10th October
Active Luton provides opportunities for adults with learning disabilities
Leisure trust Active Luton does a wide range of work within the community and has recently been leading on several successful community initiatives to support local people with learning disabilities.
One of these is at the Trust’s charity shop, Sports Traider, which sells second hand and end of line sports equipment and clothing to the community at affordable prices.
In partnership with Luton Borough Council, Active Luton has employed five adults with learning disabilities to work in the shop alongside the current team, with each employee contracted to work for three hours per week.
Helen Barnett, chief executive of Active Luton, said: “The initiative gives people an opportunity to experience the world of employment and take home a pay cheque for their work which includes customer service, packaging, stocktaking and sales.
“Prior to their paid employment they each completed a period of supported voluntary work to help them understand the job and we expect that the hours they currently work will increase as they become more competent in their roles.”
A separate project that Active Luton leads on is at the Moonbucks Community Café in market square on Farley Estate, which provides freshly cooked meals at affordable prices but is also used as a base for formal training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.
Helen Barnett added: “In addition to the quality food and drink sold, the café is an excellent base for adults with learning disabilities who are trained in customer service, catering, food hygiene and using kitchen equipment. This builds their confidence and independence and is an excellent opportunity for them to learn skills for regular paid employment.”
A third initiative managed by Active Luton is called ‘Maintenance Mates’ which involves 12 local adults with learning difficulties being employed by the Trust to provide general grounds maintenance at all Active Luton facilities across the town.
Based at Stockwood Park the ‘mates’ are on the Active Luton payroll and have access to a crew bus which ferries them to different sites to carry out general grounds maintenance including grass clipping, edge cutting, weeding, pruning, fence painting and litter picking. The team also clean and maintain the automatic golf tees in the driving range in addition to washing and cleaning the golf balls.
Similarly to Sports Traider the maintenance team served a period of supervised supported training before being employed.
Cllr Mohammed Ashraf, Portfolio Holder for sports and arts, said: “Active Luton already does a fantastic job encouraging and developing sport and leisure activities for Luton residents and these projects show how in touch and genuinely supportive of the local community they are.
“By helping adults with learning disabilities to earn a living, develop their skills and feel like an important part of the community, their confidence and self worth can really be boosted.”
Anyone interested in paid employment or skills training for adults with learning disabilities with Active Luton should call Terry Nicholls on 01582 400272.
