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Coventry University spin out wins UK Social Enterprise Award
Duncan Edwards, Group Procurement Director at Mitie (sponsors of the Tech for Good award) and Gabriela Matouskova, CEO at Hope 4 The Community CIC.
Wednesday 08 January 2025
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A digital health social enterprise born out of Coventry University's Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, has won Tech for Good: Technology Social Enterprise of the Year at the UK Social Enterprise Awards.
Hope 4 The Community CIC (H4C) has been recognised for its innovative approach to improving the lives of people with long-term health conditions as well as those who care for them in the awards that celebrate the outstanding contributions made by businesses to address key social and environmental challenges.
Founded in 2015 by Professor Andy Turner from the university's Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, and a team of four volunteers, H4C has developed evidence-based, self-management programmes that support people through the emotional and social challenges of living with long-term health conditions.
These programmes, including the flagship Hope Programme, combine positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy to improve people’s confidence, skills and overall quality of life.
H4C has supported more than 14,000 people through its in-person programmes, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, developed a digital platform to deliver services virtually, reaching more than 15,000 participants online.
This award is a proud moment for our team, especially given that it’s our 10-year anniversary this year. It demonstrates the power of combining lived experience, academic research and technology to create solutions that genuinely improve lives. Our journey from a small in-person programme to a scalable digital social enterprise reflects our commitment to meeting people’s needs while reducing pressures on the healthcare system.
Professor Andy Turner, Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University
With funding from NHS Charities Together and UHCW Charity, H4C co-produced an online self-management programme for people with long COVID, supporting more than 3,500 people across the UK and resulting in positive clinical outcomes. This initiative has since expanded with additional funding and is now licensed by the NHS across the Southwest of England.
H4C has also made its digital platform available to PhD students in low-to-middle income countries enabling 14 researchers to create and test health solutions, enhancing global accessibility to health and wellbeing programmes.
In addition, H4C’s collaboration with the Fire Fighters Charity resulted in a bespoke mental health support programme that has reached 1,669 participants from all 56 UK fire services. This year, H4C launched a new course designed to support firefighters transitioning into retirement.
Further recognition of H4C’s impact includes a UK Research and Innovation contract to co-produce a personalised Hope Programme for patients awaiting hip and knee replacements, as well as securing its largest contract with NHS England to contribute to the Southwest Digital Neighbourhoods initiative. This aims to enhance proactive healthcare through digital innovation.
Being named Tech for Good: Technology Social Enterprise of the Year 2024 underscores the impacts we’ve made by combining community-led solutions with innovative technology. It also ties into the government’s 10-year plan for empowering people living with long-term conditions with digital tools, reinforcing the need to invest in evidence-based, innovative social enterprises that drive real change for both people and the planet.
Gabriela Matouskova, CEO of Hope 4 The Community CIC
Find out more about H4C.
Find out more about the Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare.
