The awards went to...

Social Responsibility

Brighter Future Workshop Ltd
Was only established in 2005, but they have already built a national reputation for their innovative approach to breaking down the barriers faced by young disabled people and others who are disadvantaged and live in Skemersdale's most deprived wards.

Their disabled friendly workshop is specifically set up to repair, service & restore 2nd hand mobility equipment such as scooters and wheelchairs that are sold on at affordable prices. They offer employment training in a semi-structured environment that builds on individual skills and support needs. Their services have been hailed as a recycling breakthrough.

Inclusive Sports

Chill Factor "E"
When you talk about skiing to anyone living in the North West, they would think about synthetic mini ski slopes, taking a chance on the mountains of Scotland or expensive holidays abroad. That was until last year when the UK's longest and the worlds widest real snow indoor ski slope open in Manchester.

If it's shopping, eating out, corporate functions or experiencing the snow, every aspect of their facilities are accessible to all. In partnership with Disability Snow Sports they offer adaptive skiing for all abilities. By the way they were winners of a Positive Action Award last year.

Performing Arts

Sign of our times
The person who nominated our next winners told us that "they are a young group who have combined their love of dance with British Sign Language used by deaf people". Members have learnt how to use flags and ribbons to catch the rhythm of the music and interpret the words of the songs.

They have great commitment, practising every week and put on several full shows a year across South Cheshire and North Staffordshire. Their performances help inspire the deaf community and make others aware of ability. They design their own choreography and costumes. I think they deserve recognition. Our judges agreed.

Small Business

Nu Shoes
Physical access is only one of the barriers facing disabled people, and that the biggest barrier is negative attitudes. Big businesses like B&Q and Marks & Spencer have been at the forefront of customer care. But the winners of our next award are a small business located in Formby. The person nominating them said "my daughter has a severe learning disability & finds fitting & purchasing of shoes a traumatic experience, not just for our family and the staff, but also for other customers.

After a discussion with the manager they offered to open the shop just for us. They were so accommodating, showing extreme patience and accepting of our daughters every need. Their customer service is fantastic; they treat us with the upmost respect & dignity, and even help us with getting back in the car afterwards. Proof that it pays to smile.

Service Provider

NHS East Lancashire
The needs of carers are far too often forgotten. Our next winners are committed to understanding and meeting carers needs. They have appointed a Carers Strategy Co-ordinator - the first in Lancashire - to work in partnership with voluntary and other statutory organisations. Implementing recommendations from local carers, Carers UK and Government strategies, and they have produced the first community charter in Lancashire.

Easy Read information, carer awareness to staff, an awareness pack for staff to carers and the development of a GP Referral system. A website and database for working carers within NHS. Supporting training of staff and intranet for communication of issues and solutions.

Entertainment and Leisure

Frog & Bucket Comedy Club
Who would like to be entertained by Michael Jackson, Robbie Williams and Madonna, well that's what you get at a "Frogtastic night" at one of the UK's best known inclusive nightclubs for people with learning disabilities and their friends. OK, the artists are the look and sound-a-likes.

Frogtastic nights are organised by the nationally acclaimed Heroes Project that promotes integration through music and entertainment.On the 14th May this year the Club became the centre of what has subsequently been described as "a war zone", when Manchester city centre was over run by more than 250,000 football supporters.

As visitors attempted to leave they got caught up in the mayhem, and that's when club staff stepped in to provide human gangways to enable visitors to get to their transport - protecting them from both the agitated crowd and the missiles being thrown. In recognition of their bravery, but more importantly the great work they do to promote integration.

Outstanding Individual

Tony Wheeler
Our next winner underlines the ethos of our Positive Action Awards. He works part time in the NHS as part of the equality & diversity team, and for many years he has worked as a volunteer at both the Hillary Centre and Disability Resource Centre in Crewe, plus caring for his elderly mother.

He has made it a priority of his life to help improve services & access for disabled people. He has advised hundreds of businesses, and statutory and voluntary organisations in Crewe and the surrounding area. His work has made a great deal of difference to the lives of thousands of disabled people, their carers and families.

Social Inclusion

Twinkle House
Our next winners received the most nominations every received by our judges. This innovative charitable company offers practical support to children and young people with special needs, including social, emotional and behavioural issues in West Lancashire and neighbouring areas. Their aim is to improve the skills of the children and young people to help them be more independent.

An on-site Child- development worker provides one to one support to each child or young person, focussing on their ability and individual needs. Support and advice is readily available to parents and carers. One of the nominators said "my son loves going to Twinkle House he feels valued when he arrives and is more positive when he leaves, it really is a fantastic place".

Small Employer

Long Lane Garden Centre
Our next winners should be titled "the phoenix", because it was developed when a long standing project finally closed its doors. Many of the clients and families thought that was it!, well that wasn't the case. Today the centre provides employment and training which has helped change the lives of 20 adults currently involved.

The new development had to be built from scratch following the end of the previous project. But with the joint dedication and fundraising from staff and volunteers, their hard work provides an enjoyable environment for adults across a broad range of ages with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities from across the Warrington area.

Outstanding Individual

Stephen Brookes
Our next winner has been working in the field of disability, equality and diversity since moving to Blackpool in 2002. In 2004 he became involved with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Disabled Staff Network: ENABLE. Since then, he has been involved in the production of a variety of strategic strategies including Disability Hate Crime where he has worked on the Community Accountability Forum and he is the Facilitator to the West Lancashire Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel.

He works tirelessly to highlight the under-reporting of Disability Hate Crime in Lancashire, and he believes that we need to build the confidence of the community to tackle this major social issue. His continued involvement has helped produce excellent results, which affects both disabled people and his colleagues. His colleagues say that he has become a true Ambassador.

Large Employer

NHS Central Lancashire
Our next winners were shortlisted in two categories! Our judges were most impressed by their innovative Equality Target Group (ETG) Programme. The programme offers volunteers a 12 week work experience programme. The aim of the programme is for people from a range of equality target groups, including disabled people to gain skills and confidence in a working environment so it will improve their employment opportunities.

A team of staff act as 'buddies' to each volunteer, this helps to break down barriers and enable them to work as a valued member of the team whilst receiving individualised support along the way.

Ability First

Andrew Coleman
Our next winner has never let his disability get in the way of his abilities. He has used his singing ability to raise thousand of pounds for charities across Merseyside & the North West. He recently raised funds to help one youngster to travel to the USA for specialised treatment. He never refuses to help anybody.

Has just completed a University degree where he gained first class honours, he plays football for Liverpool Football Club disability team, and considering most of the judges are Manchester United fans, his ability must have been outstanding. He does mind who knows that he is registered blind, because he truly believes that its ability that counts.

Visitor Attraction

Urbis
Most art exhibitions are held in galleries and museums located in listed buildings, where access and facilities are usually not the best. The winners of our next award have broken new ground in terms of inclusion. This five storey exhibition centre offers a unique insight into city life in Manchester, art and culture including innovative explorations of design, architectures, graffiti, music and the urban environment.

Their aim is to be as accessible as possible, with facilities including access, wheelchairs, information in a range of alternative formats, sound guides, toilets, induction loop systems and trained staff. Whilst you are visiting Urbis, why not try the fully accessible Wheel of Manchester that's located only a few hundred metres away.

Carers

Jacqueline Dewhurst
As a person who has direct experience as a carer, I can tell you how it feels to me, but every one of the UK's 8 million carers are individuals and that's a human right. Our next winner has been a carer for over 20 years. In 2003 she joined East Lancashire Carers Network as a volunteer working closely with their local Primary Care Trust.

In order to give carers a voice, she helped to produce a Carers' Charter for Acute Hospitals and another for Community Services. Until recently she worked with the Patient and Public Involvement Forum to promote the carers voice, and she has chaired Lancashire County Council's Carers Forum. She attends numerous awareness events, including the Mental Health & Asian Forums, she has spoken at a Carers UK National Conference, advised on the Emergency Plan and Respite Care. She has done all of this and support her husband.

Social Enterprise

Pathways Community Interest Company
Our final award of 2008 goes to an organisation that has a reputation for impressing judges across the UK and Europe. Achieving national recognition in 2006 Community Care Mental Health Awards for supporting mental health service users into employment, and gaining European recognition for linking health improvements and employment.

They have recently been awarded the Local Government Chronicle and Health Service Journal Healthy Communities Award for linking improving diet, uptake of exercise and employability through its allotment and cafe. 5 of its 14 staff are disabled people and over the past 12 months they have supported 20 disabled people to move into mainstream employment. This Community Interest Company believes that taking positive action gives it a competitive edge, resulting in an attractive business case to many of its partners.