UK: Edge awards launched

In conjunction with New Statesman magazine, educational foundation Edge is launching the 2007 Edge Upstarts Awards on 25 January. The UK awards have been held annually since 2001 to recognise excellence in all aspects of social enterprise, including their vital contribution to training and practical learning. Last year’s winners include Training for Life, which received the Social Enterprise of the Year Award in recognition of its innovative approach of providing training in various industries for thousands of disadvantaged people in high-deprivation areas. Stonelaw High Fair Traders Young Co-operative also received a special commendation for its work. The co-operative is a set of student entrepreneurs ranging from 12 to 18 years of age who sell fair trade goods everywhere from the school playground, coffee mornings and parent evenings to local parish churches and markets. Since the co-operative started in 2003 sales have exceeded £25,000, with all profits donated to Dr Ruth Bland who works in South Africa with babies and children who are HIV positive. See www.edgeupstarts.org