Firstport has awarded funding worth over £75,000 to four social entrepreneurs

Four social entrepreneurs from around Scotland have been awarded £75,000 from Firstport.

They were each successful in the business support charity’s Build It awards and received between £10,000 and £25,000 financed by the Social Entrepreneurs Fund.

Chris Pellow, Locheilnet, received £10,000 for his affordable broadband service targeted to the remote, rural communities surrounding Fort William.

Susan Doogan, Motorvate Therapies, received £20,000 for her business which provides sensory/motor and literacy services to young people with additional support needs in Perth and Kinross.

Anna Sandland, Forth Valley Enterprise, received £25,000 to develop projects and services, such as a community café, to benefit the community in the Falkirk area and beyond.

Laura Wilson, Edinburgh Community Yoga, received £20,500 to provide accessible yoga and meditation classes in the city within a variety of Edinburgh City Council and NHS Scotland settings, as well as through independent social care charities, organisations, prisons and within schools.

Karen McGregor, chief executive of Firstport, said: “We are delighted to be supporting these entrepreneurs at such an exciting time in their development. Social enterprises play an important role in supporting Scotland’s communities by creating employment opportunities and enhancing skills.

“We have funded a wide range of new start enterprises across Scotland and our Build It awards programme provide the time and space required for a social entrepreneur to commit themselves wholly to making their venture work. This leap of faith is essential if the business is to develop further and faster.”