Convergence Investments

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Start date 23.6.2008

Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise (Cornwall Council)

Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise (CW4SE) works with social enterprises as a route to groups most disadvantaged in the labour market.  CW4SE aims to give unemployed people the opportunity to develop their confidence and skills and access sustainable employment by working with social enterprises.  This includes investing in existing social enterprises to help them support even more jobless individuals, and investing in the development of new social enterprises which can also provide sustainable employment for jobless people.

Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise is an ESF Convergence investment, co-financed by Jobcentre Plus as part of its co-financing plan which also includes Cornwall Works Plus and Cornwall Works for Learning Disabilities.  This contract is held by Cornwall Council. 

Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs provides support and training for people who want to use their entrepreneurial skills for social benefit.  Details of the national network of Schools for Social Enterprise and the Cornish branch can be found at www.sse.org.uk.

RIO is a social enterprise which works with young people to help them realise their potential. In Cornwall, RIO is running Create Your Future, a programme to support people back into work through the creative industries.  RIO's website gives more details and you can read RIO’s latest newsletter (January 2010).

At the heart of the training Fifteen Cornwall offers young people, is the belief that the best way to learn is to get stuck in and learn by doing.  The Fifteen apprenticeship combines formal learning at Cornwall College and in Fifteen's kitchen, visits to amazing food and wine producers in Cornwall, London and Italy, work experience in some of the best restaurants as well as working five shifts a week for 12 months at Fifteen alongside the restaurant's brigade of 20 professional full-time chefs.

To be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship at Fifteen, applicants must be aged 16-24 and not in full time  employment, education or training - 'NEET'.  And typically they come with other 'issues' too, indeed Fifteen deliberately seeks out young people who have factors in their lives or backgrounds which act as  barriers to even getting into training or the jobs market.  And they have had it all - violence, drug abuse, alcohol dependency, prison, broken homes... the lot.

Pentreath offers support, training, work experience and employment opportunities for people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who are recovering from mental ill health.

The Eden Project is an educational charity which runs social and environmental projects and provides training, work experience and employment opportunities for people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, trains volunteers to become CAB advisers, developing transferable skills which they can use to enter employment.

DMT Business Services provides training to help individuals get skills and qualifications and to help employers recruit new staff and develop the skills of their workforce.

ReZolve is a social enterprise managing projects with both environmental and social aims. These include ReZolve Skills, a training provider which offers work based opportunities within ReZolve's range of social and environmental enterprises; and the Environmental Skills Network which supports existing and emerging environmental sector companies by providing training, advice, networking opportunities and marketing initiatives.  As part of CW4SE ReZolve also provide support for people moving into self-employment.

Photos on Flickr

Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise contributes to the overarching Ready for Work Strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, known as Cornwall Works.  Further details can be found through the links below:

• Delivering ESF Convergence through Cornwall Work   
• Cornwall's Ready for Work Strategy   
• Cornwall Works website

Related Links

06.12.10 Cornwall’s fresh creative talent takes over the Devonport Guildhall 11.11.10 Social enterprise shines in Global Entrepreneurship Week in Cornwall
04.11.10 Surf Action needs your vote

For Further Information
ReZolve
Eden 
RIO (Real Ideas Organisation)
RIO Newsletter January 2010
Pentreath Industries Ltd
Citizens Advice Bureau
DMT Business Services
Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs
Fifteen Cornwall