Tea People Nominated for Prestigious Social Enterprise Award
Tea People Nominated for a SEUK Award
Tea People is delighted to announce that the valuable work behind our company’s mission is being recognized! Our business was created for the purpose of uplifting the lives of tea workers and their families in impoverished regions. That is why we operate as a social enterprise, which is a company that donates or reinvest more than half of its profits towards a social mission. We have been selected as finalists in the highly competitive Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) awards. Tea People is nominated in two categories, for the International Impact and Consumer Facing Social Enterprise of the Year.
About the Award
This is a huge honour since there are more than 131,000 social enterprises in the UK. Each has their own missions for good with many being highly successful. Within this sector there is a turnover of £60 billion and a workforce of over 2.3 million. On December 4th, Tea People has been invited to partake in a VIP ceremony where the winners of each category will be announced. Peter Holbrook, CEO of SEUK, remarked that the “awards are the ultimate showcase of social enterprise impact and excellence” and added it is an achievement within itself to be nominated.
The Story of Tea People
For those that may not be aware, Tea People was founded with a very special mission in mind. The co-founders of Tea People are husband and wife duo Neeraj and Vishaka Agarwal. The couple are both from a tea growing region of India called Darjeeling. Although they have been living in the UK since 2005, their home in India is often at the forefront of their minds. In 2009 they started fundraising for a school in Darjeeling that was in dire need of assistance and repairs. However, they wanted to do more than just help during that one occasion. They realised that they could help in further, impactful, and more long lasting ways. That is why they founded Tea People.
Tea People supports tea workers and their families in three main ways:
- Education: In order to break the cycle of poverty that plagues many communities, education is key. Tea People funds the schooling of the children of tea workers allowing new opportunities and doors to be opened for the next generation.
- Healthcare: Working in tea gardens means a harsh climate, long hours, and tough physical work which can lead to many health problems. Unfortunately, tea regions are often isolated from urban areas and have little access to healthcare or hospitals. Therefore, Tea People supports workers by providing means for healthcare, treatments, and medical supplies to workers and their families.
- Women Empowerment: Extreme poverty can often lead to dangerous environments for women. Instances such as domestic violence, sex trafficking, and alcohol abuse can be prevalent as a result. In order to equip women with resources to combat this, Tea People is working hard to support women in poverty stricken tea regions. We offer education, skills training, and financial support to those who may face these struggles.
These pillars are the foundation of our mission. However, we can only succeed in our goals with an excellent product. Tea People prides itself in our focus on the quality of our tea. We believe in the integrity of great taste in all our teas and we like to ensure all our customers are satisfied. We have many unique and tasty flavours you can shop on our website. There is something for every kind of person. From fruity, to rich, to teas for health benefits and even teas for those trying to make the switch from coffee. We are grateful to have built a base of customers who love tea and who love to support our mission.
Whether you have been a consumer since our start, or you're just discovering us, we are very happy to have you here. As part of our Tea People community you are supporting countless others in developing communities and allowing them to live better lives. You can learn more about our mission here and about the SEUK awards here.
