A NEW day service to help people with learning disabilities get on the working ladder is to launch permanently in Malvern from May – and the charity running it wants staff and volunteers to get on board.
Mencap Pathway is a day activity service which provides leisure and learning opportunities for children and adults who suffer from disabilities and help them find paid work.
Activities will be held Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3.30pm and will range from cooking to keeping fit, karaoke to drama, or gardening to reviewing the local news.
Pathway will be run by Heart of England Mencap at the second Malvern Scout Hut in Spring Lane, once building work on the new annexe is complete.
But before the service launches, the charity needs to recruit staff, volunteers and activity co-ordinators are also required to plan and deliver the Pathway programme.
To achieve this, an open day is to be held at the Scout Hut on Tuesday, March 15 from 1pm to 4pm with anyone interested in working for Heart of England Mencap urged to attend.
More than half a dozen paid staff and volunteers are required but people wishing to use the new day service can also attend.
Helena Wallis, chief executive of Heart of England Mencap, said: “Pathway is about focusing on abilities and not disabilities.
“We want to promote health and wellbeing and increase or maintain independence, building confidence and building friendships, and having a lot of fun along the way.”
The launch of the day service follows two successful trial periods in Malvern in 2014 and last year with bosses eager to help dozens of people in the town.
Ms Wallis added: “Our launch in Malvern follows a really successful trial and we look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces.
“But before we can launch, we need a team – to go to work and make a real difference each day.
“Our Pathway groups are always full of fun and full of smiles.
“If you can see yourself supporting and inspiring people with learning disabilities, planning and delivering all sorts of activities, then we’d love to hear from you.”
Charity bosses said last year they were overwhelmed with the response that its first trail had received in the Malvern area.
For more information on joining or working at Pathway, call 01789 298709 or visit www.heartofenglandmencap.org.uk.
