New project to provide support for North East social and traditional enterprises
Sit n' b' Fit, a social enterprise that uses dance to give older people exercise, is just one among many local social and traditional businesses set to benefit from a new £1.8 million project.
Sustainable Enterprise Strategies (SES) plan to use the funding to recondition disused shipping containers to construct a business support hub in Hendon, Sunderland that will offer incubator and managed workspaces and start-up advice and support for small to medium enterprises across the North East. Sit n' b' Fit will use the centre to provide their services which include teaching therapeutic exercise and dance to older people and people with mobility and other health issues.
The funding for the project, which includes £914,000 secured from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by One North East, will also provide a similar facility in North Tyneside. SES expect that the project will help develop 192 social and traditional enterprises and will create 200 jobs in disadvantaged areas across the region. The project will also be the launchpad for the delivery of Enterprise Coaching, a project providing business start-up advice for individuals and groups in deprived communities.
Visit the One North East website to read more about the project.