Page 13 - Community Living Issue 31-3

living a life: work in the community

People with learning disabilities worked in the cafe, in food preparation and on stalls; opposite:
painting of the Engine Shed by local artist Jennifer Thomson
options was available. Alongside work at We had a high success rate of people
the Engine Shed, a series of weekly work moving into paid work of 16 hours or
experience placements were planned with more a week; it averaged out at between
local employers. These were designed to 70%-80% and met all the targets set.
link their developing skills and growing We established links with many networks
confidence to a business setting. that reflected and supported our diverse
These work placements also opened work, from schools and colleges to third
up the opportunity for trainees to sector organisations, employers, customers
experiment with different jobs. This – including those using our conference
helped towards gaining an understanding facilities and selling our produce as well as
of the type of paid work to aim for when those using the cafe – and funders.
they were ready to leave the Engine Shed. Many became active partners in our
Trainees also had the chance to enrol everyday work. Our regular cafe not “job ready” and required extra time
for nationally recognised vocational customers in particular shared in the ups and input to develop their potential in a
qualifications which were delivered in and downs of the lives of our trainees and training environment with supported
cheered them on from the sidelines. employment. With this loss of funding, the
Marian Macdonald: Employers worked closely with us to Engine Shed could no longer operate and it
‘Coming into regular develop their roles in providing work closed its doors in February 2015.
contact with our experience and training to lift an individual This left a huge gap in provision. People
trainees at work did
more to challenge to the next stage and, in many instances, with learning disabilities who require extra
people’s attitudes viewed them as potential employees. support to access the work market will be
and prejudices than This whole process naturally broke down denied a tried and tested resource that
any discussions on the barriers that excluded people with would enable them to take their first big
equality ever could’ disabilities from employment. Coming into step into the world of paid employment.
regular contact with our trainees in their A lasting memory is of meeting a group
work role did more to challenge people’s of parents to share the news about the
house at the Engine Shed by a tutor from attitudes and prejudices than any closure. One couple said they felt angry
the local college. This assisted them by discussions on equality ever could. and also sad, not on behalf of themselves
matching their way of learning so they Over the years we saw many people pass or their son who had benefited from his
could link theory to the work they were through our doors and successfully move training and who was now thriving in a new
doing as opposed to the more abstract into jobs with a range of Edinburgh job in Social Bite – a sandwich takeaway in
classroom model. From that point, a employers in the catering and retail sectors. the city centre – but for young people and
trainee’s progress was regularly monitored As our social enterprise developed, it their parents in the future who would no
and reviewed and our input adapted in provided up to 60% of our revenue with longer have access to the unique Engine
such a way to meet their changing needs. 40% coming from council funding. Shed experience that had succeeded in
And the whole thing worked. From our The Engine Shed was a member of a transforming so many people’s lives. n
base in a beautiful building that met all network of council-funded supported ●●More info: www.
our training and business needs, we employment bodies which, over a 25-year theengineshededinburgh.org
Photos: Aly Wight; painting: Jennifer Thomson middle of Edinburgh. However, in 2014, due to funding changes ●●A short animated film about the
●●A short film about The engine Shed:
created a learning environment within a
period, provided a range of options for
busy public commercial setting in the
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfz8A5qRvLk
those requiring support to get into work.
This outward-looking approach,
and a decision to tender supported
building: www.youtube.com/
employment provision as one
watch?v=8RaXMuA8bDQ
combined with the benefits of peer group
commissioned service, the Engine Shed fell
learning at the Engine Shed, proved to be a
●●Lovely Recipes and People’s Stories, a
book to mark the Engine Shed reaching 21
out of the scope of Edinburgh’s funding
winning combination. From day one it was
our intention to use this as a springboard
criteria. A strict definition of supported
years, with a foreword by Ian Rankin, can
for individuals to develop, learn and move
be downloaded from www.theengine
employment – support offered to people in
on, armed with well informed and
shededinburgh.org/uploads/downloads/
guide-full-with-cover.pdf
sustainable plans for their future.
flexibility for the needs of people who were
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk the workplace – appeared to leave no Community Living Vol 31 No 3 | Spring 2018 13