St. Peter’s Partnerships, a Development Trust based in Ashton-under-Lyne, has received a visit from the Prime Minster.  The Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP dropped in on the way to a conference in Manchester on Tuesday 10th August 2010.

Karen Butigan, Chief Executive of the award winning Charity explained: “We were pleased to welcome Mr Cameron to St. Peter’s Partnerships as his visit recognises just how highly our organisation is recognised for the quality of services that we deliver.”

The Prime Minster spent time talking to people who work within the community businesses that St. Peter’s Partnerships offers. He chatted with employees of Greenscape, the Partnerships landscaping and gardening business, learning about some of the difficulties they have encountered in finding suitable work and training opportunities.

The Prime Minster also spoke to staff of Safeguard It, a community enterprise run in partnership with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, providing free home fire risk assessments across Tameside. He heard the staff explain how St Peter’s Partnerships had helped give them direction in their lives.

St. Peter’s Partnerships were created in 2003 by local residents, Linda Fletcher Chair of Trustees and a founder member said: “Welcoming the Prime Minster shows just how far St. Peter’s Partnerships has progressed and I am so grateful to everyone involved.”

St. Peter’s Partnerships is a member of the Create Consortium awaiting a decision from Government on a pending pilot programme to be managed by their enterprise Plus service. The initiative aims to introduce local residents receiving benefits into forms of work which are of value to the local community.

Karen explained: “As an organisation St. Peter’s Partnerships is involved in the delivery of ‘welfare to work’ programmes. We endeavour to put services in place which couple real employment opportunities with community benefit. We deliver a first class range of services and have a structured training programme in place to sustain both the development of the businesses and equip local people with new skills.”  

The Prime Minister described St. Peter’s Partnerships as “inspirational” and said: "This is a really great social enterprise that helps to get people off welfare and into work.  He added: “To come and hear what this organisation does and how well it has done is impressive.

Click HERE to view more pictures of the Prime Ministers visit video to follow!