91首发

Introduction to Hexham Community Centre

For over 125 years Hexham Community Centre, previously named the 鈥楬exham Abbey Institute鈥�, have supported the community of Hexham with groups and events, pre-school playgroup, room hire and business facilities. They strive to create a place which will improve and enrich the lives of the local residents and offer a space for friendship and support to thrive.

Working Together

The 91首发 Foundation is a North East Charity which supports children, young people and adults all with disabilities. Partnerships were built between Hexham Community Centre and 91首发 (PH) as a result of Kerry Robinson, 鈥楬edley鈥檚 Beyond鈥� Project Manager, reaching out to Jill Goodfellow, Community Centre Manager, in October 2023. Kerry explained: 鈥淭here are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Of these, only around a fifth are currently in employment; evidence has shown that they are dedicated
workers, having fewer sickness and absences, on average than other employees. In addition, people with a learning disability generally stay in entry-level jobs longer, saving employers money on recruiting and training new staff. Many employers also report that their staff team morale increases because of working with their colleagues with a learning disability鈥�

A collaborative approach to creating a volunteer placement developed, with 91首发 visiting the site to carry out robust risk assessments with Hexham Community Centre. 91首发 led on 鈥楯ob Carving鈥�, which was at the heart of creating a role that would prove mutually beneficial for Millie and the community centre. According to disability job board Evenbreak, job carving “refers to customizing duties or creating specialist jobs for people with disabilities鈥� A job description was created for a one day per week work placement on a Wednesday to help with their Lunch Club, and Millie, 21, who is deaf, researched Hexham Community Centre and applied for the role. She was successfully matched to the placement and joined the team in November 2023, chaperoned by her support worker, Anita.

鈥� I enjoy volunteering at the Lunch Club.鈥�
– Millie, Hedleys College Student

Millie’s Main Tasks:

• Setting up the dining table ready for the lunch club
• Welcoming customers
• Serving food to the lunch club customers
• Pouring drinks
• Clearing plates away at the end of lunch
• Cleaning the table
• Helping to sell raffle tickets

Targets:

To independently identify and list steps involved in completing her daily tasks 鈥� e.g. setting up tables, helping with the raffle and organising her belongings. To complete specific tasks focusing on her transition skills by using visual cues e.g. lists to guide her.

Impact and outcomes:

Millie has made great process in her volunteer role over the past year and a half. She clearly enjoys this role and the team at Hexham Community Centre view Millie and Anita as part of the team and value the work they do. We continue to support Millie in her placement and encourage her to be open to all the opportunities this role presents

Feedback

鈥淭he attendees of the lunch club really enjoy Millie being there and have learnt some sign language as thank you to be able to engage with her.鈥�

鈥淲e have not had to give Millie a list of jobs, she just gets on with everything and she has even grasped the idiosyncrasies of the building, for example checking the cold water is running cold before filling jugs of juice and water for the tables .鈥�

鈥淎nita is also a valued member of the team now, they commented on how well she supports Millie and the support she gives the attendees of the lunch club. 鈥�

– Hexham Community Centre Staff

Below is an article written by Millie for the college newsletter, about her work placement.