Pictured above: Shadow Communities and Local Government
Minister Caroline Flint with youngster Riley Jack-Williams and
nursery worker Ophiliah Phillip
A community centre in Erdington welcomed several high-profile
visitors as leading politicians dropped in following the launch of
the Labour Party manifesto.
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Caroline Flint and Erdington MP Jack Dromey visited the Lakeside
Children's and Family Learning Centre - run by social enterprise
and training provider Enta - along with City Councillor Catherine
Grundy.
The trio met a group of Enta trainees at the popular Wyrley
Birch community centre and also took time out for a tour of the
facilities on offer.
The visit followed the morning launch of the Labour Party
manifesto in Perry Barr.
MP Jack Dromey, also Shadow Local Government Minister, said:
"Unemployment soared in the West Midlands by 27,000 last month.
Over one in five young people are out of work. Enta is a lifeline
for these people who would otherwise have no hope of training or
finding work.
"Erdington, one of the 10 poorest constituencies in Britain, is
fortunate to have Enta and in tough times it's vital that
Government continues to support their work."
Lakeside centre manager Geraldine Dowling said: "It was
fantastic to show off the great work we do here and to put the
Lakeside on the national map. We have a really strong community
feel at the centre so it was perfect to be able to show that to the
Shadow Communities Secretary."
Kevin Hayes, chief executive of Enta, added: "Whether it's
training young people, providing much needed services to the
community or running a nursery, everyone at Enta takes great pride
in their job.
"Having leading politicians drop in to see this first-hand was a
real endorsement of the work we do and also a great tribute to our
employees, and especially the Lakeside team."
Enta Community Interest Company (CIC) is a Birmingham based
social enterprise that provides real life chances for local people
and transforms communities.