The national awards are run by Social Enterprise UK to celebrate the leading lights in the sector and showcase diversity and impact across 15 categories.

With only 20% of its income received from the NHS, pressure mounts for St Helena to find innovative ways to generate the funds needed to support people across north east Essex who face incurable illness and bereavement.

Mark Jarman-Howe, Chief Executive of St Helena, said:

“Growing demands and rising costs have meant the last year has been incredibly challenging financially and we ended the year with a significant deficit. We are determined to be creative and to innovate our way to a more financially secure future.

“The announcement that St Helena is a finalist in the Innovation of the Year category of the UK Social Enterprise Awards, is great news.

“Rather than submitting just one innovation for the award, our submission was about how our income generation, support and clinical teams are embracing the need to grow and diversify our income through a more commercial approach, introducing new paid-for care services, growing existing businesses, and launching new business ventures.

“There were hundreds of entries to the awards this year, so this is great recognition for everyone's hard work and willingness to try new things in order to protect our charity for our communities.”

In February, St Helena launched its new arts and crafts venture, The Creation Station, adding to its other growing social enterprise franchises: commercial cleaning company Total Clean and Radfield Home Care, all in support of St Helena. More recently, St Helena has introduced a new paid-for respite service for patients who need a period of respite from their usual situation; and Forget Me Not private bereavement counselling.

These social enterprises also benefit the community and stimulate economic growth locally by currently employing 138 people, with further permanent and bank work opportunities currently advertised on St Helena’s website. 

The winners of the UK Social Enterprise Awards will be announced on 4th December.