Social enterprise shortlisted for international Knowledge Exchange award

Social enterprise shortlisted for international Knowledge Exchange award
University news

Tuesday 28 May 2019

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Press Team
press.mac@coventry.ac.uk


Coventry University social enterprise Hope For The Community has been shortlisted for an international Knowledge Exchange (KE) award.

Hope For The Community CIC (H4C) is a social enterprise providing organisations with affordable, face-to-face and digital products and services to empower people to manage their own health and wellbeing.

It is Coventry University's first research social enterprise spin-out company, and a unique collaboration of Coventry University Group academics, intellectual property, enterprise and innovation business support specialists, and community volunteers.

The KE Awards is a new initiative organised by PraxisAuril, the UK’s world-leading professional association for KE practitioners, to celebrate the contribution of KE professionals in enabling and facilitating the societal and economic impact of research.

H4C Programmes have benefitted 15,000 people living with or affected by a long-term physical and/or mental health condition. Participants report feeling less anxious, depressed or stressed, and becoming more resilient, grateful and hopeful.

 

It is wonderful to be recognised for this prestigious award, especially as the joined up work has enabled thousands of people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. As a sector we need to look at new ways of how research creates sustainable impact in the society and Hope For The Community CIC is a great example of how this can be done.

Gabriela Matouskova

Data from H4C interventions is available to Coventry University staff and PhD students for research, continuously strengthening H4C’s evidence-base, and supporting the programme’s academic rigour, authenticity and efficacy.

H4C clients include NHS England, Macmillan Cancer Support, Carers Trust Heart of England, European Commission, Lionheart and Bethany’s Wish. H4C was named in the NatWest SE100 list 2019, celebrating the growth, impact and resilience of social ventures in the UK.

The knowledge exchange teams at Coventry University Group use H4C to highlight the wider benefits of social enterprise to the university, whilst delivering sustainable social and economic impact.

The winners of the KE awards will be announced on 13 June 2019.

For more information about the Hope For The Community social enterprise or the Knowledge Exchange awards please visit the KE awards website.