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Sally excels in role with innovative social enterprise
17.05.10
A graduate employed by a unique furniture and appliance reuse and training organisation through the ESF Convergence invested Unlocking Cornish Potential scheme has gone from strength to strength during her 12 month project, leading to a management-level promotion and recognition at the annual UCP Awards.
UCP receives ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence investment. A Combined Universities in Cornwall scheme, it places graduates with businesses in Cornwall for up to one year and offers support including mentoring from experts in their fields.
Sally Eke was appointed by Bodmin-based social enterprise RE:SOURCE as Systems Co-ordinator in October 2008. After completing a BSc (Hons) degree in Social Science with Geography at home, when her youngest son began school Sally saw the role with RE:SOURCE as the perfect opportunity to put her degree-level skills and knowledge into practice, whilst allowing her to have a career in Cornwall.
18 months on and Sally has been promoted to Deputy Manager, and was recently awarded the coveted Contribution to Environmental Sustainability Award at the annual UCP Celebration Event.
Sally said: “UCP has given me an amazing opportunity to use my degree in a unique Cornish organisation that not only provides the local community with an invaluable service for reusing and recycling, but also helps people back into work through an extensive training programme.
On top of this, the support I have received from the UCP team has been superb. As well as gaining qualifications in Leadership, Time and Project Management, being recognised with the Environmental Sustainability Award really was a fantastic end to the UCP experience and is an excellent achievement for both myself and RE:SOURCE.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said, “The commitment that Sally gave whist gaining her degree is inspiring, and I am delighted that her hard work and passion was recognised, allowing her to make such a huge impact on a very unique organisation.”
A project of ReZolve, RE:SOURCE is an environmental not for profit company which develops and manages innovative projects that contribute to sustainability by reducing, reusing and recycling waste. It also offers many varied training opportunities at the centre through ReZolve Skills, with placements available in Customer Service, Retail and Sales, Administration, Driving, Furniture Repair and Electronics, combining an excellent learning environment with valuable hands-on experience.
ReSolve is one of the partners helping Cornwall Council deliver the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise programme, a three year programme which commenced on 23rd June 2008 with the aim to provide inspirational, high quality work-related experiences that can increase the number of jobless people into work and also help to satisfy Cornwall’s requirement for skilled employees.
Alan Lethbridge said: “Sally is, and always has been a winner – the UCP programme provided the practical help, training and support that Sally needed just when it was needed and in the manner that was needed.”
Louise Oldham, Unlocking Cornish Potential Project Manager said: “The transformation I have seen in Sally’s confidence and impact has been staggering.”
For more information contact:
Sally Eke
Deputy Manager
RE:SOURCE
01208 269 296
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
01872 241379 / 07973 813647
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
www.convergencecornwall.com
Editor's notes:
Convergence helpline telephone: 0800 0280120.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence programmes are made up of European Regional Development Fund (£347 million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) Convergence Programmes will run until 2013 and follow the successful Objective One Programme and prior to that Objective 5b.
