Enta Training People began nearly 30 years ago to help local people who would usually struggle to get into jobs and training, including the unemployed, those with disabilities or learning difficulties, and the homeless.
The Lakeside Children's and Family Learning Centre on the Wyrley Birch estate held its official opening on Saturday. The 1.5m building is owned by Birmingham City Council and leased to Enta for ten years. It offers training courses, family health services, housing advice, Homestart and a cyber cafe.
Nursery provision is free for parents attending the courses.
Enta initially put the nursery provision out to tender for bids from the private and voluntary sector, but in the end decided to recruit a nursery manager and other nursery staff directly.
Chief executive Kevin Hayes said, 'We were looking for a provider that would buy into the whole centre and not just a franchise arrangement. We wanted to encourage people to use the other services.'
He said it was an advantage that Enta was well-established in the community and has contact with the hardest to reach groups.
The centre receives funding through the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund. Mr Hayes said this would keep it sustainable when the children's centre funding runs out.
Enta is also working to support training at other children's centres in the West Midlands.
and is also bidding to run the nursery provision at (those?)children's centres.