Winners of The Bank of Scotland's Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2009

The Story So Far (Jessie Joe Jacobs - Service Director)

In Feburary I was asked to attend a special allunmi dinner at Durham University Business School. At the dinner I met one of the Bank of Scotland's senior personelle and, impressed by A WAY OUT's business savvy and entrepreneurial approach to tackling deprivation and poor health in our communities, he advised me to apply for the Bank of Scotland's Social Entrepreneur Awards.  Following a rigerous application process we were narrowed down to the final three, competing to win £100 000.

The next stage was to present our business ideas and prove our entrpreneurialism to a panel of 7 judges from The Times, Deloites, The Bank of Scotland and high profile entrepreneurs Kavita Oberoi (Secret Millionaire) and Liam Black (15 Restaurants and Wavelength) both of which will also offer mentoring support to the winner.  This was an exciting opportunity and we really hoped to win.  It is so difficult to get funding to develop the business side of charities, and the award would be transformational to A WAY OUT!! Well, after a long long journey, I am pleased to announce ..........

We Won!!!

On the evening of A WAY OUT's seventh birthday on the 26th June 2009, at a prestigious awards dinner, it was announced that A WAY OUT was the winner of the coveted Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award - which will bring an award of £100 000 and a years business mentoring from Kavita Oberoi, self made millionaire and star of Secret Millionaire.

Click here to find out more about the award & event

It has truly been an amazing journey.  With 1800 applicants to the award from local and national charities, we were up against the best.  Following the rigorous application process we then had to present our business ideas to a team of astute business leaders, who then grilled us for a further thirty minutes with a series of questions about us and our organisation.  

The awards dinner was fantastic with beautiful food and a stunning venue. The greater and good of the charity world were there in attendance with directors and business managers from a range of well known charities and not-for-profit organisations.

It was very nerve racking though and the win was completely unexpected. 

Comments given afterwards from the judges were fantastic.  Liam Black (Wavelength Companies) commented that he had heard a lot of presentations from voluntary organisations and ours was one of the best he had heard.  Kavita who will be mentoring us as part of the award told us how she was very keen to be our mentor.  (I am particularly excited about her being our mentor and am really looking forward to working with her).

Overall this award is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  We will now have the resources needed to take A Way Out into other regions of the North East, with some exceptional business minds helping to make that happen.

I still can't stop smiling!!!

Jessie Joe Jacobs