Habitat ReStore named a finalist in the prestigious UK Social Enterprise Awards, which recognise businesses that are transforming communities and tackling climate change.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore has been shortlisted for the UK Social Enterprise Awards, recognising it as one of the UK’s most effective social enterprises.

Habitat ReStore’s in Lisburn, Ballymena, Newry, Newtownards directly tackle poverty and helps build sustainable community. ReStore empowers local people to improve their homes at low cost, provides skills and employability training for people of all ages and backgrounds and diverts tons of reusable DIY and home improvement materials from landfill.

In this last year ReStore helped 65,000 people access low cost materials to improve their homes, supported 25 people into employment, provided a new home for 150 old kitchens through our Kitchen Rescue programme and diverted 1,000 tons of reusable material from landfill, helping to protect the environment.

Social enterprises are businesses that trade for a social or environmental purpose. There are an estimated 100,000 social enterprises in the UK contributing around £60bn annually to the UK economy and are set up to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society.

The UK Social Enterprise Awards are awarded by Social Enterprise UK, the UK’s leading membership body for social enterprises and recognise excellence and innovation in UK social enterprises. Previous winners have included a legal firm representing vulnerable people, a crowdfunding platform helping homeless people into work, and a network of zero waste supermarkets – demonstrating the diversity of the social enterprise in the UK.

Commenting on being shortlisted, Jenny Williams (Chief Executive of Habitat Ireland) said, “Finding win-win solutions to help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing communities, including poverty and inequality, youth employment and persistently high reusable waste to landfill, is vital. This recognition from Social Enterprise UK is for the impacts that ReStore has for the local people, the wider community and the planet. It also acknowledges the commitment of hundreds of volunteers, donors and other partners who make our work possible.”

Commenting on the Awards, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said:

“The UK Social Enterprise Awards are the ultimate showcase of the impact and excellence of social enterprises. These are trailblazers and standard setters for how to do business better, in ways that put people and planet first. They empower and uplift communities. They show us all how we can do business in a way that helps the environment. And they do all this while facing the same challenges as other businesses.

“In these turbulent times, they are a beacon of innovation, optimism and resilience. Those who have made the shortlist of these awards have proven their business’ ability to weather the storm of the pandemic, keeping their business and their mission on track.

“The challenges we face as a society demand new approaches and a shift in the way that businesses big and small act. The entries for this year’s award continue to inspire, innovate and show us all how businesses can help us meet many of these challenges head on.”

Find your local store and learn how you can get involved by shopping, donating or volunteering with ReStore today: www.habitatni.co.uk/restore