Liber8 (Lanarkshire) Ltd are winners of the Best Performing Social Enterprise award at the Lanarkshire Business Awards 2010 sponsored by Morrison plc.

Gordon Muir, Chairman said "it's testiment to our hard working staff and the passion of the management team that we were awarded the award this year, after only being established for 2 years it just shows what can be done if you really put your heart into something. We have seen tremendous support over the last 2 years from our funders and partners and this is just the accolade we need to prove that the services being delivered are being recognised outside the circles we normally work in. There is much more to come in 2010 - watch this space!"

Liber8 Lanarkshire Limited has been awarded £668,043 for a three-year project that will benefit an estimated 3000 young people. Liber8 Lanarkshire Youth Service North will build on the success of an existing programme in South Lanarkshire and will target those aged between 10 and 18 who are, or are at risk of, abusing drugs or alcohol as well as those affected by parental substance misuse. The project will directly engage young people on the streets at key times and encourage them to take part in alternative activities such as group work.

When this latest award is added to the funding (£276,100) announced by Lloyds TSB Foundation in October last year as well as other funding it will enable Liber8's youth service to continue to go from strength to strength.

Margaret Halbert, General Manager at Liber8, said: “Liber8 Lanarkshire is absolutely delighted to be able to develop their youth service in North Lanarkshire. The StreetBase programme will be delivered to young people who are directly or indirectly affected by alcohol/substance misuse. By establishing new partnerships and through good practice, Liber8 believe that the service will be welcomed within communities and prove to be as productive and as groundbreaking as it has been in the South Lanarkshire.”

Gordon Muir, Chairman of Liber8, said: "It's a tremendous endorsement of the services provided by Liber8 Lanarkshire in South Lanarkshire and we are looking forward to developing similar services in North Lanarkshire. We hope that North Lanarkshire will benefit from the reductions in youth alcohol abuse and anti-social behaviour seen in the areas of South Lanarkshire in which we work. It's testiment to our excellent staff and volunteers that Liber8 Lanarkshire has been recognised by the Big Lottery as an organisation worth supporting, we are very thankful to Big Lottery and our other funding partners for their on-going support."

Link to The One Show feature on Liber8.