Third Sector Award for Mencap partnership

Friday 28 September 2012

Mencap and ENABLE Scotland celebrate win for Charity of the Year partnership with The Co-operative Group

Mencap and sister charity ENABLE Scotland last night won a Third Sector Excellence Award, for their corporate partnership with The Co-operative Group.

Through the partnership, The Co-operative Group’s staff, members and customers raised more than £7 million, smashing their previous Charity of the Year total of £5 million.

The money is being used to run Mencap and ENABLE Scotland’s Inspire Me programme – a three-year project that aims to change the lives of 25,000 young people with a learning disability and their families.

The partnership was nominated in the ‘corporate partnership’ category, going up against stiff competition from the likes of WWF, Drinkaware and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Reza Motazedi, head of charities and not for profit at Deloitte UK and one of the category judges, said: "There was good management and the partnership helped a very large group of disadvantaged people."

Ellie Gray, Mencap's director of fundraising and development, said: “We are very grateful to The Co-operative for the opportunity to work with them and their staff to raise a staggering £7 million. This vital money is already making a real difference for more than 25,000 young people with a learning disability and their families. We also want to thank our team for their enthusiasm, hard work and professionalism in helping us deliver this amazing result.”

Mencap and Leonard Cheshire Disability were also shortlisted in the ‘Third Sector big impact award’ category for their joint campaign on the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. 

Find out more about Inspire Me

Find out more about the Charity of the Year partnership with The Co-operative Group