Beckley charity's £50k grant to create jobs for learning disabled adults

A Beckley charity has been awarded £50,000 to support its employment project which helps adults with learning difficulties get into work.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Apr 2016, 12:00 BST
Updated 29th Apr 2016, 14:49 BST

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David Chegwidden was helped by Little Gate Farm's Supported Employment project and starts a new job as a receptionist next weekDavid Chegwidden was helped by Little Gate Farm's Supported Employment project and starts a new job as a receptionist next week
David Chegwidden was helped by Little Gate Farm's Supported Employment project and starts a new job as a receptionist next week

Little Gate Farm will use the Lloyds Foundation grant to help those with special needs find a paid job with employers in the area through its Supported Employment programme.

David Chegwidden is the latest person to benefit from the scheme as he starts his first paid role at MVL Business Services in Battle next week.

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The 31-year-old’s mother Jackie Chegwidden praised the charity for helping her son who has many skills to offer despite his disability.

“This has had an impact on the whole family,” she said.

“This is a major step in securing David’s future independence.

“The team at Little Gate Farm have been amazing.”

David will be the company’s reception desk performing tasks including binding documents, franking mail and answering the phone.

Despite having previously volunteered at Hastings Works, David will be supported in his new role by a job coach from the charity for the first few weeks.

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MVL’s Bryan Larkin said Kevin Southon and the Little Gate Farm team has supported them and their newest recruit in integrating David into the firm.

David is the fifth learning disabled adults who has been helped into work by the Supported Employment team.

Others have secured jobs at the Trattoria Italiana restaurant and at Eridge House, High Beech and Lindsay Hall Care Homes.

Lloyds’ £50,000 grant will fund the project for the next two years.

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The charity was set up three years ago by Hastings resident Claire Cordell who has a daughter with learning difficulties at Glyne Gap School in Bexhill.

Little Gate Farm offers work training, a woodland social enterprise, a horticultural service and a holiday club for children with learning disabilities.

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