McCausland praises work of social economy businesses

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has highlighted the importance of social economy businesses.
~ Thursday, 23 June 2011

The Minister was speaking during a visit to Lisburn, where he met with Lisburn Community Self Build Ltd. The Company operates as a social economy business with the main aim of offering accredited and non-accredited training on skills within the building and construction industry to young people living throughout Lisburn.

The Company was established in December 2000 and has been involved in numerous building projects and has seen scores of young people trained to various levels of skills within the construction sector.

Minister McCausland said: “In these difficult economic times it is increasingly important for communities to explore and develop new ways to increase training and employment opportunities for the benefit of local people. Lisburn Community Self Build has shown how successful this approach can be and since 2000 many young people have learned new construction skills and gone on to gain employment. The Company has also successfully completed the construction of nine homes with a further four underway. This self help attitude is to be commended and offers a good model for other communities.

“The role of volunteers in the Company should also be recognised and across many communities there are thousands of people giving freely of their time for the wider good. Without this commitment our society would be much poorer.”

During the visit to Lisburn Minister McCausland also visited Hillhall Estate, where he met local residents to discuss concerns regarding bungalows occupied by older people.

Notes to editors

1. Media enquiries to DSD Communications Team on 028 9082 9079 or email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440.
2. View photos of the visit on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/niexecutive/sets/72157626950697393/