Social Firms UK

Social Firms UK would like to say a huge thank you to Ian Stewart for running the London Marathon on 26 April 2009 and raising over £5,000 for us in the process!

Any further donations would be very gratefully received. This can be done via the Just Giving website at: www.justgiving.com/ianstewart or on Ian's two pound donation page at: www.justgiving.com/ianstewarts-2poundpage Alternatively, please post your donation to Social Firms UK, First Floor, Knowles House, 49 High Street, Redhill, Surrey  RH1 1RT making your cheque payable to "Social Firms UK."   Thank you!  

What Ian said before the race: 

"I began running in 1999 and completed the Glasgow Half Marathon in 2 hours 13 minutes. I have entered many 10Ks and half marathons since, my best time being 1 hour 49 minutes in the Stonehaven Half Marathon - a particularly hilly run. Having always thought that I could never manage or even have the desire to run a marathon, I found myself looking for a challenge in 2007 to combat my general restlessness. I ran the 07 Flora London Marathon (FLM) for the Mental Health Foundation to help raise awareness about mental health. On crossing the finish line I vowed I would never run another, this was compounded by it taking 4 hours 15 minutes. In 2009 I’m running the FLM again, this time for Social Firms UK. They only have one place so I feel really proud to be sporting this unique vest. I hope also to come in under 4 hours.

I work for an emerging Social Firm based in Manchester called Benchmark Furniture Design & Build (www.benchmarkhospitalfurniture.co.uk). Benchmark manufactures quality bespoke furniture, whilst providing work placements/training and employment for people with complex and enduring mental health issues. People experiencing these issues can face tremendous barriers to accessing employment. Increasing awareness of Social Firms tackles stigma and discrimination by showing others that work is as vital to people with difficulties as to any other employed person. Social Firms UK plays a vital role in the development of opportunities and dismantling of barriers for excluded groups and it is a tremendously rewarding to be able to raise funds on their behalf."