Me Unlimited, the community interest company, based in Fermanagh were “ecstatic” after receiving the Fermanagh Herald Social Enterprise Award supported and sponsored by The Fermanagh Trust.
Entrants to this award were asked to prove they make an outstanding contribution to their local community in terms of social, economic or environmental improvements. The winner also received a £1,000 grant from award sponsor, The Fermanagh Trust.
Noreen Kettyles, who set up Me Unlimited in April 2009 was delighted that the group’s voluntary work had been recognised.
“We’re so, so, pleased, it’s a great acknowledgment for all the unpaid carers in Fermanagh and throughout Northern Ireland and the border counties who we support.
“We absolutely did not expect it.
There were some great contenders in our category and being a social enterprise we really aren’t that competitive, we’re just happy to pioneer new things and support other social enterprises, but it was a great privilege for us to win.
The company exists to inspire unpaid carers – female, male, young carers – carers of children with learning and/or physical disabilities, carers of sick and/or elderly relatives, and anyone anywhere in a caring role – to believe they have the right to create for themselves a great and fulfilling life.
This is done through a suite of pioneering and unique personal development programmes aimed at addressing the emotional, mental, physical and holistic well-being of carers.
Their “Me” programmes provide access to a whole range of training, education, placement, health, wellbeing activities and regular social activities for unpaid carers. Programmes aim to develop skills including self management, time management positive thinking, confidence and assertiveness, communication, personal development planning and motivational skills.
Noreen felt the award was the result of a collective effort.
“I think our success is down to the group effort, team effort.
There are a lot of carers involved in the structure of our organisation, we support carers through a wide range of ways throughout Fermanagh and I think that paid off”.
Since their creation they have grown to deliver their programmes to carers throughout the North and the border counties and the company now has a team of six facilitators.
As Noreen explained there are also plans in place to spread their work even further, delivering their programmes across the water.
“We have a strategic plan which sees us growing the work we do across Ireland and into the UK so we’re going to be focusing on that and bringing our model to fruition across those areas”.
With social improvements high on the agenda, Me Unlimited contributes immensely to the local community and is a worthy recipient of the Social Enterprise Award.
Article courtesy of the Fermanagh Herald.
