Community Link Foundation
COMMUNITY Link Foundation has awarded a grant to an organisation that helps people with learning difficulties gain office skills and work experience.
Timesavers, which covers West Lancashire and the surrounding areas, provides work experience and education in office skills for people with learning difficulties to help them improve their chances of finding a work placement or employment.
The charity aims to help overcome barriers that they face with regards to their employability.
It supports them in gaining further skills and work experience in all aspects of office work, such as typing, photocopying and filing and they do this from an office in Skelmersdale. They have also recently started running computer drop-in sessions in Bickerstaffe.
Local people are invited to Four Lane Ends Mission to get help with their phones, laptops and computers and it is run by staff and people who are supported by Timesavers.
They have found it a good way to teach clients how to work with people, how to help them, and how to listen.
The work experience helps them to improve their communication skills and involves them in the financial side of the organisation.
They hope that this will enable them to achieve a better understand- ing of aspects of life that can help them in the work place and at home.
They successfully applied to Community Link Foundation for funding to enable them to continue with the projects over the coming months.
The costs are associated with sessional workers, travel, rent and equipment costs.
Last year, CLF was able to provide Timesavers with funds which they used to buy card, ink and paper for the varied work they do, such as admin work and making cards that are then sold to help the charity.
Edward McCarthy, secretary of Timesavers, said: “A huge thank you to Community Link Foundation on behalf of Timesavers. “This makes a huge difference.” For more information go to www. timesavers.org.uk.
To find out more about Community Link Foundation and how to raise funds for them, go to www. clfoundation.co.uk.