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eason o e u in e o nin

A work-like environment,
in which people learn skills Integrate’s social
enterprises aim to provide
and engage in productve something diferent.

actvites, brings important
life benefts compared to the
routnes of ‘day actvity’,
argues e e een who runs
Integrate’s social enterprises.

e all nee so e in a occu ies Since I arrived at the
Wou t e in a o uctve an charity, nearly seven years
st ulatn anne i is li e all w a ago, I have insisted that all
e s us ou o e in e o nin . n of these pursuits must
an cases e a t e o e in s o feel like a real work
eo le wi lea nin isa ilites can e environment and the frst step in being collected from commercial
oo o e in li le va ie an ase achieving that is to make them operate constructon sites. The next stage is
on o els w ic a e well as ei in a business-like manner and be the preparaton and sortng of the wood
sell- a e. self-sufcient. This will guarantee their by grade, through to point of sale,
long-term viability and provide a focus to either ‘as is’ or converted into something
Integrate in Preston, Lancashire has what we are setng out to accomplish. the public want to buy, from the site.
always endeavoured to buck this trend These three simple-sounding stages ofer
by providing meaningful daytme a wealth of learning opportunites
actvites that are a litle diferent: their We help people develop distnct as well as reinforcing social and
social enterprises. From wood recycling, employment skills as well as general life environmental responsibilites,
hortculture and a plant nursery, skills. The benefts to well-being of work whilst simultaneously breaking down
retail charity boutques and product are well documented and we always see the popular stereotype that disabled
assembly packaging and fulflment an increase in confdence, social skills people who claim benefts are inherently
services as well as property maintenance, and teamwork, as well as task-specifc lazy. This is not a word anyone has ever
we aim to provide something a profciency. We are businesses used to describe the people involved in
litle diferent. which means having to this service.
deal with other businesses
and the general public We also link in with Runcorn College,
in a competent and not our most local but certainly the
professional manner whilst most willing, to ofer occupatonal based
ofering exceptonal value qualifcatons. A three-year rolling
and a feel-good factor. programme ofers access to work courses
to NVQs and everything inbetween,
We have also found again reinforcing parity with any
it helps if our teams other workforce.
can see the process
from start to fnish. COMMON GOAL
For example, Our staf nights out are inclusive,
at our wood the banter over lunch is real and a great
recycling service sense of camaraderie exists at all the
people get the enterprises. In many cases the benefts of
chance to see being part of a team all working together
everything, to achieve a common goal, and the
startng with kinship this fosters, is a more important
the waste and outcome than the task itself.
surplus wood
Integrate’s social enterprises have also
People are helped to
develop distnct been recognised through industry award
employment skills as schemes, winning many accolades at both
well as general life skills. a natonal and regional level. The main
regional awards are the annual Enterprise
in Society awards and we have notced

16 Vol 31 No 2 | Winter 2017 o uni Living www.cl-initatves.co.uk