HASLAR INTO THE FUTURE

Victory for Royal Haslar Veterans Village

Embargoed 20^th July 2009

The social enterprise regeneration company OurEnterprise has been named by the Ministry of Defence as the preferred bidder for the Royal Hospital Haslar site in Gosport.

OurEnterprise is leading the development of the Royal Hospital Haslar site in partnership with an initiative of veterans’ charities and national employment charity Tomorrow’s People.

Social Entrepreneur and Chief Executive of OurEnterprise Matthew Bell said: “We are delighted that our team has been able to secure this historic site to develop the Veterans Village care community. This is proof that social enterprise can command serious investment and lead major regeneration projects for communities. This will be a world leading exemplar.”

Chairman of the Veterans Charity consortia Roger Saunders said:  “We have spent two years developing this scheme and I have to thank all of those individuals who have helped us to get where we are today. We also congratulate the MOD and the Secretary of State for making what we believe to be the right decision for the community, and now look forward to developing a scheme that secures a bright future for Haslar for the next 250 years.”

Debbie Scott, CEO of Tomorrow’s People said: “We work with the most marginalised individuals helping them turn their lives around through work and the Veterans Village offers a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference.  We are delighted to be working with our consortium partners on this unique enterprise”

For further information go to  www.royalhaslar.com

Editors Notes:

OurEnterprise is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that delivers bespoke partnerships between charities, social investors and the public sector to deliver large scale integrated regeneration projects. Matthew Bell is a social entrepreneur.

www.ourenterprise.com

The Veterans Village Consortium is made up of a team whose aim is to provide a retirement home for those who have primarily served our Nation at Sea but will include those who have served their country both in the Army and Royal Air Force. Haslar will provide sheltered housing, care and infirmary support and an Elderly Mental Infirmary. The aim is that the residents will be known as the Haslar Pensioners.

www.royalhaslar.com

Tomorrow’s People is a national employment charity which works with the most disadvantaged in the community, supporting people out of long-term unemployment and welfare dependency and into jobs and self-sufficiency.  Since it was founded in 1984, the charity has helped over 400,000 people on their journey back to work by offering training and advice, confidence building, job search support and interview skills. 

www.tomorrows-people.co.uk

The scheme is supported by Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire PCT, MOD, MP’s and Maritime and Service Charities.

All media requests should be made through:

Lizz Clarke at LCM

0845 345 6969