Derry organisations that champion inclusion, diversity and opportunity for all were among the winners at the Social Enterprise Awards NI.

Brought together by Social Enterprise NI (SENI) on the 23rd Oct at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast, winners and finalists from across the north were hailed as “living proof of social enterprises’ unique grassroots power to tackle inequality and strengthen communities”.

Winners from Derry included Best Community Based Social Enterprise, ARC Fitness set up by Social Enterprise Leader of the Year, Gary Rutherford.

ARC Fitness gives people practical help, support and motivation for people struggling with substance misuse.

Social Enterprise Leader of the Year, Gary Rutherford, founder of ARC Fitness.

placeholder image — Social Enterprise Leader of the Year, Gary Rutherford, founder of ARC Fitness.

The team at Waterside Credit Union were highly commended in the Credit Union of the Year category.

The team at Repair and Share Foyle also got a Highly Commended award for Environmental/ Circular Economy Social Enterprise of the Year for their work in repairing, reusing and building a community of fixers across Derry.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, a spokesperson for Social Enterprise NI (SENI) said: “The night of the Social Enterprise Awards for NI is always a noisy one, because this is the only time throughout the year that many of these vital, life-changing organisations have the opportunity to shout about what they have achieved. This evening was no exception, with the room packed full of social entrepreneurs, dedicated staff and many of the beneficiaries.

“While normal award ceremonies celebrate excellence, these awards tell a much bigger story. In towns, cities and rural areas of Northern Ireland, people are being excluded from everyday life, communities are crumbling and hope for a more prosperous future is thin on the ground. The result is pressure on public services that are out of budget and out of the loop on finding the kind of flexible on-the-ground solutions that are second nature to social enterprises.

Repair&Share Foyle received Highly Commended.

“Each of these organisations saw an issue in society and wanted to find a solution to it and crucially an income stream to pay for it. In a world facing unimaginable challenges ahead, you could argue it’s social entrepreneurs like these that we should trust with our future,” the spokesperson added.