Social Enterprise in Action

Social enterprises to support the long-term unemployed are set to be back in demand following George Osbourne’s announcement to scrap the Future Jobs Fund scheme.

The Social Enterprise and Employment Development (SEED) project is an Action for Blind People initiative set up to match blind and partially sighted people to social enterprises for paid placements throughout the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands.

The SEED project, with £0.5 million funding from the BIG Lottery provides six month paid trainee placements and shorter term unpaid work placements to visually impaired people within social enterprises.

Trainees and enterprises will be supported throughout the placements from the SEED team at Action who can provide adaptive equipment and assist in creating development plans and increasing employability skills.

Alistair Ponton, Managing Director of Viewpoint CIC, a Yorkshire based social enterprise, said:

‘The trainees we have had through the SEED Project have been enormously beneficial to Viewpoint. Their customer service and IT skills have pushed the boundaries of what services our businesses can offer and their attitude to helping Viewpoint succeed has reinvigorated our entire staff team.’

If you would like to get involved or find out more about the SEED project you can contact the team by telephone: 0113 386 2800 or email seed@actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Posted on 28 July 2010, in Action