Gwynedd Council Provide Support For Vulnerable Individuals

Ifor helps keep the Slate Museum at Llanberis clean and tidy as part of the programme. Also photographed is his support worker Dylan Bee. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is an opportunity for business owners in Gwynedd to help people with learning difficulties to be more prominent as members of society by supporting them to get jobs, to take on more responsibilities and to make new friends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Active Support is a scheme run by Gwynedd Council to help vulnerable adults with learning disabilities to get job opportunities with local businesses and organisations. Any businesses volunteering for the scheme will receive full training and support from the Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme is run in all areas of the county and assists those taking part to get jobs in various local establishments – for example working in shops, cafes and offices – by teaching them new skills and giving them the right support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as working in the community, there are opportunities for people with learning disabilities to work in one of the Council’s specialist centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council’s unit at Parc Glynllifon near Caernarfon make and sell crafts; users of the Dolfeurig centre in Dolgellau make and sell crafts and T-shirts, run a café as well as a service to keep local gardens tidy; and service users near Pwllheli run the successful and popular ‘Popty Prysur’ which produces and sells delicious cakes and treats to the public. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The service users also help others, for instance they recently collected food and clothes to send to Syrian refugees. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Aled Davies, Gwynedd Council Head of Adults and Wellbeing Service said: “The work this project does in all areas of Gwynedd is amazing. The staff take the time to teach new skills to people so that they can grow and be able to contribute as full members of society. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is allowing service users to be more independent and make their own friends. By being more visible in society I hope they can teach others that everyone has a contribution to make. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Through the scheme, we enable the individuals to look after themselves, allow them to see how they can help others, and also give them opportunities to do the things that they enjoy in their free time.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you run a business in Gwynedd and would like to offer someone with learning disabilities the opportunity to work at your firm, please contact Gwynedd Council. Full training and support will be given to any business taking part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​