Hexham social entrepreneur shortlisted for awards

All of its projects aim to break down the barriers resulting from rural loneliness, with its 2,000 members benefiting from large subsidies on bus travel, as well as shopping trips and days out around rural Northumberland.

Launched in 1995, the organisation has invested £250,000 in new vehicles in the last two years and with regional development agency One North East has just set up an online forum to help its members keep in touch with one another.

It also provides a car rental service for those finding it difficult to find work because of their rural location - and motor scooters for people to use while they build up to their driving licence through the organisation's driving tuition service.

Liz Prudhoe has been successful in taking ADAPT from a position where it was 90% dependent on charitable funding to a position where it is almost completely self-sustainable.

She said: "Many people living in areas such as Hexham, Allendale and Heddon-on-the-Wall are limited to the types of jobs they can apply for because they are so isolated.

"Our services give them a wider range of transport options, as well as build them up to the stage where they can drive their own car.

"We all need access to services and we believe we provide a lifeline to those people who can feel the most excluded."

The Voluntary Sector Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, held by Newcastle-based charity the Community Foundation, applauds those social entrepreneurs who have shown outstanding leadership, drive and a passion for their work.

The shortlisted organisations will be aiming for the recognition of previous winners, which include Stephen Bell at homeless charity Tyneside Cyrenians and Rani Svanberg at Newcastle-based Dementia Care Partnership.

The awards, sponsored by Newcastle-based law firm Ward Hadaway and coinciding with
Enterprise Week, are now in their fourth year and will acknowledge the good work of a range of organisations, including everything from a training provider to a group that recycles old bicycles.

Social enterprises are mission-driven organisations which trade in goods or services in order to benefit a specific group within the local community.

However, that is not to say that these entrepreneurs are anything other than business-like in their approach to community work.

George Hepburn, chief executive, of the Community Foundation, which works to link businesses with worthy social enterprises, said: "It is true that the charity and voluntary sectors are finding things difficult at the moment.

"However, I think it is highly commendable that there have been many organisations that have managed to expand their services and continue their good work despite these conditions.

"Also, I think it is important to realise how business-minded these entrepreneurs are. I have no doubt that if they were running a private company that they would be doing very well for themselves."

Ward Hadaway managing partner Jamie Martin said: "Social entrepreneurs are often overlooked. They are often the unsung heroes of the business world. We wanted to support a group of businesses that were strong financially in their own right - as well as supporting some fantastic work in the community."