Support for social enterprise

A motion to highlight local social enterprises has received cross party support in Scottish Parliament.
MSPs discussed the North Lanarkshire Public Social Partnership (PSP), a pilot scheme that is coordinated by the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS). The PSP incorporates three local furniture recycling projects: RECAP, Lanarkshire Furniture Initiative and St Patrick’s Furniture. The projects collect and refurbish old furniture and resell it at a lower price to the public.
Michael McMahon, MSP for Hamilton North and Bellshill was contacted by the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition to mention the work of the the projects in parliament. The motion was met with support from other MSP’s for the services and their capacity to provide training for a cross section of the community. A new contract will be going out to tender in November and part of it involves the training of persons, particularly from a homeless background, to enable them to enter in to employment.
Jim Mather, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism said: “I am impressed by the almost instinctive ability of those who are involved in the pilot to deliver on our strategic objectives for Scotland. Through the new three-year social enterprise action plan, we will create an environment in which social entrepreneurs and their enterprises will thrive.”