Hertfordshire Independent Living Service (HILS) is celebrating the milestone of over one million caring interventions delivered to vulnerable, elderly, and disabled people since it began working with Social Business Trust (SBT) in April 2015.
From small beginnings in 2007, with just one office and seven members of staff delivering meals on wheels to people in their homes, HILS now employs around 200 staff and offers a variety of independent living services to older and vulnerable people. These include meals, health and wellbeing, and community services.
Since beginning this partnership, SBT has given HILS cash and in-kind support worth over half a million pounds. That help has included: a strategy review, strengthening governance with HILS’ board of trustees; and funding a senior finance post to lead development of management information and performance data. SBT has also supported us this year to launch a pioneering hot meals service in London: London Independent Living Service (LILS).
Adele Blakebrough, CEO of SBT, said: “We’re proud to be working with HILS and it’s great to see the difference our business partners are making. Ultimately their expertise is helping thousands of elderly and disabled people live independently in their homes.”
Sarah Wren, Chief Executive of HILS, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the milestone of over one million interventions since our partnership with SBT began. It is great to work with an organisation that is as passionate about creating positive social change as we are. We are looking forward to many more years of working together to support the people of Hertfordshire, London, and beyond.”
HILS’ choice of setting up as a social enterprise reflects a strong belief in the power of bringing together innovation and charitable objectives to deliver social good. A social return on investment study conducted in 2012 revealed that for just £1 invested, the meals on wheels service generates an incredible £5.28 in social value.
SBT is a charity that provides cash grants and business expertise to support social enterprises with high growth potential to scale-up their impact. It does that by working with a group of world-class corporate partners, including British Gas, Clifford Chance, EY and Thomson Reuters. Over one million people have been helped through the social enterprises SBT supports in just six years.
For more information on SBT go to http://www.socialbusinesstrust.org/ and for up-to-date news on HILS’ expanding services keep checking our website!
