Finance Minister Jane Hutt has announced a £900,000 EU funding boost to foster collaboration between social enterprises and housing associations to strengthen services and benefit communities.

Led by Community Housing Cymru, the Building Enterprise project will assist around fifty organisations and individuals to grow local social enterprises that will support housing associations to provide services and products such as recycling, social care, construction and maintenance.

The project will use the social housing sector's unique position and relationship with people in communities to develop new employment, training and business opportunities to help deliver and improve key services.

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The focus of the project is to ensure participating housing associations have a social enterprise dimension embedded in all procurement and development opportunities.

Announcing the funding at the National Eisteddfod Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: "Collaborative working is at the heart of Welsh Government strategies and I’m delighted that we have been able to invest EU Funds to support this initiative which will benefit many in disadvantaged communities. It will also help to achieve greater recognition for the benefits that the social enterprise sector and what it offers Wales’ economic life."

The project will have two dedicated staff team, Anthony Herne, Project Commissioner and Co-ordinator and Jo Wakeham, Finance and Administration and with flexible support from Community Housing Cymru staff.

(CD/MH)