KEITH DAVIES MAKES SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DAY VISIT

Llanelli’s Labour Assembly Member Keith Davies visited upcycling and reuse centre, Ail Gyfle-Second Chance, to find out more about social enterprises and how they are benefitting the local area.

The visit was organised by the Wales Co-operative Centre to promote Social Enterprise Day Wales 2015 (Thursday 19th November). With funding from Welsh Government, the Wales Co-operative Centre works to inform, communicate with and raise awareness of the social business sector across Wales.  The work raises awareness about the wider sector with the general public to encourage them to support social businesses, helping them to grow.

Keith Davies took the opportunity to talk to the enterprise’s directors and staff, many ex-offenders and individuals seeking employment and training opportunities, about the innovative project which creates and sells home and garden items from recycled pallets.

Ail Gyfle-Second Chance work in partnership with a number of agencies including the Wales Community Rehabilitation Centre to improve the lives of the individuals they work with, helping build their self-esteem, skills base and employability.

Keith Davies AM said:

“Social enterprises are strengthening the economy, helping tackle poverty and making Wales a better place. Ail Gyfle-Second Chance is a great example of a social enterprise which is giving back to its local community and making a difference.”

The report ‘Social Businesses in Wales: The State of the Sector’, produced by the Wales Co-operative Centre and funded by the Welsh Government, outlines the scope and scale of the social business sector, its performance and opportunities for development. The report paints a picture of a vibrant sector that contributes around £1.7 billion to the national economy and employs in the region of 38,000 people. It finds that the sector has a high prevalence of young organisations with nearly one in five social businesses having been established within the last three years.

Wales Co-operative Centre Chief Executive Derek Walker welcomed the visit and commented:

“Social Enterprise Day Wales is an opportunity for us all to consider the positive impact that social enterprises have in our communities and on our economy. We thank Assembly Member Keith Davies for his support and help in raising the profile of social enterprises and co-operatives in Wales.”