Pictured above: MP Nigel Mills tries his hand with the
team
Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills has praised a social enterprise
committed to getting people back into work.
Mr Mills was speaking at the launch of Futures Greenscape, a
venture launched to help unemployed people in Amber Valley take the
first step into employment.
The social enterprise has been launched by Futures Housing Group
to provide grounds maintenance - grass cutting and hedge trimming -
at open spaces within the Amber Valley Housing area.
A team of 11, five of whom were previously out of work, are now
benefiting from full-time employment and training. The aim is to
expand the service and help more individuals into employment.
Mr Mills, who planted a tree at Hathersage Drive in Leabrooks at
the official launch, said: "This is a great project that first and
foremost supports those struggling to get into work, but also
provides landscaping services to improve the physical appearance of
the local area.
"It demonstrates how social housing providers can do more than
provide homes by pursuing innovative means of delivering other core
services."
Mr Mills met the new team members at Futures Greenscape,
including 20-year-old Nathan Slater, from Ripley, who said:
"Getting the position has been a real relief and although it's a
long way off, I'm hoping it will mean I can start to look at
getting my own place. In the short-term, I'm just happy to be
coming to work everyday, and getting stuck into something I really
enjoy."
Futures Greenscape is the first social enterprise to be launched
by Futures Housing Group, which manages 8,600 homes in the East
Midlands including 5,500 in Amber Valley and Erewash.
Lindsey Williams, group chief executive, said: "Social
enterprises are all about reinvesting profits back into local
communities.
"In this way Futures Greenscape is benefiting those who need a
helping hand back into employment, as well as improving the
economic wellbeing of the area and delivering a good quality
grounds maintenance services for local people.
"We look forward to seeing the team progress in their chosen
careers and offering opportunities to new people each year."