UK Social Enterprise Awards 2015: Discovering this year's shortlisted organisations

And readers can vote for their favourite in a special category for The IoS

A Kenyan team uses an Alive and Kicking ball – and helps create jobs

Alive and Kicking is a business with a conscience. The company manufactures footballs in Kenya, Zambia and Ghana, reinvesting all of its revenue into wages, charity and health education. It’s why it has been shortlisted for this year’s UK Social Enterprise Awards, the winners of which will be announced at the end of the month.

Being paid a regular salary by Alive and Kicking made all the difference to 26-year-old Juliet. Orphaned at an early age, she found herself living on the streets in Kenya with no job and very little hope for the future. She loved to play football, so when she was offered a job stitching the balls she jumped at the chance.

In a country where she previously couldn’t even get a job, Juliet has begun to thrive. She now has her own house, supports her brothers and even thinks she’ll be able to go back to school. Her dream is to start her own business.

“The importance of a regular wage can’t be underestimated,” said Glenn Cummings, Alive and Kicking’s chief executive, who sees his staff across Kenya, Zambia and Ghana use their money to educate their children and give them a home. “Every 600 balls we sell here creates another job for a year.”

This innovative business model, where all profits are used for social or environmental good, is what defines a social enterprise. Not all the businesses shortlisted for the Social Enterprise Awards have a global reach, but all make a difference.

London’s Two Fingers Brewing Co, which donates 10p from every bottle sold to Prostate Cancer UK, is a good example. “A few of our friends were sadly affected by prostate cancer,” says co-founder Matt Sadler, reeling off a shocking set of statistics about men’s vulnerability to the disease.

Although the beer has won awards, running the business hasn’t always been easy. “We’ve done it with our own time and our own money,” he said. “We do what we do for love of beer, but also to help out.”

Of course, it’s not only the founders of these businesses who can do good – every penny spent at a social enterprise supports their cause.

To view the five inspiring social enterprises that have been shortlisted for The Independent on Sunday Reader’s Choice Awards, go to socialenterprise.org.uk, and to vote, follow the link