£453,476 FUNDING FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

Three Welsh organisations are to receive a total of £453,476 funding to help them deliver the Social Enterprise Action Plan for Wales, thanks to the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government.

Welsh Labour’s Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant has announced that the Wales Co-operative Centre will receive £175,000; the Development Trusts Association Wales, £172,713; and Social Firms Wales, £105,763 for 2011 / 12. The funding will be used to provide specialist advice to the Welsh Assembly Government, support both new and existing social enterprises towards sustainability, and to help raise awareness of the sector.

Gwenda Thomas AM said: 'Some organisations in my constituency have been helped by the Wales Co-operative Centre, such as DANSA Community Transport Scheme located in the Dulais Valley and Neath Port Talbot Credit Union. The work done by these groups has been invaluable, and this is why the funding given to these organisations is so vital as it helps to reduce social inequality ’.

Notes

The Social Enterprise Action Plan published in 2009 sets out how the Welsh Assembly Government will work with partner organisations to promote social enterprises in Wales to create a thriving sector that will support community and economic regeneration and create local jobs. The plan contains 20 key actions to help the sector expand, to grow existing ventures and help new social enterprises to become established. The Action Plan is an update and refresh of the three-year Social Enterprise Strategy published in 2005.