Smile Together shortlisted for a prestigious UK Social Enterprise Award
The Cornish dental community interest company, Smile Together, are celebrating the fact that they’ve been shortlisted for a prestigious 2018 UK Social Enterprise Award (UKSE) in the new ‘Health and Social Care’ category. The winner will be announced at a high-profile ceremony at the Guildhall in London on Wednesday 28th November.
In terms of social impact, 2018 has been an extraordinarily productive year for Smile Together and one of the highlights was undoubtedly their Smiles at Sea campaign. In association with the Seafarers Hospital Society, Fishermen’s Mission and Healthy Cornwall, Smile Together went quayside to see over 100 fisherman and their families across 7 locations in Cornwall and Devon – 70% of whom had not seen a dentist in the last 5 years. Collectively the team of travelled over 2,500 miles and volunteered 340 hours to a campaign that offered advice and practical dental work including fillings, extractions, polishes and even x-rays. Over 40 of those seen have booked in for follow up treatment as recommended by the dentist on the day.
Their Brighter Smiles campaign, delivered in partnership with local organisations such as Cornwall Council, Fuel Communications, Ocean Housing and Imerys, takes toothbrushing clubs, fluoride varnishing and oral health education to schools across the county where tooth decay is a real issue, reaching over a thousand children each year.
Smile Together managing director Paul Critchley said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the national UKSE awards for 2018. From providing emergency and special care dental treatment for those who need us most, to reaching even further into the community, our team is passionate about making a difference to the oral health of local people. As an employee-owned social enterprise, we are able to reinvest our funds into projects that enable us to do just that, thanks to the dedication of our team who are determined to make a positive impact”.