A young man supported by Thera South West, has gained a voluntary position with prospects of paid employment through his own initiative and the support of his staff team.
John is a young man who recently moved into a home that Thera South West provide supported living to. Prior to moving into his new home he had a voluntary role in a community café in Twyford. Unfortunately, the move made this impractical as travel is difficult for John so he was determined to find a new position local to his new home.
Project Manager Leandra Sims spoke with John about this and they did a community mapping project to look at local organisations that were within a suitable location and provided volunteering opportunities with prospects of paid employment. They partnered up the Barchester nursing home group who run over 200 residential communities for people to live their lives in.
They realised that within a ten minute walk of his new home is a residential community called Cumberland House. John is able to walk to work which removes any stress of having to use public transport. John spoke with them and they offered him a position working one day a week. They are a disability confident employer and there focus on working collaboratively and providing opportunities for people with lived experience of a learning disability made the process as easy as possible for John.
John began working in the kitchen however he has also been given front of house responsibilities at the carvery/restaurant that the organisation operates. In early 2025 he will be moving up to two days a week there.
Project manager Leandra Sims said:
John is getting so much out of this position. His peer group there are around the same age as himself so he is building meaningful relationships and continuing to develop his social skills. He is able to build professional skills in a supportive environment which he knows is disability confident. He’s very happy.
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