Just Ask Domestic Services, a community-interest company based in Skipton, has been recognised for its work in improving the local community.

Founders Sarah and Steve Hulbert were presented with the Social Enterprise Mark by Craven District Council chairman Coun Donny Waites and Skipton mayor Coun John Kerwin-Davey.

Also present at the ceremony were Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of North Yorkshire Public Health, and Roy Aldred, chief executive of Skipton and Craven Action for Disability.

Sarah, managing director at Just Ask, said: “Just Ask is the only community-interest company in the Craven area that provides domestic services and has been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark – in fact we may even be unique in the whole of the UK.

“Our passion is being in business to bring benefits to our community through offering affordable domestic cleaning services for all. However, more significantly, we offer subsidised domestic cleaning and home-help services to qualifying elderly people.”

She added: “Our model is simple. We use the profits from our full-fee paying customers towards subsidising help for elderly people who would otherwise not be able to afford our services.

“Crucially, because we are a community-interest company that operates on a not-for-profit basis, we don’t have a priority to line the pockets of franchisees or business owners.”

Steve, who is commercial director, said it was a great honour for Just Ask to be recognised for the hard work it had put in to helping the local community.

Anne Mountjoy, from the Social Enterprise Mark, added: “We are delighted to welcome Just Ask Domestic Services as the first cleaning and home-help company to receive this award and have no doubt they will inspire others to follow this great example of social enterprise.”