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Rossendale Trust, Rossendale Hall, Hollin Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0HR
Help us by DonatingRossendale Trust, Rossendale Hall, Hollin Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0HR
Help us by Donating
WorkTaste is an initiative which allows those otherwise excluded from the workplace by reason of their disability to have the opportunity of supported employment. For the people who are provided with care and support by the Trust, the step into conventional supported employment would probably be too great, but WorkTaste exists to offer a pathway made up of smaller steps. Available to all of our tenants, this gives them the chance to work with other people, learn and develop new skills and build their confidence and independence whilst making a positive contribution to the local community.
We work in close partnership with local businesses and community projects across a wide range of settings to provide supported employment opportunities for our tenants. Sectors which regularly offer placements are hospitality, retail, offices and production facilities. During a placement, a WorkTaste Coach will work alongside the participant on a one to one basis, to train, support and mentor them whilst they undertake tasks set by the partner organisation. Typically, a placement is for 2 hours a week over a 4-6 week period and it is completely free to the employer.
The whole experience not only helps with personal growth but allows the individual to develop new skills, for example, in travelling to and from the workplace and completing progress reports. For our tenants, it’s about being part of a team and doing some real work in a world from which too many of the most vulnerable people in our community are still excluded.
Since we started, we have seen many individuals go on to secure paid employment and the chance for ongoing volunteering. Businesses who provide employment opportunities in the WorkTaste scheme have told us how positively their staff have reacted to working alongside a person from WorkTaste and how their customers love to meet our tenants.
The Trust works with education providers who have a Supported Internship programme to provide Supported Internships to young adults between the ages of 16 – 24 years old who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and are in their last year of education. Our WorkTaste Coach will work alongside an individual to help with their transition into employment over a 39 week programme which is funded by the Dept for Work and Pensions. At the start of the programme, we offer 100% full support to the individual which gradually reduces over time as the participant’s independence and confidence increases.
The programme has proven to be very successful with over 71% of participants being offered paid employment at the end of the scheme.
Our PA service is available to people in the wider community and offers individuals with learning disabilities the chance to have one to one respite care support to do activities they enjoy. This could be going for a walk, visiting the cinema, going out to eat or shopping – it’s entirely up to the individual! Usually funded by the local authority, we typically support people for one day per week although longer periods of time can be arranged. PA time can also be paid for privately.
If this is something you are interested in, please fill in a few details online and we will contact you for an informal chat.
Ring us on 01260 252500 Email us at hello@rossendaletrust.org
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