TODAY we are launching our ninth Pride of East Lancashire Award, which will go to the non-profit-making organisation that best deserves title of East Lancashire Social Enterprise Champion.

Social and community enterprises are playing an increasingly vital role in the lives of thousands of people across East Lancashire and the Community Social Enterprise Award looks to recognise the invaluable contribution they make.

In this award, sponsored by Business Link, we are looking for organisations that have shown an outstanding commitment to promoting training and employment for socially excluded people in community-owned businesses.

By creating jobs and contributing to the economy and well-being of the community, it is important the work of such key social enterprises is recognised.

You may well have observed the work of such an organisation or you may be part of such an organisation. Either way we want you to come forward and send us a nomination.

This award is your opportunity to recognise the sterling work which these groups do for sections of the community and for East Lancashire as a whole.

As part of the Pride of East Lancashire campaign, this award is an opportunity to highlight what great progress has been made in this area in recent years, with community social enterprises contributing greatly to the well-being of the area.

Many such groups have introduced extremely innovative schemes and practices of which the whole of East Lancashire can be proud.

The reward for taking the Community Social Enterprise Award will be a prize of £3,000 that must be used to further the work of the winning group.

September 30 is the deadline for nominations.