On 1 April 2009, previous Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, announced the names of recipient organisations of the Local Government Empowerment Fund and Social Firms UK was among those chosen. The total £9.25 million fund is being shared among twenty one third sector organisations who work to give people a real say in their communities.
The focus of the Empowerment Fund is delivery on the key themes of the Communities in Control White paper which include being active in your community; access to information; standing for office and ownership and control. Social Firms UK was selected to receive some of the fund to help with its work on using Social Firms to help excluded and disadvantaged groups back into employment.
Hazel Blears said, “Charities, community groups and social enterprises can offer people real opportunities to get involved in the areas they live and a say in things that matter to them. This Empowerment Fund is about acknowledging that key role, which is even more important in these tough times. It will provide real help on the ground supporting the innovative work they are doing for the benefit of communities and local people.”
Chief Executive of Social Firms UK, Sally Reynolds, said, “We are delighted to be selected to receive some of the fund. It reflects the increasingly high profile that the Social Firm model is having in government circles. We will make sure we put it to good use encouraging people to set up businesses to help disadvantaged people gain employment.”
The full list of successful organisations is as follows:
* Action for Market Towns * Bassac * Carnegie * Centre for Sustainable Energy * Community Matters * Environmental Law Foundation * Housing Associations Charitable Trust * Media Trust * Novas Scarman * Operation Black Vote * Oxfam * Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation * Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce * School for Social Entrepreneurs * Sheila McKechnie Foundation * Social Firms UK * The Young Foundation * Tenants Participation Advisory Service * Urban Forum * Workers Education Association * YWCA
For more information, visit http://www.communities.gov.uk/news room