The Lowry Outlet at Salford Quays is helping to transform lives by offering employment to young people from Stockport based Pure Innovations with with learning difficulties and / or disabilities.
The Lowry Outlet has teamed up with Pure Innovations, a charity that supports people to lead more fulfilling lives, to deliver their Supported Internship Programme.
The programme is for young people aged 16 – 25 and has life-changing impacts such as for Sean Montel who started work at the Holiday Inn before moving to Trespass as a retail assistant. With new skills, increased confidence and a developing maturity, Sean was offered a further placement at Westgrove and offered a paid position after just a few weeks.
The positive experience gave Sean the confidence to apply for a pizza chef position at Pizza Express at the Lowry Outlet where he is still enjoying his role.
CEO of Pure Innovations, Louise Parrott-Bates explains more about Pure:
“In 1987 Employment Services was a part of Stockport Borough Council, providing employment opportunities and day care for people with a Learning Disability.
“We began a journey to modernise traditional day care across Stockport, moving away from larger institutions into smaller, community based settings.
“This move came from a strong belief in the philosophy that if we can support people to hold valued roles within communities then people with a disability would feel valued, and be recognised by others to have value.
“In 2005 we left the Local Authority and set up the charity Pure Innovations, continuing our vision to support a diverse range of people to live independent, healthy and valued lives in their communities.
“Today, we continue with our aim of supporting people to have a fulfilled life, with a sense of purpose and belonging.
“This can mean different things to different people and so Pure Innovations strives to provide a wide and varied offer, ranging from employment, volunteering and independent life skills to pursuing a variety of hobbies and interests.”
Image: courtesy of https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3246025
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