Press

Press Release

1st January 2007

First ever pay packet: New Year brings new job opportunities for people with learning disabilities

A local mail out company, set up by United Response, the charity creating opportunities for people with learning disabilities or mental health needs , will be celebrating the New Year, and its success in 2006, by taking on five new members of staff - none of whom have ever had a paid job before.

Launched in April 2006, UR Sorted is a Trafford based mailing, compiling and packaging service, established by United Response to create paid work and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

An overnight success, the mailing service has already carried out work for several businesses and local organisations, including Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council and London-based design and marketing company, Egg and is now taking on more staff to meet the demand.

Sharron McIndoe, Business Development Manager for UR Sorted said:

"The success of UR Sorted shows just how much can be achieved when people with learning disabilities are given the opportunity to use their skills.

"Many of the people who work at UR Sorted have never had a paid job before. But this hasn’t stopped them from working hard to create a professional and reliable local service, offering everything from folding and sending out customer newsletters, to compiling information packs and posting out customer orders.

"We've had an incredibly busy Christmas period. And now we're looking forward to 2007, with five new members of staff and hopefully lots more work."

Simon Lavelle, aged 26 from Davyhulme, Manchester, started working at UR Sorted in April.

He said:

"I really like working at UR Sorted. It gets me out of the house and I feel that having a job has made me a lot more independent."

This is Simon's first ever paid job and he has already demonstrated his ability to take on extra responsibility and to support others.

Simon explains:

"It's really important that we do the work properly and on time. I check the right address is on the envelope and take everything to the post office, to make sure it all gets posted out.

"I show some of the others how to do things as well. Richard is one of the people I work with. He's very good at folding and putting things in envelopes. He has to take the bus to get to UR Sorted, but isn't able to travel on his own. So I go and collect him from his house and we travel to UR Sorted together. I feel really good about it because I know that I'm helping Richard to do his job."

UR Sorted offers everything from sending out customer newsletters and mail outs, to compiling delegate packs and packing and posting customer orders.

To find out more please contact Ali Bishop on

(0161) 873 7479

or

- Ends -

For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or email

Notes to editors:

United Response is a charity creating opportunities for people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to live as independently as possible. Through its employment work in Greater Manchester, United Response is supporting people with learning disabilities, who want to work, to gain experience and find meaningful paid employment.