2024 Winner
Community Organisation Award: Disability
Happy Smiles Training is a disabled people-led social enterprise, with over 90% of its workforce being disabled individuals and 80% women. Happy Smiles aims to address the undervaluing and stigma attached to disability, both locally and globally. They empower disabled people to lead positive social change by delivering inclusive training and projects to schools, community groups, and businesses and sharing their lived experiences. To date, Happy Smiles has impacted over 18,000 people through partnerships with notable organisations like Levi's, Manchester United, and the NHS. Their training sessions receive 100% recommendations from participants. The organisation focuses on removing barriers, promoting positive disabled role models, and driving long-term social change in societal attitudes, organisational practices, and national policies. Happy Smiles has provided long-term employment and volunteer opportunities to over 30 local disabled individuals and is expanding its team across the UK.