Oldbury charity celebrates national recognition for employee (From Halesowen News)
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Oldbury charity celebrates national recognition for employee
12:11pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in News
Richard Leighton is celebrating national recognition
A SOCIAL entrepreneur at Oldbury’s Trident Reach the People charity has been shortlisted for a national award.
Richard Leighton will be battling it out with four other finalists in the Social Entrepreneur of the Year category of the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2012.
Trident Reach offers housing, care and support services to help vulnerable people, including the homeless, women fleeing domestic violence, people with disabilities and those with mental health issues.
Richard, aged 29, has spearheaded six social enterprise schemes, including opening three charity shops within a fortnight, including a vintage clothes shop in Birmingham.
Richard said: “I am a great believer in social innovation – harnessing entrepreneurial flair to make a difference to the world around us and to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds fulfill their true potential.
“It is an honour to have reached the finals of these awards. I am passionate in my commitment to social enterprise, so I am delighted to play a part in raising the profile of the projects we have got off the ground here at Trident Reach.”
Anthony McCool, Charity Lead at Trident Reach the People, said: “We are delighted to see Richard’s work recognised in such a way on a national scale.
“He is an inspiration to all of us and has achieved remarkable results in a short time.”
Social Enterprise UK runs the national awards scheme to recognise excellence in Britain’s growing social enterprise sector.
The finals, to be hosted by comedian and TV presenter Sue Perkins, will be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in November.
