Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) & Lambeth Council visited Star Social Firm Lambeth ACCORD to mark global Social Enterprise Day on Thursday the 17th of November and got a taste of the Big Society in action.
Lambeth ACCORD is a leading London disability Social Firm that provides managed office space and a conference and training centre. This community resource centre acts as the ‘hub’ for a thriving diverse disability community in Brixton, South London and has been awarded the prestigious quality standard, Star Social Firm.
General Manager Adrian Harris spoke to the group about Lambeth ACCORDs rich history in successfully supporting disabled people in the local area over the past 27 years and their ambitious £7 million refurbishment plan to enhance existing facilities and upgrade the building to become again the leading edge exemplar model for accessibility, sustainability and modern environmental standards. The party toured the building to meet tenants including Wheels for Wellbeing- a charity which supports disabled people cycling in London and Block 336 – a start-up disability art project.
The day was completed with Lambeth ACCORD receiving their plaque for their Star Social Firm accreditation. The Star Social Firm quality standard - the first quality standard in the social enterprise sector- is awarded to Social Firms that have proved the quality of their business and the employment they provide for disadvantaged people
Deputy Director for Big Society Strategy at DCLG, Hulya Mustafa said: “Social Enterprise Day gave us the opportunity to see Big Society in action. We were very impressed with the ambitious work of Lambeth ACCORD in providing support to disabled groups and it was an opportunity for us as a Department to show our support and commitment to Social Firms and social enterprises who are innovative and deliver wider social value to communities. ”
Elsewhere, multi-award winning Social Firm Bikeworks set up a mini-workshop in Ministry of Justice headquarters to promote social enterprise day. Bikeworks, who were most recently named Best Social Enterprise at the PWC Private Business Awards 2011, create employment and training opportunities for marginalised individuals by recycling & refurbishing second hand bikes in London. Bikeworks are expanding their service into prisons and will be opening a workshop in The Mount Prison, Hemel Hempstead.