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SOCIAL FIRMS UK ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIR

Social Firms UK, the national charity which aims to create employment opportunities for severely disadvantaged people through the development and support of Social Firms, has today announced it will have a new Chairman after its Annual General Meeting on 23 June 2008. After three years of fulfilling the role of Chair for the organisation, Maria Kenyon will be stepping down on 23 June and making way for her successor, Stuart Boreham. Stuart is a social entrepreneur currently setting up a Social Firm called Moreton Green Ltd in the Cotswolds village of Moreton-in-Marsh.

Stuart’s history with Social Firms UK goes back to 2005, and as the first disabled person to row the Atlantic Ocean solo, he delivered an inspiring keynote speech at the 2006 Annual Conference. View a film about this journey, 'One Man, One Rowing Boat, One Ocean' at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VWvaKC87-X8 Stuart recently appeared on BBC1's Sunday Life (29 June 08). Footage can be seen at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b00ccfhf.shtml
(52:25 mins - 58 mins).   Stuart's life diary can also be found on their website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/sundaylife/lifediary.shtml   In 2004 Stuart was also awarded ITV Courageous Midlander of the Year and is Patron of CP Sport (Reg. Charity No. 1088600).

Stuart says, “As a disabled entrepreneur myself, I am passionate about what Social Firms represent and the sector’s values of Enterprise, Employment and Empowerment. I feel I have much to offer in adding my voice to that of Social Firms UK and in helping them to fulfil their vision of real employment for disadvantaged people through the development and support of the sector. Through starting up my own venture I’ve benefited first hand from the excellent support and services Social Firms UK provides to its members.

The Social Firm model of creating real jobs for disadvantaged people within a unique commercial environment is beginning to gain recognition as a vital part of a future in which disadvantaged people have the chance to fulfil their potential through satisfying work. It is an exciting and challenging time to be involved.”

CEO of Social Firms UK, Sally Reynolds adds, “My thanks go to Maria for being such a supportive Chair for the last three years. She, like all of the charity’s trustees, has been very willing to give up her time voluntarily to support Social Firms UK at board level. This is very much appreciated and it would be to the detriment of Social Firms UK if we didn’t have this level of input from our members and supporters. I’m very much looking forward to working with Stuart, not only as Chair of the organisation, but as one of our members who’s actually starting a Social Firm and helping us fulfil our mission in practice as well.”

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