11 November 2009

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Hub Announced

A Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Hub for Cornwall is to be created from an out of use building using almost £950,000 of ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence investment.
The Elms, in Redruth, is to be completely transformed bringing back 450m2 floor space into use for Voluntary and Community Service (VCS) organisations, grassroots community groups and social enterprises. The project has been developed by Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) with assistance from CPR Regeneration, the urban regeneration company for Camborne, Pool and Redruth and from Coastline Housing Ltd who originally purchased the site two years ago.
The renovation will provide office space; a VCS hub for knowledge exchange and shared facilities and services and a social enterprise and self employment facility. It will also offer services for individuals and community groups including: information, advice and guidance; learning from skills for life to degrees; pathways to employment and community development activities for all ages.
The project will be delivered by CN4C with the support of a broad coalition of VCS organisations and other key partners including Cornwall Council and the Learning and Skills Council.
It is estimated that the project will cost £1,375,880 with £947,231 of that approved for ERDF Convergence and the balance coming from CN4C.
Tarn Lamb, Chief Executive of CN4C said: "This is great news for grassroots community groups across Cornwall and for the people of Redruth.  The Elms will demonstrate partnership working in action by regenerating a dilapidated building in the centre of Redruth into a state of the art community hub providing facilities for groups and individuals of all ages."
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office, added: "The voluntary and community sector play a vital part in our economic and social cohesion. The establishment of The Elms as a hub for social enterprise - backed by ERDF Convergence investment - will provide a strong root for the growth of this invaluable community resource."
Neil Lindsey, European Team Director at CPR Regeneration welcomed the commitment of ERDF Convergence investment. He said: "It is great to see this project succeeding in its application.  It will help achieve our objective to grow a more prosperous and dynamic future for Redruth by significantly strengthening CN4C's role in supporting local economic development through the Voluntary and Community Sector in the area."
Over a five year period 16 jobs will be created directly as a result of the delivery of this project.  It will also support the growth of the VCS as a sector in Cornwall's economy by giving security of tenure to CN4C, and other smaller voluntary sector organisations.  It will enable the sharing of key back room resources such as ICT, HR and finance. It will also create a community resource to support the most disadvantaged in the area to gain skills and create employment opportunities.