PRESS RELEASE: Black Owned Birmingham award win for First Class Foundation
First Class Foundation has won its second award in less than a week, after being recognised at the inaugural Black Owned Birmingham 2022 Dinner and Awards. The West Midlands-based charity scooped the title of ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ at an award ceremony on Saturday 1 October, hosted at Aston Villa Football Club’s Holte Suite. The Black Owned Birmingham awards programme celebrates those contributing to the excellence of Black businesses and the wider community in Birmingham. More than 9,000 individuals cast over 120,000 public votes for the awards, with winners chosen from a shortlist by a judging panel featuring representatives from the city’s business sector.
“It’s only a short time since we launched First Class Foundation but we have had the opportunity to make a real impact, whether through our work in the youth justice sector, helping children to get to school safely or raising awareness of local work, training and education opportunities. Community engagement can be very challenging and requires people who are not only highly skilled but absolutely committed to making a difference. We have built a fabulous team who are achieving amazing results in our communities and by doing so, are helping to support equality and diversity in our society too.”
CEO of First Class Foundation, Sabrina Dennis, said that the award was testament to the hours of outreach and engagement work delivered by her team in some of the most deprived communities in the West Midlands.
She said: “We are incredibly honoured to have received an award from Black Owned Birmingham and are particularly humbled to have been recognised twice in the same week.
“It’s only a short time since we launched First Class Foundation but we have had the opportunity to make a real impact, whether through our work in the youth justice sector, helping children to get to school safely or raising awareness of local work, training and education opportunities.
“Community engagement can be very challenging and requires people who are not only highly skilled but absolutely committed to making a difference. We have built a fabulous
team who are achieving amazing results in our communities and by doing so, are helping to support equality and diversity in our society too.”
First Class Foundation delivers youth offending services across the West Midlands, including projects focused on reducing serious youth violence, such as its acclaimed Kitchen Table Talks service.
It was also consulted by Dr Justin Varney, head of public health at Birmingham City Council, regarding the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities.
The charity is currently delivering the second phase of a West Midlands Combined Authority outreach programme to raise young people’s awareness of available employment, training and education opportunities.