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Flintshire social enterprise wins award

Published: 10/05/2019

A local social enterprise, which is a member of the Shotton Enterprise Club run by Communities for Work Plus, has won an award recently.

Cobra Life CIC, a martial arts academy, has been awarded £2,500 by the Police and Community Trust (PACT) for their work in engaging with young people and community members across Flintshire. This injection of funding will be used to purchase equipment and improve their new facility at 75A Chester Rd, Shotton.

Cobra Life’s programmes have been developed specifically for children over the age of 3 years, using martial arts as a vehicle to develop the necessary skills, competence and confidence to deal with a number of ‘emergency’ situations.

Gavin Eastham, manager of Cobra Life CIC, said:

“Flintshire Enterprise Club has supported me with advice on courses that could benefit the business and has provided me with networking opportunities to help me develop.  Winning this award has given me a real boost in confidence as it acknowledges the changes I’m trying to make for people within Flintshire. I have seen a huge change in the lives of people attending the academy in Shotton.” 

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor Derek Butler, said:

“This is great news and shows what can be achieved the Council’s Communities for Work Plus programme supports fledgling social enterprises and helps them blossom and grow to the point where they are giving something back to the community.  This award is really well deserved.”

Since opening on 2018, Cobra Life CIC has gone from strength to strength, last November winning the Dragon’s Den at the Flintshire Business Exhibition with a prize of £1,000.

Cobra Life is currently working in a number of schools across Flintshire; Ysgol Sychdyn, Golftyn CP, Queensferry CP and Ysgol Trelogan to deliver their “Success for Life” a developmental programme for young children within a school setting, as well as delivering women only self-defence sessions at the academy.

There are two Enterprise Clubs in Flintshire – one run in the “Place for You Centre”, Rowleys Drive, Shotton and one at Greenfield Business Centre.  If you would like to enrol for either club or would like more information, please contact Beverly Moseley at beverly.moseley@flintshire.gov.uk or 01352 704430.

PACT, working closely with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, manages the Police Property Act Fund, which is derived of seized monies relating to crime.  This money is distributed to community groups in the six counties of North Wales.

^{Students from Cobra Kids and Junior Cobras aged 3-12}