HELPING HAND FOR TWO ENTERPRISING ORGANISATIONS IN KINGSTON TO CREATE JOBS AND SKILLS

Chelsea is set to benefit from two local programs that will help create jobs and provide training to Kingston residents. The Family Life’s Peopleworx and Youthworx program and The Chelsea Community Renewal Program will receive a total of $50,000 in Brumby Labor Government grants, Carrum State MP Jenny Lindell announced today.

Ms Lindell said The Peopleworx and Youthworx program, established by Family Life and the Mobile Café an initiative of the Chelsea Community Renewal Program, are among 14 organisations across Victoria to share in more than $348,000 in Community Enterprise Grants to provide vulnerable Victorians a chance to participate in the workforce.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to help vulnerable Victorians during these tough global economic times,” Ms Lindell said.

“This $35,000 grant will help Peopleworx and Youthworx to establish an opportunity shop in Chelsea providing work experience opportunities to vulnerable youth, return-to-work parents and older adults.” 

The Chelsea Community Renewal Program will use their grant for $15,000 for a business plan for a mobile café enterprise which will provide catering to Bicentennial Park in Chelsea.  The park has the highest patronage in Kingston but has no coffee providers nearby.  Significant capital improvements are planned for the park during the next 12 months through the Community Renewal program.  The café will provide opportunities for training and work experience for Chelsea residents. 

Ms Lindell said social enterprises were not-for-profit businesses run by local people, providing opportunities for them to get jobs and build skills, confidence and community connections.

“Community Enterprise Grants offer a genuine way to help new social enterprises get off the ground or give a boost to help grow those already established,” she said.

“Projects such as these are a terrific way of giving people a chance to develop skills and confidence needed to enter the workforce while also offering services to local communities.”

At today’s launch of a new $8 million initiative to support social enterprises, Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said the Brumby Labor Government supported the development of sustainable business ideas offering ways for people to participate in the workforce.

“The Brumby Labor Government believes that if you invest in people’s capability, ingenuity and creativity, they will seize the opportunity with both hands,” Mr Batchelor said.

“This is why we’ve joined with a private family foundation and the community sector to form Social Traders, an independent social enterprise development organisation.

“We know this is a model that works and will have real outcomes for people who are struggling to develop skills and get into work.”

Mr Batchelor said the Government’s commitment of $4 million for Social Traders was in addition to $9 million already committed to support social enterprise development since 2004.

“The new, independent organisation will draw on the experience of others and build on existing programs to support emerging social enterprises get started and succeed,” he said.

“Helping social enterprises is an element of A Fairer Victoria, the Brumby Labor Government’s action plan to address disadvantage and create opportunity.”