A DUDLEY based social enterprise has received a £4,550 cash boost.

The cash was given to Lunch on the Run, which provides catering training and work experience for people with learning disabilities, by recruitment advertising specialist Candidate Source.

Funds were raised through a number of events, including a sell-out Elvis tribute night and cake mornings.

Candidate Source has also agreed to pay for Steve Beckley to work at Lunch on the Run, based at the DY1 Community Building in Stafford Street, for 12 months as he attempts to learn new skills in his bid to secure a job for the first time in 15 years.

“When we agreed to support Lunch on the Run we set ourselves the target of generating about £2,500,” said Michelle Davies, managing director of Candidate Source.

“However, when we got to know the social enterprise a little better and saw firsthand the excellent work it does, we knew we needed to up our game even further and am delighted we have nearly doubled that original figure – with more money on the way.

“This has paid for Steven’s employment at Lunch on the Run and the installation of a commercial refrigerator that will help it store more food and complete contracts with additional corporate clients.

"The idea is to give it the equipment it needs and the confidence to grow revenue through its coffee shop in Dudley and its outside catering work.”

Lunch on the Run currently supports 17 people, providing them with training, life skills and important work experience in its catering business or coffee shop.

The latter has enjoyed a whirlwind first year after it opened its doors in Dudley and now provides shoppers, workers and tourists with a range of cold/hot drinks, cakes and snacks, including sandwiches, soups, salads and jacket potatoes.

“Like many other organisations in our sector, we have had to endure funding cuts so have tried to become more commercial in the way that we operate…basically generating our own revenue,” explained Sally Bassett, manager of Lunch on the Run.

“This has been fairly successful with a number of catering projects completed for local businesses and schools, whilst taking on the coffee shop has given us the chance to increase sales whilst giving our trainees fantastic training and work experience.”

She added: “We were delighted when Candidate Source appointed us as its charity of the year, but none of us expected the level of support we would receive from Michelle and her team. They’ve really got involved in what we do, getting to know our trainees and exploring different ways in which they can help."