North Wales Social Enterprises scoop the 2012 Social Enterprise Awards Wales

Three North Wales social enterprises have won categories in this years Social Enterprise Wales Awards which took place today (Friday 19th October) at the Scala Cinema and Arts Centre in Prestatyn. The awards were sponsored by not for profit internet registry company Nominet.

The full winners read as follows:

Social Enterprise Leader of the Year - Kelly Davies of Vi-ability

Kelly Davies has been Managing Director of Vi-ability for nearly three years. Kelly has succeeded in positioning Vi-ability as one of the leading personal development/employment facing sport industry programmes in UK and Europe for socially disadvantaged participants It produces consistently positive outcomes in relation to engagement, retention and progression.

Social Enterprise Start up of the Year - North Wales Credit Union

North Wales Credit Union is a financial co-operative which provides a wide range of ethical financial services across North Wales. Regulated by the Financial Services Authority, it is the fourth largest financial mutual in Wales. It was formed in January 2011 through the merger of five credit unions. Since then it has been looked to as a model of excellence by credit unions and policymakers from across the UK.

Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year - St Illtyd’s Communities First Partnership

St Illtyds Communities First is part of a Welsh Government anti-poverty campaign which has been established for 10 years. The team consists of 5 individuals who are dedicated to supporting and encouraging initiatives that make positive changes to the social economy. They work in Llanhilleth Institute supporting communities from Brynithel, Swffryd, Aberbeeg and Llanhilleth. St Illtyd’s Communities First has been responsible for starting up and supporting 3 social enterprises and creating 16 jobs in a socially deprived area of Wales.

Social Enterprise Supporter of the Year – Special Mention

The City & County of Swansea, Housing Renewals & Adaptations Department was singled out for a special mention as an example of a Local Authority who have made a major contribution to supporting the development of a social enterprise. City & County of Swansea has provided support and been available to reflect, counsel and steer changes to other organisations that resulted in the development of social enterprises such as Swansea Care & Repair Services.

Social Enterprise of the Year - Crest Co-operative

Crest Co-operative operates a number of recycling enterprises including , a food poverty project that distributes in-date food from food manufacturers to the homeless and vulnerable across North Wales; a textile recycling operation throughout Conwy County Borough Council; and finally Crest Co-operative work with North Wales housing associations to clear empty properties and save kitchens/bathrooms from landfill. Crest Co-operative’s work primarily focuses on social and environmental purposes, working to promote social inclusion and at the same time work to save materials and food from landfill.

Wales Co-operative Centre Chief Executive Derek Walker commented, “The quality of nominations this year demonstrated not only the breadth and versatility of the sector but the importance the sector has to communities across Wales. The judges this year had a tough task deciding between a number of very dedicated people and a number of extremely deserving nominees. The winners chosen demonstrate an impressive commitment to their area of expertise and a level of service that is outstanding. We congratulate Crest Co-operative, St Illtyd’s Communities First Partnership, North Wales Credit Union and Kelly Davies and all of the other excellent social enterprises who were shortlisted.”

Not for profit Internet registry company Nominet sponsoredthe Social Enterprise Awards Wales 2012. Nominet run one of the world's largest Internet registries and manage over ten million domain names. They are entrusted with the safe, stable and secure management of the .uk Internet name space and recently submitted applications for the new .cymru and .wales top level domains. For more information visit www.nominet.org.uk

The Social Enterprise Support Project is tasked with promoting and developing social enterprise in Wales. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government.

Mentrau Cydweithredol yng Ngogledd Cymru’n ennill Gwobrau Mentrau Cymdeithasol Cymru 2012

Argraffu'r dudalen

Mae tair menter gymdeithasol yng Ngogledd Cymru wedi ennill categorïau yng Ngwobrau Mentrau Cymdeithasol Cymru a gynhaliwyd heddiw (dydd Gwener 19 Hydref) yn Sinema a Chanolfan Gelfyddydau Scala ym Mhrestatyn. Cafodd y gwobrau eu noddi gan y gofrestrfa Rhyngrwyd Nominet.

Dyma restr lawn o’r enillwyr:

Arweinydd Menter Gymdeithasol y Flwyddyn - Kelly Davies o Vi-ability

Mae Kelly Davies wedi bod yn Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr Vi-ability am bron i dair blynedd. MaeKelly wedi llwyddo i sefydlu Vi-ability fel un o’r rhaglenni mwyaf blaenllaw yn y diwydiant chwaraeon yn y DU ac Ewrop ar gyfer datblygiad personol/cyflogaeth i gyfranogwyr sy’n ddifreintiedig yn gymdeithasol. Mae’n cyflawni deilliannau sy’n gyson yn gadarnhaol mewn perthynas ag ymgysylltu, cadw a dilyniant.

Menter Gymdeithasol Newydd y Flwyddyn – Undeb Credyd Gogledd Cymru

Mae Undeb Credyd Gogledd Cymru (NWCU) yn fenter gydweithredol ariannol sy’n darparu ystodeang o wasanaethau ariannol moesegol ar hyd a lled Gogledd Cymru. Yr undeb credyd hwn, a reoleiddir gan yr Awdurdod Gwasanaethau Ariannol, yw’r cwmni cydfuddiannol ariannol pedwerydd mwyaf yng Nghymru. Fe’i ffurfiwyd ym mis Ionawr 2011 trwy uno pum undeb credyd. Ers hynny mae’n cael ei ystyried yn fodel o ragoriaeth gan undebau credyd a gwneuthurwyr polisi o bob rhan o’r DU.

Cefnogwr Menter Gymdeithasol y Flwyddyn - Partneriaeth Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Sant Illtud

Mae Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Sant Illtud yn rhan o ymgyrch gwrthdlodi gan Lywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi bod ar waith ers 10 mlynedd. Mae’r tîm yn cynnwys 5 unigolyn sy’n ymroddedig i gefnogi ac annog mentrau sy’n gwneud newidiadau cadarnhaol i’r economi gymdeithasol. Mae’n gweithio yn Sefydliad Llanhiledd gan roi cymorth i gymunedau o Frynithel, Swffryd, Aberbeeg a Llanhiledd. Mae Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Sant Illtud wedi bod yn gyfrifol am gychwyn a rhoi cymorth i 3 menter gymdeithasol a chreu 16 o swyddi mewn ardal yng Nghymru sy’n amddifadus yn gymdeithasol.

Cefnogwr Menter Gymdeithasol y Flwyddyn – Canmoliaeth Arbennig

Cafodd Adran Adnewyddu ac Addasu Tai Dinas a Sir Abertawe ganmoliaeth arbennig fel enghraifft o Awdurdod Lleol sydd wedi gwneud cyfraniad pwysig tuag at ategu datblygiad menter gymdeithasol. Mae Dinas a Sir Abertawe wedi rhoi cymorth ac wedi bod ar gael i fyfyrio ar, cynghori ynghylch a llywio newidiadau i sefydliadau eraill sydd wedi arwain at ddatblygu mentrau cymdeithasol megis Gwasanaethau Gofal a Thrwsio Abertawe.

Menter Gymdeithasol y Flwyddyn – Cwmni Cydweithredol Crest

Mae Cwmni Cydweithredol Crest yn gweithredu nifer o fentrau ailgylchu gan gynnwys prosiect tlodi bwyd sy’n dosbarthu bwyd y mae ei ddyddiad ‘gorau cyn’ yn dal yn ddilys gan weithgynhyrchwyr bwyd i bobl ddigartref ac agored i niwed ledled Gogledd Cymru; gweithrediad ailgylchu tecstilau ledled ardal Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy; ac yn olaf mae Cwmni Cydweithredol Crest yn gweithio gyda chymdeithasau tai Gogledd Cymru i glirio eiddo gwag ac achub ceginau/ystafelloedd ymolchi rhag cael eu hanfon i safleoedd tirlenwi. Mae gwaith Cwmni Cydweithredol Crest yn canolbwyntio’n bennaf ar ddibenion cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol, gan weithio i hybu cynhwysiant cymdeithasol ac ar yr un pryd, gweithio i achub deunyddiau a bwyd rhag cael eu hanfon i safleoedd tirlenwi.

Meddai Prif Weithredwr Canolfan Cydweithredol Cymru, Derek Walker, “Roedd ansawdd yr enwebiadau eleni’n dangos nid dim ond ehangder a hyblygrwydd y sector ond pwysigrwydd y sector i gymunedau ledled Cymru. Roedd yn dasg anodd i’r beirniaid eleni ddewis rhwng nifer o bobl ymroddgar iawn a nifer o enwebeion teilwng tu hwnt. Mae’r enillwyr a ddewiswyd yn dangos ymrwymiad nodedig i’w maes arbenigedd a lefel o wasanaeth sy’n neilltuol. Rydym yn llongyfarch Cwmni Cydweithredol Crest, Partneriaeth Cymunedau yn Gyntaf Sant Illtud, Undeb Credyd Gogledd Cymru a Kelly Davies a’r holl fentrau cymdeithasol ardderchog eraill a gyrhaeddodd y rhestr fer.”

Noddwyd Gwobrau Mentrau Cymdeithasol Cymru 2012 gan y gofrestrfa Rhyngrwyd ddielw Nominet. Mae Nominet yn rhedeg un o’r cofrestrfeydd Rhyngrwyd mwyaf yn y byd ac yn rheoli dros ddeng miliwn o enwau parth. Hwy sydd wedi cael y cyfrifoldeb am reoli’r parth Rhyngrwyd .uk mewn modd sefydlog a diogel ac yn ddiweddar fe gyflwynodd y cwmni geisiadau ar gyfer parthau lefel uchaf .cymru a .wales. I gael mwy o wybodaeth ewch at y wefan www.nominet.org.uk

Mae'r prosiect Cymorth i Fentrau Cymdeithasol, â’r dasg o hyrwyddo a datblygu mentrau cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Ariannir y prosiect gan y Gronfa Datblygu Ranbarthol Ewrop a Llywodraeth Cymru.