Triple awards joy for Blackburn non-profit organisation

A Blackburn organisation which champions the work of local groups hit the treble after scooping the Third Sector Organisation of the Year Award at the BIBAs.

This was the third award win of the year for Community & Business Partners, one of only two non-profit organisations of its kind in the UK to hold the ISO9001 quality standard.

“It’s absolutely fantastic that the valuable work of our staff, volunteers and partners has been rewarded by winning three awards within such a short period,” said Amanda Meachin, Chief Executive of Community & Business Partners.

The work of the CBP supports businesses with mentoring, employer forums and commercial coaching and mentoring, as well as 30 charities, community and neighbourhood groups and good causes across Pennine Lancashire without any local or national Government grants.

Amanda added: “All of the CBP’s funding is won through tough, competitive tender processes and the result is the delivery of high quality services and programmes. Charitable fundraising and internal CSR is self-funded and delivered over and above the organisation’s contracted delivery.

“There are lots of organisations in the country that do an element of what we do and a few that do similar things to us but no one else brings all of these elements together to offer the full scope of CBP. We couldn’t be happier that this has been recognised as unique and award worthy.”

It was back in April, that SAMS, part of CBP’s Energy Zone initiative was named the Selnet Environmental Champion of the Year.

SAMS, the Scrap Art Material Store, encourages businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, develop corporate social responsibility and minimise their disposal costs.

It has created a network of companies and members across Lancashire and partners with other recycling projects across the whole country.

This was quickly followed in May by Community & Business Partners winning the Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Hive Awards, which celebrate the best of business in Blackburn and Darwen. And then came the hat-trick at last week’s BIBAs, held at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Amanda said: “It was an incredibly proud moment for us all when our name was read out at the BIBAs and fantastic that the work of so many has been recognised among our peers.