Young adults with disabilities are learning the ropes about the retail and laundry sectors, after a Harrogate charity opened a second-hand clothes outlet.
Disability Action Yorkshire, which already runs a successful furniture warehouse and restoration operation at its Hornbeam Park headquarters, has now branched out into clothing as a way of helping its trainees gain skills to get them into the workplace.
The day outlet, which opened for business on Monday, 19 May 2014, has more than 200 items, including ladies wear, menswear and children’s wear, plus accessories, in stock.
All the clothes have been laundered, individually priced and put on display by the trainees.
Disability Action Yorkshire’s deputy chief executive Ange Brocket, said: The opening of the second-hand clothing store will give our trainees new skills at the same time as providing us with a new income stream.
Those working in the outlet, which is located within the furniture warehouse, will interact with customers, which will boost their confidence and, we hope, will lead them to get jobs in the outside world.
When items come in they have to be inspected, cleaned and then each one is individually priced before being put on the display racks and shelves. This is done by the trainees under supervision.
Working in this part of our operation, the trainees are getting retail and laundry experience. What they are learning on a daily basis will benefit them greatly – both at home and in the workplace.
Our furniture business continues to be a great success, and there’s no reason why the clothes venture can’t be just as popular.
The revenue it generates helps us to continue our work in helping young people with disabilities experience life in a workplace.
Disability Action Yorkshire, which was founded in 1937, also owns a residential care home on Harrogate’s Claro Road for adults, aged between 18 and 65, with physical disabilities.
Last July, the organisation moved its Home Care team from a first floor office in Thirsk into a new, accessible building.
From here, the 30-strong team of home care assistants carry out a wide range of duties and services to people living in their homes in Thirsk, Northallerton, Bedale, Richmond, Easingwold and Ripon.
Main photogrpah: Disability Action Yorkshire trainees Ian McHugh and Jessica Shepherd with the organisation’s deputy chief executive, Ange Brockett
