Skills on show at Supported Employment open day

Behind the doors of an unassuming building in Haverfordwest there is a hive of activity as those involved with the Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Hub get to work.

An open day at the Snowdrop Lane site last week was an opportunity for anyone interested to take a closer look at the work of the Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme and its key role in supporting people with disabilities to gain work.

The Supported Employment Programme provides supported employment in a range of occupations including furniture making, grounds maintenance, craft, catering, retail, administration IT, construction and Health and Safety.

The open day was held at the large Haverfordwest site where a wide range of production and training is carried out.

The staff in the programme also run multiple facilities at Scolton Manor including cafés and shop, with the scheme to be boosted with a new centre for the south of the county at South Quay, Pembroke.

A new ‘We Can’ project for people with profound and multiple disability and the Local Supported Employment Initiative for people with Learning Disability or Autism who want paid work is also run from the Supported Employment Hub, along with a range of day opportunities and employability support.

Cabinet member for Social Services Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “The Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Hub provides an excellent service for those people who want to work but face a variety of barriers. Supported Employment provides not just skills but also an improvement in well-being for those involved as they are given the necessary backing to make their mark on society.”

Karen Davies, Programme Manager Employability Support said “We had over 80 visitors including potential participants in the programme and their carers and people representing a range of organisations as well as county and town councillors.  The programme offers a really modern alternative to traditional day services. Everyone I spoke to was really impressed with the range of services that the Hub offers and in particular the skills of the staff employed through the programme.”

Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Cllr Tom Tudor attended the Open Day and said it was “fantastic to see the amazing work that the employees and volunteers produce.

“The programme employs over 75 people with a disability, and people work between four and 37 hours a week. It is an amazing organisation and I would like to thank the staff and all who are involved for their amazing efforts.”