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03th December 2009 Brighter Future Workshop Limited wins BEST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARD in UK!!!!! http://www.socialenterpriseawards.org.uk/awards_vote.php
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Chairman Honoured Peter Cousins Chairman of BFW has been awarded The M.B.E. in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours list on 14/6/08 for his outstanding voluntary work and innovative service to others, especially for his selfless service to a voluntary body and to the community, which brings distinction and quality to UK life. Peter retired after becoming disabled over twelve years ago and has since devoted his time to help people with disabilities and others who are disadvantaged.
The Brighter Future Workshop - project was setup to help young unemployed people with disabilities to assist in repairing mobility equipment. It took over two years in planning and the new charity, a social enterprise, opened on 14th July 2005. The workshop takes some of the most disadvantaged disabled people and others who are greatly disadvantaged in many other ways - many have been excluded from social inclusion, and have very low self esteem.
The Brighter Future Workshop helps them to find their feet and make a new life for themselves working towards their own economic stability. Trainees learn new skills, working alongside fully trained technicians and contribute to sustainable development, gain valuable work experience, and at the same time gain AQA accreditation in basic mechanical and electrical engineering. Their own personal development is enhanced as they gain self worth and confidence, leading to improved ‘employability’; with the right support and encouragement, for many, this may be the first step on the ladder to paid employment. Peter as Chairman has led this successful social enterprise, working towards its sustainability and gaining service level agreements with local special needs schools, main stream schools and also social services day centre for people with learning difficulties, to offer work based hands on skills and life skills to those who are disadvantaged. The workshop offers a cost effective repair service to mobility equipment users locally enabling them to remain mobile and therefore less disadvantaged.
Response by Peter Cousins M.B.E - Chairman Brighter Future Workshop I am humbled and very honoured to have been awarded an M.B.E. for my voluntary work with people with disabilities in West Lancashire. It came as a total surprise; I never dreamt that I would ever receive such a tribute in recognition of my work and it will be an honour to attend Buckingham Palace for the formal ceremony in November.
I intend to use this award to help me further highlight the need of young disabled and disadvantaged to gain real life skills and opportunities to access vocational training at The Brighter Future Workshop.
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**** BFW massive increase of training day placemes and AQAs BFW training day places have increased from 8 in 2005 to 47 in June 08 a massive growth of nearly 600% Our 8 staff have had intensive product training and 4 have undergone teacher training qualifications, enabling us to expand into main stream schools to satisfy the 14-19 initiative in mechanical and electrical engineering to AQA standard. To date our trainees have accomplished 225 AQA accreditations in basic electrical & mechanical engineering. |
