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Alive and Kicking was pleased to win the International Impact Award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards held in London on 28 November 2016. The award is an endorsement of our model: creating fairly paid ethical jobs and using proceeds to raise awareness about preventable while also increasing access to sport. Glenn Cummings, Alive and Kicking CEO said: ‘It was a real honour to be recognised by our peers. It is amazing for our 155 Africa-based staff, for most of whom working for Alive and Kicking is their first proper job, to be recognised at this great event.  Alive and Kicking is making a real impact on this generation and the next, and demonstrates daily how social businesses can thrive in Africa.’  Alive and Kicking and the other winners were presented with bespoke trophies made by the social enterprise, Designs in Mind, which employs people with mental health problems. Social enterprises also supplied all the goods and services on the night, including the catering, rigging, drinks, flower displays and goody bags. The Awards are organised by Social Enterprise UK, the national trade body for social enterprise. “Year on year the UK Social Enterprise Awards get bigger and better. This year the competition was particularly fierce, so a big congratulations Alive and Kicking for taking home a trophy.” (Peter Holbrook CBE, Social Enterprise UK’s Chief Executive) : 30

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Iconic British designer and fashion label, Paul Smith, has teamed up with UK based African charity, Alive + Kicking, to deck out the landmark Floral Street store in Covent Garden, London. Paul Smith has purchased the hand-made footballs in celebration of the European Championship and to raise awareness of Alive + Kicking’s charitable work. Alive and Kicking is a UK charity that establishes and supports not-for-profit social enterprises in Africa. Through the manufacture of sports balls in Kenya, Zambia and Ghana, Alive and Kicking achieves its charitable objectives: generating ethical employment for adults, raising awareness about preventable disease such as HIV and malaria among young people and providing durable and affordable balls for disadvantaged children. Paul Smith are displaying 4 football designs for the duration of the Euro 2016 tournament in the store’s antique cases alongside information and images detailing Alive + Kicking’s work. Alive and Kicking’s CEO, Glenn Cummings commented: “We’re delighted that Paul Smith have decided to include Alive + Kicking in their new store display. We pride ourselves on the quality, construction and style of our footballs so to have our products endorsed by an international fashion legend is a real coup.” : 37