Poppy Jaman Of MHFA England CIC Announced As One Of The Top Ten Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs For 2011

Online, November 18, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Poppy Jaman, National Director of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, was announced as one of the top ten Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs of the Year on Social Enterprise Day during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a worldwide movement of entrepreneurial people, with millions unleashing their enterprising talents and turning their ideas into reality. It began as Enterprise Week in the UK back in 2004. When news of the phenomenal success of Enterprise Week in the UK spread the globe, lots of other countries got excited about the potential of running similar initiatives in their own countries. Since its inception, Global Entrepreneurship Week has spread to 115 countries, with nearly 24,000 organisations planning more than 37,000 activities. The Future 100 Awards were first launched in 2008 to recognise and profile young entrepreneurs running businesses, which have a triple bottom line. The definition of a triple bottom line, is a business that addresses people, planet and profit. They have a strong commercial foundation as well as a significant social and environmental impact. The Future 100 Awards recognises the success of young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture.

Poppy said, "Our Community Interest Company has had a tough year. Sustaining the business through the current climate has required resilience and innovation. Our team and our instructors have an abundant amount of passion and positive energy, as mental wellbeing is a personal agenda that we are collectively driving forward. To be recognised for our social impact has certainly affirmed my faith in what we do. This has given me a personal boost and rejuvenated enthusiasm!"

MHFA England Patron, Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, says: "It is fantastic news that MHFA England is being celebrated as one of the top 10 winners of the Future 100 Awards. MHFA England is not only an innovative and professional organisation, it is an essential community resource that is using its entrepreneurial skills to lead the way in community engagement. I believe that their approach not only inspires confidence, it delivers results and changes people's lives for the better."

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England CIC develops mental health literacy in England through training its instructors to deliver a variety of mental health skills courses across the country. The courses teach people to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, provide help on a first aid basis and how to effectively signpost towards support services.

To date MHFA England have developed four courses; the MHFA course for anyone with an interest in mental health, the Youth MHFA course for those in touch with young people, a Trauma Stress Reaction course for those in touch with people suffering from deep trauma or post traumatic stress disorder and very recently the MHFA Lite course which is a three hour introductory mental health awareness course.

MHFA England continually assesses and develops these courses alongside developing future courses that will ensure further specialist areas are provided for. This all works towards its community interest to reduce stigma and empower people in regards to mental health. Repeated independent evaluations show that this has been achieved and we consistently receive feedback from attendees with gratitude for the knowledge they have gained.

Since starting as a programme within the Department of Health, the formation of MHFA England as a Community Interest Company in September 2009 has ensured the independent sustainability of the MHFA programme in England as well as income generation for its instructors. There are over 34,000 trained mental health first aiders in England. MHFA England CIC is now a world leader, being the only MHFA programme to generate its own funds. It continues to provide updates to the MHFA course, develop new courses and train instructors across England.

The long term vision of MHFA England includes that every adult in England will have attended a course and in doing so will feel free to discuss mental health issues; and that people will seek necessary help at an earlier stage, with an increased chance of full and complete recovery.

Founder of Striding Out and organiser of the Future100 awards, Heather Wilkinson said: "The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns. Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We have a history of profiling the 'Future 100' young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improving commerce's impact on the wider world."

The Future 100 awards encourages and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. The Future 100 Awards is organized by Striding Out www.stridingout.co.uk, a social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.