About

The ABLE Partnership Ltd is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. As a social enterprise it furthers social inclusion by providing guidance, training and ultimately employment opportunities to those young people disadvantaged by school exclusion, or being in danger of exclusion, offending behaviours and substance misuse.

The current scheme in Wakefield is a demonstration of sustainable development in action. 8000 tonnes of composted sewage sludge from the adjacent sewage treatment plant are added to the land each year to provide the necessary nutrients for the willow, which will be used as a bio-fuel to heat the water in the fish tanks. The warm water enables a significant increase in fish production to be achieved. This in turn will assist in making the project more sustainable showing how fish for human consumption can be produced at inland fisheries in a highly innovative way.

Project Manager Graham Wiles amongst the Willow coppice to be used for on-site renewable energy

The ABLE project delivers on a wide range of activities that simultaneously deliver significant environmental, economic and social benefits. These include:

  • The addition of the entire output of composted sludges from the sewage treatment works for the next 8-10 years. This saves Yorkshire Water and the environment the transport of 8,000 tonnes a year.
  • Using willow and hazel coppice as a renewable energy source to generate warm water for 5 large fish tanks.
  • The rearing of Carp, Sturgeon, Catfish and Tilapia to meet identified local community and school demand, optimises food miles.
  • Production of a 3 km, educational, wildlife trail manufactured from recycled plastic, with recycled glass substrate.
  • Reduction of CO2 emissions through planting of a 14 acre woodland, 20 acres of willow coppicing and a 3km long hedgerow surrounding the site.
  • A significant increase in biodiversity at the site in the woodland and hedgerow.
  • The generation of income from the sale of fish to local communities.
  • Establish a tree nursery and produce both trees and plants for sale.
  • Generating further income from local schools, and the probation service.
  • Providing young people in danger of exclusion from school, those already excluded and those from the probation service, access to training opportunities and skills development leading to routes to participation in the mainstream economy, and thereby increasing the income earning capacity of local people.
  • Create sensory education pods for use by severely disabled children.
  • Establish a rural crafts training centre.