Press Release
17th March 2009
The Perfect Start: New service opens doors for local people with learning disabilities
In partnership with the London Borough of Hillingdon, United Response has recently launched a unique new skills centre for people with learning disabilities in Uxbridge Town Centre.
Officially opened by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Brian Crowe, Perfect Start offers local people with learning disabilities the opportunity to develop the life skills and experience they need to move towards greater independence and employment.
From deciding the programmes at the new centre to choosing the name and helping renovate the building, the people who will be using the service, and their families, have been fully involved in the development of Perfect Start.
Perfect Start is already running an onsite shop where people with learning disabilities can sell the cards and gifts they have made and learn about buying and selling. There is also a café where people can develop skills in customer service, handling money, food preparation and management.
A dedicated IT suite will offer vocational IT training alongside courses on budgeting, opening a back account and paying bills. 'Perfect Start' will also act as a central hub, providing people with learning disabilities with information on local training and employment opportunities and supporting them to get involved in the community.
United Response Chief Executive, Su Sayer said:
"People with learning disabilities often feel isolated and disconnected from the community around them. Perfect Start is all about rebuilding these links.
"Perfect Start’s central location is key to this. It means that there are plenty of opportunities, right on the doorstep, for people to use the new skills they are learning and to play a greater role in the life of the local area."
Cllr Philip Corthorne, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing at Hillingdon Council, said:
"The Perfect Start service will be a fantastic resource and is a real step forward in modernising services. While day centres are appropriate for some people, Hillingdon Council is committed to continually developing new ways of delivering services so residents can retain their independence while at the same time feeling supported. Perfect Start is ideally placed in central Uxbridge to build links with local employers so residents with learning disabilities have better opportunities to get into work."
To find out more about the Perfect Start service, please email Chris Browne at chris.browne@unitedresponse.org.uk
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For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or emailsarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Note to editors
United Response is a top 100 charity operating in England and Wales, providing a range of support and services for more than 1,500 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs or physical disabilities. We employ over 2,000 people across the organisation and have won many awards for our pioneering work since being founded in 1973.
Our mission is to enable people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities to take control of their lives.
Our vision is a society where disabled people are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
The services we provide depend on each person we work with. We can provide 24-hour support for people with profound physical needs, or just a few hours for those who need less support to live their lives. We can job coach someone into meaningful paid employment. We can provide outreach support for someone with a mental health need or help people who find it difficult to communicate by making information more accessible. The key to our success is that we work with each person to do the things they want to do, supporting them to communicate what they want and tell us how we are doing.
In support of our vision, we also campaign to improve the lives of people with disabilities in society. This may mean lobbying decision makers such as MPs to ensure that people’s voices are heard or it might mean working directly with disabled people so that they can be more directly engaged in the democratic process. We also work with employers to ensure that more people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities get a fair opportunity to work.
In 2008 alone, we were shortlisted as best employer in the Third Sector Excellence Awards and highly commended for our Annual Report. We also won a highly prestigious National Training Award for the investment we make in our staff. To find out more please visit www.unitedresponse.org.uk.