Basingstoke charity Loddon Social Enterprise set to expand (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Basingstoke charity Loddon Social Enterprise set to expand

2:50pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Helen Morton

A BASINGSTOKE charity which provides a vital service is set to expand.

Loddon Social Enterprise, which helps adults with learning difficulties gain much-needed work experience, is extending its premises.

The charity, based in Brunswick Place, Cranbourne Lane, will from next month be able to provide facilities where cooking, artwork and computer skills can be learned.

The charity helps nearly 40 adults of all ages with learning difficulties.

Manager Cathy Marshall said she was excited about what the future for the charity holds and keen to attract more people who could benefit.

She explained that the charity invites local people to gain work experience in jobs such as stuffing envelopes and filling boxes, and that local companies, who work with the charity, pay for the work that is completed.

Each user is given a small wage at the end of the week.

Cathy said: “It can be so hard for people with learning difficulties to get any work experience and we want to let people know what we can offer.

“We will soon be able to work with more service users and we want to hear from them.”

Sian Ratcliff, admin assistant at the charity, said that adults with learning difficulties faced an uphill battle trying to secure employment.

She said: “Coming here they can get some practical experience of different types of work and we can provide references.

“It’s also somewhere service users can come and make new friends.”