This social enterprise has been created in the Durham and Derwentside area to facilitate employment and training opportunity for disabled people in particular those with mental health problems. The geographical area covered is largely rural and this creates specific areas of socio-economic disadvantage.
The enterprise is managed by an Enterprise Manager and they have a team of handymen who are based in the organisations residential and nursing home services. The enterprise operates by the handymen carrying out work in the following ways;
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Work within each care home for which a charge is made.
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Work within the local community for which a charge is made.
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Work for local NHS and local authorities via contract.
Each handyman has a ’trainee’ attached to them and this person not only accesses individualised training they are also exposed to the employment market.
Each trainee will receive an NVQ Level 1 or 2 in an appropriate area such as customer care.
Links are established with local statutory authorities such as the Learning Skills Council and Local colleges to facilitate the training elements.
Further contact is made with local Jobcentres and Community Mental Health Teams and social service departments to access potential trainees.
The enterprise is being financially supported by a grant from the Northern Rock Foundation.
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