Assist Trust Members take flight with voluntary work placements at Norwich Airport
Assist Trust, the Norwich based progression service supporting adults with Learning Disabilities, is working with Norwich Airport to support 4 of its Members with voluntary work placements.
The scheme, which is part of the Supported Employment strategy at Assist Trust, will commence from Friday 8th September, when the Members will be receiving training to work as General Café Assistants at Café Oasis, and within the main terminal as Trolley Assistants.
Norwich Airport, who have signed up to the Autism Charter, arranged a tour of the site for the Employment group at Assist Trust. On the tour, the Members were given a unique insight into the everyday working life at Norwich Airport, and they were naturally keen to see if any voluntary opportunities were available.
Jamie Price, Airport Security Manager, was instrumental in working with Assist to establish potential opportunities and took part in the interviews, held on 26th July 2017, along with John Freeman, from Caterleisure.
Supported Employment Team Leader at Assist Trust, Roger Bilton-Hill, says;
“The staff at Norwich Airport have been hugely supportive of what we are trying to help our Members achieve. It can be difficult to source relevant, meaningful work placements for adults with learning disabilities and particularly ones where our Members work ethic can be fully realised. At Assist we try to encourage the Members to gain confidence, develop resilience and increase their independence and we feel the busy working environment at Norwich Airport will prove to be a fantastic opportunity for them to progress. The Members are really looking forward to the challenge and meeting both the staff team and customers.”
Airport Security Manager, Jamie Price commented; “We are delighted to be working with Assist Trust to give their members an opportunity to work within the airport and enable them to develop their independence and work ethic with support from our team.”
Paul Thain, one of the successful candidates, says;
“I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to work in the Café at Norwich Airport. Now I have been given the chance, I want to make the most of it. Jamie and John have been really supportive, genuine and nice to all of us. The interviews I had with them were fun, nerve-wracking but good. The airport is a really busy place and there are lots of opportunities for me to learn new things off the staff. I want to learn new skills and meet new people. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
About Assist Trust:
Assist Trust is a Norwich based charity supporting adults with Learning Disabilities. The day service is centred around progression, confidence building and developing resilience as well as providing a social setting where an individual can forge friendships and sustain relationships. Their services include Employment and Travel Training, Housing Support, Daily Living Skills, Health Promotion through Sports and Healthy Living groups, Gardening and outdoor activities and many more groups all focused on developing strengths.
For further information on Assist Trust please visit www.assist-trust.co.uk
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Registered Charity No. 1057772
Registered Company No. 3206320
