african social policy research insights

Hove

Policy Relevance and Impact It is part of SASPRI’s objectives to conduct research which is of direct relevance to policy. Indeed, it is hoped that our research will form part of the evidence base for evidence informed policy-making. To this end we aim to keep a record of how our research has been used by government, civil society and academia. The following list gives some examples. We would be grateful to hear of any other ways our research has been useful to researchers, policymakers, academics or civil society. The South African Index of Multiple Deprivation 2011 (SAIMD 2011) and ward level poverty data for 2011 Health Systems Trust have used the SAIMD 2011 in the District Health Barometer and South African Health Review at district and local municipality level. The SAIMD 2011 was used by Prof Francis Wilson in a seminar on Mining and Migration presented to the Marikana Commission of Inquiry on 9th April 2014 Click here for a copy of the presentation. The Human Sciences Research Council have used the SAIMD 2011 to examine the relationship between deprivation and homicides. Ward level poverty data were used in the estimation of small area take up estimates of Child Support Grant by EPRI for the national Department of Social Development. KZN Department of Health have used the poverty data to examine the relationship between poverty and trauma. A charity which provides nutritional support to school children in deprived areas have used the SAIMD 2011 as one of the data sources used to target areas for support. The SAIMD 2011 has been used by the Medical Research Council in a study looking at the relationship between multiple deprivation and low birth weight. National Treasury – contributing to work examining the basis of the equitable share. The SAIMD 2011 has been used by researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) to examine the relationship between mining activity and poverty/deprivation. The SAIMD 2011 has been used by the Rural Health Advocacy Project as regards their advocacy work in the former homelands. The SAIMD 2011 has been used in a case relating to tribal levies supporting the Legal Resources Centre. The SAIMD 2011 has been used by the UCT Health Economics Unit to explore the relationship between deprivation and obesity. The UCT Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health has used the SAIMD 2011 to explore the relationship between deprivation and depression. The SAIMD 2011 has been used by the University of Virginia, Department of Politics in their research on the determinants of health outcomes in South Africa. Utrecht University Department of Sociology have used the SAIMD 2011 in research to examine and explain patterns of vigilantism across South Africa. The Western Cape Department of Health have used the SAIMD 2011 for their Annual District Health Expenditure Review reports and in their Annual Perfomance Plan.

Sarah Bolton-Locke

sarah bolton-locke

0.0(2)

Flaxley

Hello, welcome to my page, you will find more information about me personally and professionally here. I am very passionate about inspiring others, reaching out and supporting people in a therapeutic way that suits them, their lifestyle and their individual needs. I am a very warm and friendly person, I work relationally, therefor the therapeutic relationship is important to me and I like to ensure that whom I am supporting has the space needed to explore and unwind what is troubling them. I have my own therapy space at Essential Space, this is a Communtiy Interest Company that I co-direct offering pay-what-you-can counselling and creative mentoring. You can find out more about the therapy services on the website www.essentialspace.co.uk. I am also happy to see or meet clients for 1-1 and group sessions in GP surgeries, community centres and in schools if required, and hold an enhanced DBS clearance certificate and have up-to-date Safeguarding policies and certificates. I became the founder of A space 2 Be in October 2018, over the last 28 years I have been extending my qualifications and experience to offer both adult and children's Counselling. I began Reflective & Clinical Supervision for staff working with adults in the community and in private practice, and counsellors supporting children, young people, families, and or GSRD clients. I have had counselling myself, this was a time of self-development that set me on a path, I left school and became a health practitioner, working in an institution and completing a college course in Health and Social Care. I specialised in early years and had a placement in a school, this is where I discovered a connection with young people and adults with learning differences. My career went on to working and supporting adults with rehabilitation. After becoming a mum of three children I took on the challenge of managing a well-being centre called the Isbourne in Cheltenham town centre, it was there that I realised how beneficial therapies are for supporting both physical health and mental health. I completed the mental health first aid certificates and began my counselling training. I have supported hidden victims of crime with a charity, Infobuzz. This role introduced me to working in a crisis support team, supporting families in the community and working within the criminal justice system and running creative art workshops in prison. I volunteered with Young Gloucestershire supporting their counselling service and this allowed me to extend my experience to working with young adults who were struggling with life's challenges. My adventures have continued into gaining certificates in 'Stress Less Mindfulness' and running adult sound retreats. I have naturally entwined mindfulness into my personal and professional life and have found the benefits have been endless. I have been able to share these skills with all of my clients as a mindful mindset works for anyone, anywhere and at any age! When I am not with someone in a 1-1 Counselling session, you will find me delivering training to professionals or facilitating sound baths and retreats. Most of my events are therapeutic and developed for deepening awareness with a chance to focus and recharge.

Coral Co-housing

coral co-housing

London

Create and live in an intentional eco co-housing community which maximises the collective to create a better quality of life; financially & practically. Create and live in an intentional eco co-housing community which maximises the collective to create a better quality of life; financially & practically. Create homes with high environmental standards and lower bills. Learn and use best practice from pre-existing successful co-housing models. Progress quickly; keep it simple, start small, be adaptable and grow. For Coral to showcase the financial, environmental and health benefits of community life, achieved through straightforward and simple design principles and financial models. Vision Location Location. Ideal location near Brighton & Hove or Lewes, but open to wider Sussex region. Transport. Good public transport links. Schools. Near good primary and secondary schools. Design & Build Eco-design. Using affordable, and where possible local, non-toxic, beautiful natural materials. Low ecological impact – using renewable energy sources. Architecture. Well designed by professional architects who have experience of designing co-housing projects to enhance community life. Homes. Up to 50 households each with their own front door, with a range of house/flat sizes and mixed tenure. Space. Shared outdoor space/ garden/allotments. Communal building. With kitchen/social space/guest room/connected to the wider local community/possibly some commercial space. Community Intergenerational community – mixed age ranges. Diverse group of people who want to contribute to the community. Collaboratively managed. Sharing resources – saving money and reducing environmental impact. Regular shared meals. The Project Who are we? We are a newly formed co-housing group, created by a range of individuals who share common principles and who bring expertise to the project, in areas such as; eco design, engineering and construction, research, community development, fundraising, charity and homelessness sector, arts, education, facilitation and training. The story so far The group started informally in 2017 and later joined together as a formed group of five families and committed to progressing quickly in 2018. We have been supported by the Brighton & Hove Community Land Trust and have been successful in securing funding to work with Bioregional on their One Planet Affordable Living (OPAL) process to develop our project. We are continuing to apply for further funding, look for sites to build on, develop our membership policy and financial plan. What is our plan? We have developed a three year plan which involves securing significant funding, finding a site to build on and partnering with an eco developer. How will we finance & ownership work? We are in partnership with an experienced eco developer to support the development of an investment model which can incorporate home owning mortgages, rental and social housing. How will the community work? Homes will be separate units, there will some shared land/garden and play area and a common house; which will have a shared kitchen and dining area and possibly guest rooms, meeting/office space and laundry facilities. We are aiming for a simple community model – with the minimum amount of rules and process that allow us to live as harmoniously as possible. With everyone understanding that, if we all actively contribute to the community – the better it will be for all of us.

Chelsea Academy

chelsea academy

London

Having opened in September 2009 we are now an established, successful and oversubscribed Academy. Every year, over 700 students want to join us in Year 7. Our brilliant Sixth Form also attracts hundreds of external applicants every year. Throughout their time at Chelsea Academy students flourish, benefitting from a rich academic curriculum and strong pastoral care. Learning is designed to excite, inspire and challenge. Through our science specialism we ensure that every student has a thorough understanding of science and we offer a unique range of scientific opportunities and visitors to students from Year 7 through to Year 13. Our vision: ‘Learning together to flourish’, is lived out every day; a vision informed by our Christian values. These values of forgiveness, joy, perseverance, charity and servant leadership are an integral part of our journey to success. Visitors always comment on the sense of purpose, of belonging and of our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our mission: Work Hard, Be Kind, No Excuses provides students with a compass to guide and direct their journey. The Chelsea Academy Way for Behaviour clearly sets out our expectations so that every student understands how they should conduct themselves. We have a longer school day than most other local schools. Each day (apart from Wednesday) is made up of six, 55 minute lessons. Our curriculum is broad in Year 7, 8 and 9, allowing students to discover subjects such as Citizenship and languages, in addition to the core building block subjects such as English, Maths and Science, before they choose their GCSE options for the two year GCSE programme starting in Year 10. Our Extended Curriculum offer ensures that our students also benefit from having a rich ‘all round’ experience. By the time students leave the Academy they will have developed the resilience, wisdom, hope and skills with which to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives. This website holds a range of information no matter your interest in the Academy. The news section of the website and our twitter feed are regularly updated with what we have been up to. Please take a look! Parents and carers, do visit the Parent Portal, which has content specifically for you. If you are interested in joining us as a member of staff, then the careers section has what you need. Current students and staff can access emails, calendars and Google drive through the Chelsea Academy Learning Cloud (CALC). I am exceptionally proud and privileged to lead Chelsea Academy. It is a wonderful, dynamic and fast moving environment. We benefit from being in a fantastic London location and take advantage of excellent partnerships, both local and further afield. The Academy is also very fortunate to have an outstanding board of governors. They are very much invested and interested in the Academy. Please feel free to arrange a visit to the Academy or to contact us for further information. If you are intending to visit and find out more about the Academy for your Y5 or 6 child please do visit our Admissions page, where you should find all the information you need.

The Digital Brand Boss

the digital brand boss

London

Have you ever felt like you offer more value than your business reflects? Have you ever felt like you have so much more to offer but do not know how to position yourself or your business? If this sounds familiar, then I am thrilled you found your way here. My name is Sarah also known as THE DIGITAL BRAND BOSS and I have helped countless creatives, small business owners and, coaches like you communicate the full value of what they do. About Sarah I am a passionate serial entrepreneur: a brand strategist, a graphic designer, a luxury wedding planner, a fashion designer, a chef and a coach for purpose-driven individuals on a mission. I am extremely keen on equipping and empowering new creatives, coaches and small business owners with the tools and strategies they need to turn their passion into a profitable, irresistible and sustainable brand. My Story My journey towards being a brand strategist and coach dates back to my university days. While at university, I realised friends and family would often use me as the sounding board for their projects and ideas. The more problems I was able to help them solve, the stronger my desire to learn about what it takes to build a sustainable brand was. I also discovered I was very good at branding. I started designing posters, flyers, and logos and got self-taught in the use of colours, appropriate fonts, text alignment among other branding design skills. In addition to my natural innate creative ability, I received my bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and Music from the university of Liverpool. It’s time to show up, step up and build a brand that you are passionate about. - THE DIGITAL BRAND BOSS Fast forward a few years later, I took on the volunteer role of team lead for the media and production department of a charity (my local church) of about 200 members. It was then that my desire to build brands for a living grew and took root. This drive led me to get certified as a brand strategist and coach. The more I learned, the more I realised the power of strategic branding in bringing clarity, direction and growth to businesses. As someone who has always experienced the world through creating, I started my first business during my first year at university on a part-time basis, in 2012. So, believe me when I tell you I understand what starting a business from scratch requires. Some of the businesses I launched during this period included a catering business, a clothing line and a luxury design card company. Like most business owners who are just starting out, I wasn’t sure how to build my brand and grow my business. Instead, I was focused on having pretty colours, a logo and a social media page, which from experience I learnt are not adequate in getting you the required results from your business. It was only after I started really diving into learning how to successfully build a solid and sustainable brand, that I started seeing real results. I went from feeling disjointed and confused to starting a business that I absolutely love and I’m passionate about.

Academy Performing Arts

academy performing arts

London

WE ARE A CHARITABLE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE GLL is a not for profit charitable social enterprise committed to delivering a better quality of fitness and leisure, libraries and performing arts facilities for everyone. We’re committed to providing access to quality community facilities - and more - at a price everyone can afford. We already manage over 258 facilities, and we’re adding more all the time operating under our 'Better' brand. GLL_Social_Enterprise.JPG WHAT WE DO We aim to get more people, more active, more often. We promote healthy and active lifestyles, giving communities access to facilities that help improve their health and happiness through participation in activities. It could be gyms, libraries, playgrounds or world-class venues such as those on the Olympic Park, we have it all right here. However, we do provide more than access. As a charitable social enterprise, we invest in our communities as we are a not for profit organisation but it’s not just about money: we also invest time and effort in encouraging everyone to take advantage of our services. We will ENGAGE and welcome new participants, introducing them to activities that reflect their needs. We will SUPPORT our communities to make lifestyle changes through targeted programmes. We will ADAPT our approach and offers to ensure everyone can participate in our services. We will SUSTAIN participation by offering varied programmes, facilities and memberships. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? old_dude.png We are a not for profit charitable social enterprise, which means we work for the benefit of everyone: the public, the communities we work in, the environment, our staff and our partners. As a result, we’re proud to be the first leisure operator in the UK to be awarded both the Social Enterprise Mark, and now Social Enterprise UK badge as well as the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award. But, there are more benefits... We don’t have shareholders like some private companies or any bonuses to pay out. Instead, we reinvest any financial surplus we make back into our services and facilities. So far, we’ve reinvested millions of pounds – well over £100m We act as a charity and are here for the benefit of the communities we operate in. We are passionate about making a real difference We believe social values are just as important, if not more important as financial performance We are owned by our staff and society members, who have a non-dividend-paying share. That means our workforce is empowered, motivated and involved in making important decisions that affect the company. In fact, the majority of our board are elected by our workforce Wherever possible, we work with other social enterprises and buy Fairtrade goods and services. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU? Whether you join us on a pre-paid membership, or use our facilities occasionally as a non member or library user, you can get fit, stay healthy, and know that you're helping make a difference in your community. You can also rest assured that any surplus we make now and in the future goes back in to the service as you are buying in to an ethical company. Now, that's better.