Herald - Issue 396

Page 24 • The HERALD • 8th October 2020 v THE HERALD - OUR 26TH YEAR - 1994-2020 v All aspects of Plastering & General Decorating Covered Free Quotations Fully Insured Mobile 07941 255335 Phone: 023 8089 8324 parkesij@yahoo.co.uk www.ijs4plastering.co.uk FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE • DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL WORKS • DISABLED FACILITIES Hardley Industrial Estate, Hythe, Southampton Telephone: (023) 8084 9999 Fax: (023) 8084 9999 • Mobile: 07836 525286 E stablished 1955 GIRL FRIDAY Reliable, friendly local lady available for everyday household duties Cleaning, Decluttering & Home Organisation Gardening, Shopping & Local Errands Personal Admin & Computer Organisation Event Planning & House Sitting All the chores I do in my home I can do in yours too! Fixed hourly rate Juliette 07522 517501• girlfridayhythe@hotmail.com People With Learning Disabilities Head Back To Work Trainees from a pioneering jobs scheme for people with learning disabilities are celebrating getting back to work a er having to leave their job placements in the height of lockdown. e Step Up For Work Programme is run by Hampshire-based charity Minstead Trust to provide people with learning disabilities with the skills and opportunities they need to gain employment. e programme placed its rst trainees into paid employment before lockdown, and now they are gradually returning to the workplace once again. Rhianne attended Step Up For Work workshops last year to learn the skills needed for employment, including timekeeping, applying for jobs and interacting with colleagues. A supported work experience placement followed at Minstead Lodge, Minstead Trust’s conference and events venue. Now, Rhianne has begun her very rst paid job at Paultons Park. A er receiving help from her Minstead Trust job opportunities mentor, Rhianne applied for a role in the food and beverage department with the popular theme park and was successful at interview. Now a er social distancing and COVID-19 hygiene training, she has begun work and has received a friendly welcome from her colleagues. Rhianne said: “I am really pleased to be back at work. I missed it and missed seeing the other people. I enjoy my job.” Andrew Edwards, Head of Food & Beverage at Paultons Park said: “We’re pleased to have welcomed Rhianne to the team, since beginning her employment at Paultons Park she appears to be settling in well.” “We’re thankful to the team at Minstead Trust for their impeccable support throughout the recruitment and onboarding process and hope we’re able to support further employment opportunities in association with the Trust in the future.” e 12 month Step Up For Work programme is pioneering in the work experience opportunities it gives to its participants and its ve steps to employment success: 1. Participants are assigned a job opportunities mentor and discuss what kind of work they are targeting . 2. Up to 12 workshops on topics including workplace expectations and interviews. 3. A work experience of up to 26 weeks in a Minstead Trust business. 4. Work placement with external employer. 5. Permanent employment, either paid or voluntary. Another trainee who successfully secured their rst job before lockdown was Bob, who is soon due to begin work with construction company Skanska UK assisting with stock counting at their Totton premises. He is currently working in the café at Hanger Farm Arts Centre in Totton to get used to the work environment again a er lockdown and hopes to start his rst paid job with Skanska soon. Neil Saunders, Minstead Trust Job Opportunities Mentor, said: “Step Up For Work is making a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities. We are helping people gain the skills and confidence they need to live more independent and fulfilled lives.” “We couldn’t do it without the support of businesses like Paultons Park and Skanska UK. They have been extremely supportive and this has made a huge difference to Rhianne and Bob in assisting them to not only to build confidence and learn new work skills but also to enjoy a much more independent lifestyle.” Charlie Green, Customer Liaison Manager at Skanska UK, said: “Skanska are absolutely committed to supporting the communities where we work, and seeing the great potential of the Step Up For Work Programme offered by Minstead Trust it was clear that this was something we wanted to be part of. Taking on someone with learning disabilities into our work environment brings so much more to us all, the enthusiasm and fulfilment of that individual is shared amongst the whole team.” Minstead Trust supports more than 200 people with learning disabilities across Hampshire through supported living accommodation, day opportunities and employment training. e Coronavirus lockdown has been hugely challenging for the Trust, with its income vastly reduced as its social enterprises closed for several months. e Trust runs Furzey Gardens in Minstead, Hanger Farm Arts Centre in Totton and Minstead Lodge hospitality and events venue. ese enterprises also o er work experience for people with learning disabilities to work towards employment. Find out more about the scheme and how you could get involved at www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/step-up-for-work Bob on work experience at Hanger Farm Arts Centre Rhianne, Step up for work graduate STAY VIGILANT AND PLAY YOUR PART THIS AUTUMN TO HELP KEEP HAMPSHIRE SAFE With many schools, colleges and universities welcoming back children and young people in the recent weeks, Hampshire County Council is reminding everyone that sticking to the advice on how to stay safe is critical in preventing a return to lockdown. Simon Bryant, the Local Authority’s Director of Public Health said: “As a county we are in a relatively good place currently, with comparatively low numbers of confirmed cases of the virus. However, this could change quickly if we aren’t vigilant. “In particular, we are seeing small increases in infection rates, especially among young people, 15-29, some of whom are returning from holiday abroad, and in others who are socialising beyond boundaries. “With thousands coming together in ways we haven’t seen since the Spring, Autumn will be an exciting time for many, but please be smart - keep your distance, wash your hands - you can never do this too often, and wear face coverings, wherever and whenever you’re asked to do so.” In addition, Mr Bryant is reminding local residents of why it’s vital to self-isolate if requested to, either following a positive test, being the contact of a positive case or having returned from travel to a ‘quarantined’ country. He said: “The prospect of having to keep yourself away from others for up to two weeks may be frustrating for some, particularly if you have just returned to college or to your workplace, but without a vaccine, it’s one of the very few ways we have to keep control of the virus and stop it spreading. The virus can have quite a long incubation period so sticking to the full isolation period is critical to avoid passing it on.” For further information on staying safe, visit www. hants.gov.uk/coronavirus