Options For Work

Some of our participants have expressed a wish to gain either paid or voluntary employment.

Options for Work gives a variety of opportunities for them to gain real work experience, combined with support from our day services.

For more information on all our Options for Work, or to discuss referrals and funding, please contact the Day Options Manager at Oak Green Lodge

We offer our Options for Work participants  a choice of  activities, which may include:

Catering

DIY

Dog walking

Gardening

Painting & decorating

Recycling

Travel training

Volunteering

Work experience

OAK GREEN SERVICES

A social business specialising in grounds and garden

maintenance, hard and soft landscaping, and painting and

decorating. It provides participants with training, skill development, work experience and support towards employment.

OAK GREEN CAFÉ

A community café, which enables participants to gain catering skills. It provides part-time employment for a person with a learning disability.

Open Monday to Friday for people to drop in for coffee or a meal.

HORTICULTURE

We offer vocational skills training at our own allotments and gardens. A qualified horticulture worker, supported by a team of staff and volunteers, offers participants opportunities that may lead to paid or voluntary work in horticulture and nationally recognised qualifications – as well as a pleasurable, creative and healthy hobby.

RECEPTION WORK EXPERIENCE

Working alongside the Receptionist at Oak Green Lodge, tasks include greeting visitors, answering the phone, taking messages and using office equipment, according to participants’ individual skills and abilities.

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS

Participants are supported to volunteer their time with Options for Life in the community, eg. charity shops, community café, dog walking for elderly people.  This promotes confidence, self-esteem, motivation and value.

CO-TRAINING

Helping to deliver training and workshops to social workers and other professionals working with people with learning disabilities on how they can best offer support and services.

SIGNPOST

A 1:1 advice and support service for young people up to the age of 25 with mild/moderate learning disabilities who are unemployed but express an interest in having a job in the future. Includes employment, training, work experience, personal safety training, travel training, and

signposting to mainstream work-related agencies. It also enables young people to access other Options For Life services.