Grant aids disabled entrepreneurs

A charity supporting Norfolk people with learning difficulties has been awarded a grant of £100,000 by the East Of England Development Agency (EEDA). Forward and Futures of King's Lynn will receive the cash from the agency's Investors In Communities fund.

The money will fund refurbishment of a local industrial unit and provide support to people with disabilities who want to start their own businesses. Forward and Futures chief Tim Cara is delighted with EEDA's investment.

He said: "This is a substantial investment in local disabled and disadvantaged people in West Norfolk. It reflects the good work that Forward and Futures, county organisations, parents and carers have been doing for a number of years to help local people with disabilities. We will be able to set up a micro-enterprise centre on the North Lynn Industrial Estate for people with disabilities or disadvantage."

Building work starts in January with an estimated completion date of mid March and the centre will open in May when the first of the entrepreneurs will start their training. The centre will provide, in the first year, a range of support services to people with learning disabilities, who wish to develop their own business.

It will have office and workspace for entrepreneurs in a large industrial unit designed to enable people with multiple disabilities to move about and work freely and independently. For the first three years micro-entrepreneurs will not be charged for their work spaces within the centre.

Appropriate personal and professional training and mentoring will be provided as well as personal support for business start ups.