main content Unique venture for adults with learning disabilities

A unique opportunity for adults with learning disabilities to be employed in a social business enterprise will be launched next month.

The Oakfield Centre in Penge will be transformed into a base for the venture, which heralds a major modernisation of the Council's day services for adults with learning disabilities.

The exciting initiative has been made possible through a contract with national charity, Shaw Trust, approved by Bromley's Executive Councillor for Social Care, Health and Housing Councillor Chris Phillips last week.

Three social businesses - a wood recycling scheme; a grounds maintenance contract; and a snack delivery service - have already been set up.  The contract, which will be backdated to 1 April 2004, will build up over five years to provide 95 places per day.

Similar business centres have been established elsewhere, but the fact that the new project will employ some of the most severely disabled and dependent adults who use our existing services - including those with severe learning and physical disabilities, personal care needs and mobility difficulties - makes it unique in the UK.

Agreeing to sign the contract with Shaw, Councillor Phillips said: "This is such an exciting venture and a real opportunity for us to make great strides in the way we provide care for adults with learning disabilities.

I am extremely proud of the work that has been done to get to where we are today.  I am confident that this will not only be a huge success here in Bromley, but will set the standard for other local authorities up and down the country to follow."

The move to a social business centre is the first stage of the Council's modernisation of day services for adults with learning disabilities. Modernising the service will enable the Council to ensure users of our day services lead fulfilling lives by providing them with increased opportunities for employment, leisure and education, in line with the Government's White Paper, Valuing People, published in 2001.

The contract with the Shaw Trust means the Council's Social Services staff will be working in partnership with the largest provider of employment services for disabled people in the country.

Shaw Trust's Director of Health and Social Care Angela Rice said: "Shaw Trust provides support to progress people with disabilities and disadvantages into work.

"As a national organisation, we are currently assisting a number of Social Services departments throughout the UK to re-model their existing traditional 'day care' provision, into a progressive service, providing real opportunities for people to become part of the working world, gaining the confidence and independence which that can generate.

"Bromley Council has been extremely innovative in developing this new approach and it has been exciting for us to work with them, taking forward the first project of its kind in the country, which we believe will set the standard for other such developments across the UK."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The Council currently delivers day services for adults with learning disabilities mainly in three day centres: Oakfield, in Penge; Astley, in Bromley Common; and Leesons, in St Paul’s Cray.
• Shaw Trust is a national charity established 23 years ago to provide training and employment opportunities for people disadvantaged in the labour market through disability, ill health or other social circumstances.  With a network of more than 1,100 staff and 150 fixed site projects, Shaw Trust is currently supporting more than 35,000 people throughout the UK each year.
• For media enquiries, please contact Richard Simcox, Communications Officer, on 020 8313 4310, or e-mail:  richard.simcox@bromley.gov.uk
• For information about the Shaw Trust visit www.shaw-trust.org.uk