Member updates

His Majesty The King visited Impact Hub Yorkshire today (15 May 2025) to meet with individuals and organisations helped by the social enterprise and mark its transition to a Yorkshire-wide entity. During his visit, The King unveiled a special plaque to mark both the five-year anniversary of the Impact Hub, and its transition from Impact Hub Bradford to Impact Hub Yorkshire. Founded during the pandemic, over the past five years Impact Hub Bradford has helped thousands individuals and hundreds businesses. Part of a wider network of 120 Impact Hubs globally, Impact Hub Yorkshire is just one of four in the UK.  The Impact Hub network forms the largest collective of impact makers globally, and have a strong focus on people and planet, whether that be helping to connect different communities, or change the lives of individuals and businesses for the better, in a sustainable way.  Impact Hub Yorkshire’s CEO and founder, Kamran Rashid said: “It was an honour to host His Majesty The King at Impact Hub Yorkshire’s offices here in Little Germany, Bradford, and show him the work our organisation does. “Our members spoke passionately about their own experiences and the projects that Impact Hub has helped to facilitate. Having the recognition of this visit is an important milestone for us all, as we look towards an exciting future helping individuals and organisations throughout Yorkshire.” Amongst the organisations introduced to The King, and supported by the Impact Hub, were Green Street; Pandoras Box Deserts; Tasif Khan Community Boxing Academy; IK School of Tailoring; and the African Caribbean Achievement Project.  The work Impact Hub Yorkshire delivers is as varied as it is extensive.  The social enterprise has recently led a project focussed on bringing regeneration and inward investment to Little Germany, the area of the city centre that the Impact Hub is based in. This has included shining a spotlight on this important heritage asset, which has the highest density of listed buildings in Europe.  The King last visited Little Germany in 2008, then as Prince Charles, when he spoke passionately about the area’s rich architectural heritage.  Other projects led by Impact Hub Yorkshire have included supporting boxer Tasif Khan on a number of initiatives, which has included community outreach and education resources, aimed at inspiring young people to create a positive impact on the city.  The change to Impact Hub Yorkshire will allow the organisation to scale up what it is able to deliver, both in terms of size of project and geography. Impact Hub Yorkshire will further celebrate its five years of success at a special gala dinner in June – the first evening dinner to be hosted at the refurbished ballroom at Bradford Live.

The London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, recognising its groundbreaking approach to Early Years Education and Care through the lens of social enterprise and sustainability. LEYF is one of only 197 organisations nationally to be recognised with the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Announced on Tuesday 6th May, the accolade celebrates LEYF’s long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable Early Years Education and Care that prioritises access, inclusion, community and environmental impact. At the core of LEYF’s approach is the belief that education for young children can be a powerful force for building a more equitable, inclusive, and environmentally responsible society. Sustainability is fully embedded into every aspect of nursery life – from social enterprise business, our seasonal menus and using green energy across the sites, to designing a pedagogy that gives children a voice and nurtures their love for nature and their role as future changemakers. LEYF teachers are actively empowered to become sustainability informed and lead sustainability initiatives, making every team member a champion for long-term impact. This whole-system approach is driven by the London Institute of Early Years, LEYF’s dedicated research and training hub, and its: Action for Sustainability in Education, Community of Practice a vibrant network focused on embedding the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social, and environmental sustainability into daily practice. As pioneers in the sector, LEYF created the UK’s first Early Years Sustainability Strategy, aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It was also the first childcare organisation to achieve ISO 14001 certification and ongoing carbon footprint measurement and reduction through Planet Mark. With sustainability threaded through its governance, leadership, operations, and pedagogy, LEYF is actively working towards achieving net-zero by 2030. Its sector-first Level 4 Qualification in Sustainability in Early Years has already empowered 68 professionals, with many more set to follow. Founded in 1903, LEYF is the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise in Early Years education, employing over 1,000 staff and running a network of 43 nurseries across 13 London boroughs. Serving more than 4,000 children each year, LEYF combines business excellence with a powerful social purpose – reinvesting profits to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds and embedding sustainability into every aspect of its work. Dr June O’Sullivan OBE, CEO of LEYF, said: "We are thrilled to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. This is a powerful endorsement of our belief that Early Years Education and Care must be a force for social justice and environmental good. At LEYF, sustainability runs through everything we do – from how we run our nurseries, to how we teach and support our children, families and staff. From evidence-based pedagogy to sustainable practice, and from apprenticeships to leadership pathways, everything we do is about creating real, lasting impact. We hope this recognition inspires others across the sector to embed sustainable thinking from the ground up.” Nick Corlett, Sustainability Manager at London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) says:  "At LEYF, sustainability isn’t an afterthought – it’s at the heart of everything we do and shapes our pedagogy and practice, fuels our values, and guides our daily decisions. Powered by the London Institute of Early Years, LEYF’s pioneering research and training hub, and strengthened through our Action for Sustainability in Education community of practice, we embed the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental into everyday activity across all of our nurseries. "We are therefore honoured to receive the King’s Award and proud that our deep-rooted commitment to sustainability has been recognised at this level. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, energy, and teamwork of everyone across LEYF. We hope it sparks a wider ambition to reimagine Early Years Education and Care, where sustainability is a force for social good, builds community resilience, and a fairer future for every child." The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty the King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses. Now in its 59th year, the Award remains the most prestigious business accolade in the country, with successful organisations able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. About LEYF The London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) is the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise for Early Years Education and Care (EYEC) operating 43 nurseries across 13 London boroughs. For over 120 years, LEYF has successfully combined business excellence with social purpose to deliver high-quality, affordable early education to over 4,000 children each year with a focus on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. 75% of LEYF nurseries are situated in areas identified as having high levels of deprivation. 46% of LEYF nurseries are rated Outstanding by Ofsted, far exceeding the national average of 14%. The LEYF Pedagogy focuses on a placing the child at the centre of all business and pedagogical decisions so it can drive a consistent pedagogical approach, lead an ambitious curriculum underpinned by harmonious relationships and community engagement which together enhance the cultural capital of the children, families and staff and build resilient, curious and confident global citizens. LEYF’s business model is built on strategic oversight, operational efficiency, researched -based practice and strong purpose-led leadership. By blending business rigour with social ambition, LEYF offers a consistent, scalable model for delivering excellence in Early Years – one that is financially sound, socially responsible, and always child-focused. leyf.org.uk Photo Credit - LEYF Marsham Street Nursery and Pre-School - Francoise Facella

Charitable social enterprise and worker-owned co-op GLL have announced 2,830 athletes from across the UK will benefit from the 2025 intake of its GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) – the largest independent athlete award programme in the UK. Now in its 17th year the GLL Sport Foundation has so far contributed over £17m worth of athlete funding and support and distributed over 30,000 awards to young and talented athletes in 70 areas of the UK where GLL operate and across 117 different sports.  At a National Launch Event held in the London Borough of Newham on 25 April, athletes and partners gathered to hear how this year's athlete award fund of over £1.4m will help support talented athletes on their sporting journey.  GLL added Newham to its list of leisure partnerships in 2024, extending the opportunity of the GSF Awards to east London's sports stars of tomorrow.   The GSF supports athletes through financial bursaries, access to physical rehabilitation and mental wellbeing support and all athletes are also given access to over 250 sport and leisure facilities across the UK operated by GLL under its "BETTER" brand. Over 17 years, the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has continued to be at the forefront of developing local young athletic talent with the majority of athletes under the age of 21 and on average 88% of athletes receive no other funding or athlete support, which underlines the importance of the scheme to up and coming athletes.  GLL’s recent research shows that many talented athletes struggle to realise their dreams of sporting glory due to rising costs of equipment, training, physiotherapy, travel and nutrition. For them, a GSF Award can be the lifeline to staying in training and meeting their potential. Current GSF National Ambassadors include Joe Clarke, Kimberley Woods, Tulley Kearny, Louise Fiddes, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson and amongst GSF Alumni are Tom Daley, Ellie Simmonds, Daryl Neita and Anthony Joshua. GSF Patron Sally Gunnell OBE said: “Now in its 17th year, the GLL Sport Foundation continues to make a difference, extending support for young athletes just at the time when they need it - keeping them in training and helping them realise their sporting dreams. "It's fantastic to see so many young sportsmen and women accessing the scheme this year and I wish them the very best of luck in their sporting careers." GSF Chair and GLL CEO Peter Bundey said: “GLL is a unique organisation that over 32 years has expanded its public service offer, bringing measurable benefit to local communities. “Our GLL Sport Foundation is a key part of our remit to widen and deepen our social impact by offering unique opportunities to talented young athletes and build a legacy through sport. “Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and our own purposed business model we are delighted to announce a record 2,830 athletes will benefit from the programme this year. I want to wish them every success and we look forward to seeing them in competition here and abroad in years to come." GSF Legacy Ambassador and Athlete Representative on the GLL Sport Foundation Abdul Buhari said: “As an athlete that's had a career in sport, I know firsthand for the impact the GSF has in both a practical and financial sense. "The cost of training and preparation remains high, and I know many athletes will be able to succeed because these awards remove another barrier to competition. "The ability to do something you are passionate about with the help of GSF is priceless”.                                             The GSF Annual Report will be released shortly.  For more information visit www.gllsportfoundation.org The GLL Sport Foundation's Patron is Sally Gunnell, OBE and partners involved in the programme include; SportsAid, SportsAid Wales, Mary Peters Trust, sponsors from GLL's supply chain and local authority partners.

Belu's latest Impact Report is an enlightening summary of everything they achieved throughout 2024 with the support of their ever growing network of partners and customers.  From impactful investments at both local and global levels to continued progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it’s a snapshot of a purpose-led business in action. Belu structures their work and their Impact Report around four key pillars: Purpose, People, Product, and Profit. Purpose comes first, shaping every decision they make and driving their mission forward. In 2024, against a backdrop of global uncertainty, from escalating conflict and the deepening climate crisis to rising living costs, Belu continued to make bold decisions and do business better. The UK saw a new Labour government, the Paris Olympics united us in sport and the hospitality industry powered on, showing resilience and strength. As well as heading up the business alongside Charlotte Harrington, Belu’s Co-CEO, Natalie Campbell ran for London Mayor, finishing as the leading Independent candidate. Meanwhile, Belu launched their innovative Curve Tap, expanded internationally into Singapore, and moved into a new London HQ.  Through it all, they stayed focused on bottling, filtering, and refilling with purpose. Achieving higher revenues than in 2023 and welcoming a host of new partners. Belu's 2024-25 Impact Report is well worth a read, offering inspiring insights into how a social enterprise like Belu is leading with purpose and creating measurable, lasting impact. Read Belu's latest Impact Report About Belu Belu is a drinks business that puts people and the environment first. Our purpose goes beyond our products, by 2030 we will change the way the world sees water. At Belu, we believe something as simple as water can make a difference to some of the local and global challenges we face. Our method is clear, we are powered by ethics and we give away all our profit in pursuit of our purpose. belu.org

Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) has partnered with Luton Borough Council to deliver a free pop-up dental clinic, at the Park Town Family Hub, for almost 100 local children under 10. The pop-up session combined oral health advice, information on healthy eating and a ‘lift the lip’ assessment by the dental team. Any children found to require further care were signposted to a general dental practitioner or offered appointments with CDS. Luton has above the national average number of children experiencing tooth decay and the initiative was designed to focus on helpful prevention advice for families around key oral health messages and awareness of healthy eating, combined with a dental assessment. Where appropriate an application of fluoride varnish was also offered – an important preventative treatment for many children. The timing, during the Easter holidays, ensured a busy day, and free toothbrushes and toothpaste were handed out for all the children to take home. Helen Paisley, CDS CEO, who also attended and carried out some of the assessments, said: “A pop-up clinic like this is a fantastic initiative and we were delighted to be involved and get out of our clinics and into the community. We know that many children, especially the ‘Covid Generation’ have struggled to access and see a dentist regularly. A pop-up clinic means we can share oral health information, explain and show toothbrushing techniques in a fun and engaging way and provide a simple ‘lift the lip’ assessment to see if any treatment is needed. It is also a really valuable way for children to become acclimatised to seeing the dentist as we know an increasing lack of acclimatisation is contributing to children being more dentally anxious when they do come to our clinics needing care.” About CDS Community Dental Services CIC (CDS) is a 100% employee-owned social enterprise providing community dental services to the NHS and oral health improvement programmes throughout Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk & Waveney, Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire.  - Together we will enable our communities to enjoy a better quality of life - communitydentalservices.co.uk

Introducing an exclusive offer for Social Enterprise UK members from cyber insurance specialist Coalition and the team at Keegan & Pennykid Imagine opening your laptop one morning to check the accounts of your social enterprise, only to see a number of transfers have been made to a supplier you don't recognise. You try to open your email to check the notifications you're always sent when you make payments but you're locked out. What's going on?  According to insurer Coalition, the average claim from not-for-profits resulting from cyber breaches (when someone gains unauthorised access to your data) is £86,500. That covers the cost of investigating the breach, removing criminals from your systems, and restoring data and functionality. It doesn’t include legal fees, business disruption, or the potential reputational hit.  When you’ve bought off-the-shelf security software, it’s easy to assume your data is safe. But how many of us take the time to ensure that software is properly configured to suit our organisation's needs?  A big part of cyber security is simply knowing what to look for. For instance, many social enterprises rely on email to communicate with supporters, clients, and staff. But are those emails encrypted? Is two-factor authentication enabled for logins?  If hackers gain access to your inbox, they may also get hold of customer details, intellectual property, and other sensitive information. In the worst cases, this can create serious legal and reputational risks.  More broadly, who’s actually responsible for cyber security in your organisation? Are their responsibilities clearly defined? Have you allocated any budget to this area?  If you’ve got concerns about your cyber security, we’re here to help.  Taking control of cyber risk  Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) members can now access Coalition Control, a cyber security risk management platform, for free, thanks to our long-standing supporter member, Keegan & Pennykid.  Keegan & Pennykid are independent, family-owned insurance brokers with a UK-wide reputation for ethical, expert advice to individuals, businesses, social enterprises, and charities.  This is just one of the many benefits of SEUK membership. By joining, you're not only part of a business network committed to social justice and sustainability – you can benefit from offers like this from supporter members. Your membership also supports research that helps demonstrate the value of social enterprise to government, which has led to favorable policy. Members also gain access to exclusive events and resources. Learn more about SEUK membership.  Here’s how the cyber security risk platform works. Coalition Control scans your organisation’s entire digital footprint - including your domains, IP addresses, apps, and services - and flags potential risks like data leaks and phishing vulnerabilities. It then highlights data leaks and phishing risks.  The platform provides a clear view of your most pressing cyber threats and helps you take action before they turn into problems. It gives you a prioritised list of vulnerabilities, so you can focus on the ones most likely to cause damage.  This means you can build your cyber resilience in a practical, step-by-step way—making your organisation more secure and less vulnerable to attack. In fact, Coalition has found that users of its platform experience 64% fewer claims than those who don’t have access.  To help you explore this further, we’re running exclusive SEUK member webinars to demo the platform and answer any questions. Here are the details To register, sign into our Members' Area and click on RSVP. If you're a member but have not yet registered to our online community please get in touch with us at membership@socialenterprise.org.uk  1. Taking Control of Cyber Risk – 22 May, 12pm  Cyber-attacks against non-profit organisations are increasing at an alarming 63% year on year. During the first of our free webinars on cyber security presented alongside our colleagues at Coalition, we will provide practical advice on what your organisation can do to better protect itself.   2. Cyber resilience and Coalition Control – 5 June, 12pm   As mentioned above, Coalition Control provides a clear view of your most pressing cyber threats and helps you take action before they turn into problems. In this webinar we’ll show you how the Coalition Control platform works, demonstrating how straightforward and easy it is to use. We’ll also be considering what you can do to make your organisation more cyber resilient.   3. Cyber insurance – 12 June, 12pm  The focus for this session will be the vital role that cyber insurance plays within the cyber risk management process and how better protecting your organisation may not be as daunting as perhaps you might think. Remember, these webinars are exclusive to members. Join the world’s largest social enterprise network. 

Birmingham-based award-winning social entrepreneur and leading mental health counsellor, Martin Hogg, founder of Citizen Coaching CIC, launches a new book series focused on accessible strategies to improve mental health for all.  As Citizen Coaching CIC approaches its 20th anniversary, Martin Hogg has instigated a step-change in the highly successful and sustainable social enterprise, Citizen Coaching CIC.  Citizen Coach CIC operational and day-to-day leadership is now being headed by Carla Lees as the new Managing Director. Meanwhile, Martin continues to drive innovation and develop new products and offers to support positive social and behavioural change for those seeking support strategies to tackle mental health challenges.  His first book series launches March 2025 with three new books capturing his twenty years of specialist counselling experience, and translated into readable, bite-size, practical mental health strategies delivered in his unique and engaging style.  Highly qualified, yes.  Lived experience, yes.  Proven results, yes.  Martin says, “Back in 2005 the waiting times for counselling support were long. I believed that not everyone needed to see a psychologist or doctor and that some small practical, non-jargony, and motivational interventions in non-clinical surroundings could be effective for many people.”  “In 2008, I was asked how I funded the work I was doing. I described the Citizen Coaching CIC model as a modern-day Robin Hood business model, delivering counselling services for those with the ability to pay subsidies to support those who couldn’t afford to pay but were in most need of support. Apparently, that was a social enterprise business model, and that legal structure could help me help more people and secure the service for the future.”  Today, Citizen Coaching CIC works in a third-sector consortium with several other local counselling providers, and together they deliver half of the mental health sessions to the people of Birmingham, Europe’s biggest local authority.  Now, with Martin’s creative approach and drive to support more people to live better lives, he has put pen to paper and written three books as the first release in a series of positive mental health personal development paperbacks.  Just launched on Amazon, ‘My Mental Well-Being Coach Series’ presents My Anxiety Coach, My Relationship Coach and My Anger Coach – not only personal development books but counsellor reference books and additional downloadable tailored management plans to support the journey to well-being.  Martin says, “The hardest thing is that, as a counsellor, you can't help everyone immediately. As counsellors, we hate waiting lists but the fact is there is way more demand than supply. We must use all the tools and technology we have to ensure people get the best possible service.”  “With the continuing demand for mental health support, I want to share what I know with others so it can help them with their issues or equip them with the tools to help others. I like to keep things simple, easily understandable and memorable. It’s the practical application that will mean success or failure.”  “As a social entrepreneur, I’m always looking to innovate and see Citizen Coaching CIC leading the way in creating more quality and accessible mental health resources, courses, online products, books and audiobooks.” citizencoaching.com

68 GLL pools taking part from Cornwall to Cumbria, Belfast to Basingstoke. Youngest challenger is just 8 years old The UK's foremost leisure charitable social enterprise GLL will host 1054 fundraising challenges in 68 of its managed pools for Swimathon 2025. The world's biggest fundraising swim happening over the weekend of 28-30 March sees fundraisers' proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation. Participants can choose to swim 400m or Triple 5k and they can swim as individuals or part of a team. GLL has been supporting Swimathon over the years in its 'Better' branded pools. Customers preparing for Swimathon 2025, were invited to a special training tips webinar hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist swimming legend Duncan Goodhew - with inspiring words boosting the number of  take-ups even further. GLL is the largest provider of public swimming pools in the UK (140 pools and 9 lidos) including the iconic Manchester Aquatic Centre, West Reservoir and London Fields Lido - and the biggest provider of swimming lessons - teaching 200,000 people a week, including adult swimmers. GLL's Head of Sport and Aquatics Andrew Clark said: "The best of luck to our fundraisers - with over 1000 taking part, Swimathon 2025 promises to be one of the biggest challenges of its kind we've hosted. "Not only are Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation going to get a boost out of this - it's also offering many the chance to start a lifetime fitness habit." Swimmers young and old have been flocking to GLL's 'Better' pools to train for their individual and team challenges. Among them are mother-and-son fundraisers from Peckham, Leo Garnett (8) and Anna Garcia who train at Charlton Lido in Greenwich.  Anna comments: "Leo's been swimming since he was 3 months old.  "We used to live in Gibraltar and everyone had a pool, I was so scared of him not knowing how to swim. He swims in the school squad and also trains with Dulwich Dolphins." "I swim to challenge myself firstly but realised I could also raise money for Cancer Research - the disease has affected family friends. "We are stepping up and will both do 5km this year  - Swimathon believe Leo is the youngest swimmer attempting this distance." Among GLL's pools that are hosting the largest number of fundraising swims are: London Fields Lido - 118 Charlton Lido - 122 Britannia Leisure Centre - 50 Manchester Aquatic Centre  - 40  Swimathon Foundation is a registered charity working with charitable, facility, national operators and governing body partners to promote the health, wellbeing and life skills that swimming can provide. It also owns the Marathon Swims and other Swimathon campaigns which offers the public the opportunity to swim and fundraise for charity. gll.org