What services are available to help with training and employment?

Details of services and projects to help provide people with physical and / or learning disabilities and additional support needs with the skills to get a job:

• Support in finding and keeping a job
• Fraserburgh Can-Do project
• Ellon Can-Do project
• Benchmark project
• Benholm Mill project
• Fly Cup Catering Ltd
• Fraserburgh coffee bar
• Fraserburgh community web project
• Pitcaple environmental project
• Scolty recycle project
• Wood RecyclAbility Ltd
• Willowbank day service projects
• Boyndie visitor centre
• Woodview Crafts
• Woodview Design
• Jackston Farm
• Father of the Bard project
• Jobcentreplus help for disabled people including information on the Access to Work programme

Support in finding and keeping a job

Our social work service employ a number of staff to directly support people with disabilities who are seeking, or engaged in vocational training and employment activities. They are called employment development officers.

Following an assessment the employment development officer will be able to support you with employment opportunities. Contact your local officer for more information.

Our substance misuse service also has employment development officers who work with people who have ceased their drug or alcohol misuse, people who are stabilised on a substitute prescription and people who are leaving residential rehabilitating units.

 

Fraserburgh Can-Do project

The Can-Do community recycling project collects and processes aluminium and steel, food and drink cans, as well as aluminium foil and plastic bottles.

The project provides vocational and employment training for people who have disabilities. It is supported by staff at the Robertson Road Resource Centre.

Project workers acquire new skills and develop links with local employers and Banff and Buchan College of Further Education. Many attend the college for a half day for training in health and safety at work.

Project members participate in a programme of work experience, vocational training, employment guidance and counselling. Many go on to achieve their first academic qualification and SQA certification.

For more information visit the Can-Do Community Recycling website or contact:

Unit 1
Anderson Place
Industrial Estate
Fraserburgh
AB43 9SU

Tel / Fax: 01346 513 555

Ellon Can-Do project

Ellon Can-Do is a training project giving adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to gain work experience in a safe and supported environment.

We collect UBCs (used beverage cans) from pubs and shops and take them back to our unit where they are sorted and weighed ready for recycling.

We currently have 16 project workers working between one and four days a week.

There are opportunities to do different jobs during the week, such as:

• going out in the van to collect cans and bottles

• sorting at the table

• using the plastic baling machines

• weighing and recording the bags of cans
• keeping the unit clean using the power washer
• washing the van, and
• in the summer, there is the chance to do a little gardening in our greenhouse made of recycled plastic bottles

Project workers are trained by the staff to use the machinery safely and to use appropriate personal protective equipment.

Project workers are able to increase their confidence and build on their skills while carrying out a worthwhile job in the community. They also learn to travel independently to and from work using public transport.

Aberdeen College has provided a tutor to run out-reach courses at our unit. Project workers can gain a qualification without travelling to Aberdeen or Fraserburgh.

In the last year, Ellon Can-Do collected and sorted 5.346 tonnes of cans and 47.693 tonnes of plastic bottles which is about 302,500 cans and just short of 1 million plastic bottles.

We are now contracted by the Waste department to pick up nets of plastic bottles from recycling sites around the Formartine area. These are taken back to the unit where the lids are removed, the rubbish is extracted, they are sorted into different types of plastic, then baled ready for recycling into drainage, guttering and down pipes.

If you want to visit, or get some work experience, please contact Zena Gourlay on 01358 722517 for more information.

Ellon Can-Do Community Recycling (map)
Unit 9
Castle Road Industrial Estate
Ellon
AB41 9RF

Benchmark project

Benchmark is a work project for adults with learning disabilities. The project makes garden products and furniture from new and recycled wood.

The project aims to:

• reduce social exclusion
• promote employment and vocational training
• provide realistic training opportunities by operating as a small business

The training provided includes:

• health and safety in the workplace
• lifting and manual handling
• assertiveness
• working in teams
• safe use of tools and equipment
• woodwork skills

For further information please contact:

Unit 1 (map)
Castle Street
Castlepark Industrial Estate
Ellon
AB41 9RF

Tel: 01358 729999

Benholm Mill project

The Mill of Benholm project is a charity that seeks to maintain and develop the Mill, its buildings and grounds as a resource for tourists and local communities.

The project provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities to help in the running of the site, working in the tearoom and in the croft grounds surrounding the Mill. The project helps people with various disabilities to gain valuable work and social experience and to make very visible contributions to the wellbeing, enjoyment and quality of life of the community as a whole.

The Mill of Benholm project has undertaken its development work with help from volunteers, local communities and charitable funding bodies.

Our social work services and the Craigmyle Trust currently provide funding towards this project.

Potential trainees need to be referred through Forest View Resource Centre. An employment development officer, care manager or social worker can do this.

For more information please contact:

Forest View Resource Centre (map)
Woodview Place
Stonehaven
AB39 2TD

Tel: 01569 764545

Fly Cup Catering

Fly Cup Catering is an established training company, based in Inverurie, training adults with learning disabilities with transferable skills in a catering environment.

Fly Cup’s aim is to raise awareness of food preparation and food service skills and how these can be used to assist each trainee with a long term goal. This goal could be:

• working confidently with food in a food environment giving potential employment opportunities, or
• in their own kitchen preparing healthy balanced meals for themselves

Fly Cup Catering originated in 1995 as a project within the Harlaw Day Care Centre.

Training has become Fly Cup’s main objective and as a result it has seen a growth in the range of catering opportunities offered to its’ trainees. Fly Cup now successfully runs a shop from its Unit 2 premises Monday to Friday and a Café at St Andrew’s Parish Church Chapel, Inverurie, Wednesday to Friday.

As part of a team, each trainee will experience additional life skills and social skills.

Social skills

• Build confidence
• Experience of working as a member of a team
• A basic understanding of the needs of others
• Patience
• Respect for fellow colleagues
• An understanding of acceptable behaviour in a work environment

Life skills

• Essential equipment for a domestic kitchen
• Shopping for food
• Healthy eating options
• Interpreting food labels
• Basic housekeeping

Catering services

Fly Cup Catering offers a range of outside catering services including:

• business lunches
• funeral teas
• buffets
• picnics
• children’s parties

Home bakes and more is available from our shop.

To find out more about the training, both accredited and Nnn-accredited and the other services provided by Fly Cup Catering, please contact:

Business Manager or Employment Development Officer on:

Tel: 01467 625645

Fly Cup Catering Limited
Unit 2 Burghmuir Circle (map)
Inveruire
AB51 4FS

Fraserburgh coffee bar

Fraserburgh coffee bar is based in the Robertson Road resource centre. It provides training for individuals looking to prepare for or experience work in catering. The trainees undertake a range of duties working under supervision. The variety of jobs available helps to develop new skills including:

• food preparation
• handling money, and
• serving customers

These skills help to increase self-confidence and self-esteem.

For more information, please contact:

Robertson Road Resource Centre (map)
Robertson Road
Fraserburgh
AB43 9BF

Tel: 01346 515292

Fraserburgh community web project

Fraserburgh community web project provides training opportunities in web design for service users at Robertson Road resource centre. This is part of a progression towards supported permitted work / open employment.

Permitted work is work that is done with the supervision of organisations providing or finding work for disabled people, or is done as a hospital patient under medical supervision as part of a treatment programme.

Open employment is a job that any other person might apply for, an existing job not specifically for a person with disability and is paid at the same rate.

The project participants undertake training in web design application and graphic application. Banff and Buchan College of Further Education provide support and training to the project members.

Project members help in the maintenance of the Fraserburgh community web site.

Fraserburgh community web promotes Fraserburgh as a place of opportunity to attract new citizens, companies and visitors.

For more information, please contact:

Robertson Road Resource Centre (map)
Robertson Road
Fraserburgh
AB43 9BF

Tel: 01346 515292

Pitcaple environmental project

The Pitcaple environmental project is an innovative project on a former Aberdeenshire Council nursery site. It has been brought back into productivity and transformed into a garden which produces fruit, vegetables, plants and furniture for sale as well as demonstrating the use of renewable energy and care for the environment.

The project offers work experience and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities, to help them gain self-confidence and to consider moving into open employment.  Trainees are provided with work experience in all aspect of horticulture.

Potential trainees need to be referred through Harlaw Resource Centre. An employment development officer, care manager or social worker can do this.

For more information, please contact:

Harlaw Resource Centre (map)
Harlaw Road
Inverurie
AB51 4TE

Tel: 01467 621885

Scolty recycle project

The Scolty recycle project is a successful recycling service. It involves a partnership between waste management services and housing and social work service.

It offers work experience and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities to help them gain self-confidence and to consider moving into open employment. Trainees help with the collection and recycling of plastic.

For more information, please contact:

Scolty Resource Centre (map)
Arbeadie Road
Banchory
AB31 4FH

Tel: 01330 823046

Wood RecyclAbility Ltd

Wood RecyclAbility Ltd is charitable firm recycling waste wood, mainly from the offshore industry. It offers training opportunities to adults with special needs.

It provides training in the manufacture of wooden items including:

• bat boxes
• bird nesting boxes
• bird tables
• bonsai tree boxes
• chicken coops
• coal bunkers
• dog kennels
• garden furniture
• plant shelves and racks
• rabbit hutches

The service is provided by ENABLE (Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped) who work in partnership with industry and local authorities to provide work placements at Wood RecyclAbility Ltd.

For more information, please contact:

Wood RecyclAbility Ltd (map)
Cloisterseat Croft
Pitmedden
Ellon
AB41 7PR

Tel: 01651 842876
Email: woodrecyclability@enable1.demon.co.uk

Willowbank day service projects

• Glendaveny Bears
• Coffee bar project
• Glendaveny Jams and Chutney
• Willowbank woodwork project
• Stick project
• Garden project
• Holly wreaths

Glendaveny Bears

Glendaveny Teddy Bears is a community-based project supported by our social work service. The project offers work experience and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities. They use their skills to produce high quality teddy bears. The workshop is in the centre of Peterhead and has a front shop for selling the products. Novelties for weddings are also made to order.

Coffee bar project at Willowbank

Willowbank coffee bar is based at Willowbank day service. It provides training for individuals who want to prepare for or experience work in a coffee bar setting. The trainees, with the support of staff, are involved in all aspects of customer care. The variety of jobs available enables people to develop new skills including:

• some food preparation
• handling money, and
• serving customers

These skills help increase self-confidence and self-esteem.

Glendaveny Jams and Chutney

Willowbank has a commercial standard kitchen where individuals help to make jam and chutney. The products are distributed and sold locally. Orders for home baking are also taken throughout the year. During November and December, Christmas puddings and cakes are made to order.

Willowbank woodwork project

The Willowbank woodwork project produces high quality garden furniture such as benches, picnic tables and bird tables that are sold to the public. The garden furniture can be made to order. Project members assist in all stages of the production of the furniture.

Stick project (Kindlers)

The project members de-nail pallets, break them up and then chop them into kindlers. These are weighed and bagged and then sold on to local coal companies and the public.

Garden project

Project members help maintain part of Willowbank's large grounds. During the spring, we grow a large number of bedding plants which are on sale at the Willowbank open day which is held annually at the end of May.

Holly wreaths

During December individuals make holly wreaths and swags. These are sold to the public at Willowbank's Christmas sale, at Glendaveny, Broad Street and at Willowbank day service. Orders are taken over the phone.

For more information on any of these projects, please contact:

Willowbank Resource Centre (map)
Glendaveny
Peterhead
AB42 3DY

Tel: 01779 838301

Boyndie visitor centre

The Boyndie visitor centre is situated near Banff. It is owned and managed by The Boyndie Trust, a charity owned and managed by local people.

The visitor centre offers opportunities for over 50 unemployed adults, most of whom have special needs, to learn new work skills through individual work-training programmes.

There are opportunities to work in:

• The restaurant - either in the kitchen or serving customers
• The six acres of gardens and plant sales area
• Aabidee Prints - a mini-company producing many forms of giftware and clothing items sold in the visitor centre's gift shop
• The woodwork department - producing planters and seats, plus decorative items for sale in the garden centre.

The Boyndie Trust, works in partnership with our social work service and employ paid staff, who work together in the various areas of the businesses. There may also opportunities for individuals to work with the Trust at weekends.

Potential trainees need to be referred through Banff Day Services or by employment development officers.

Banff Day Services (map)
Colleonard Road
Banff
AB45 1DZ

Tel: 01261 818281

For more information about Boyndie Trust, please contact:

Project Manager
The Old School (map)
Boyndie
Banff
AB45 2JT

Tel: 01261 843249
Email: boyndietrust@hotmail.com

Woodview Crafts

Woodview Crafts is a training facility, based in Stonehaven.

It aims to provide a safe environment for people with learning disabilities to train in all aspects of retail and craft work.

• Woodview Crafts leaflet (pdf 176kb)

Woodview Design

Woodview Design is a project set up to offer training for people with learning disabilities from Kincardine and the Mearns in a safe and positive environment. It is based in Stonehaven.

• Woodview Design (pdf 64kb)

For more information, please contact:

Day Centre Officer
Woodview Crafts/Design
Unit 1, Arduthie Business Centre (map)
Stonehaven
AB39 2NQ

Tel: 01569 760044 / 760107

Jackston Farm

Jackston Farm provides an alternative day service and emergency respite for people with learning disabilities. Individuals are taught how to look after the animals and tend the gardens and polytunnels where fruit and vegetables are grown.

• Jackston Farm leaflet (pdf 647kb)

For more information, please contact:

Jackston Farm (map)
Auchmaliddie
Maud
Peterhead
AB42 5SW

Tel: 01771 644848

Father of the Bard project

The Father of the Bard project aims to find out more about William Burness and his Aberdeenshire links. The research is being carried out by people with learning disabilites. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

• The Father of the Bard project (pdf 83kb)