"I hope there will be many more stories such as my daughters"

My daughter has been attending Hazeldene community based services for people with learning disabilities where she has been part of "Lunches to go", catering for events within the council as well as providing lunches in the canteen for service users and staff.

Whilst being part of a catering team in a working kitchen my daughter has learned a wide range of skills and knowledge of health, safety and hygeine, successfully achieiving her rehis food hygiene certificate last summer. Perhaps the biggest change has been the increase in confidence and self esteem. She really felt part of the lunches to go team and there was a great camaraderie between both staff and service users.

With her skills, knowlege and confidence my daughter has been able to move on into her first paid job as a catering assistant in our local primary school. Although its early days she is doing really well and for her to have a paid job within our local community is a wonderful achievement. Many thanks to all at lunches to go and Hazeldene who have been part of my daughter's journey so far, without you she would not have been ready to take this next step.

I know it is a time of change for the service, with Hazeldene closing and the new Trindlemoss due to open in May. At the end of last year there seemed to be a lot of uncertainty about what the new service would look like. I hope it will include the lunches to go team and that service users will continue to have the opportunity to learn and develop as my daughter has.

My own opinion for what it's worth, while we have been very proactive in supporting my daughter into employment, from applying for the job, the interview and supporting her over the next few weeks while she finds her feet, not all families are willing or able to provide this level of support. In this time of austerity and cuts in many services the council needs to look carefully how they target their resources if they are serious about people with learning disabilities moving on into employment opportunities, whether paid or not. Targeting training to employment opportunities and providing job coaches and support to ensure a smooth transition is crucial. I also believe the council itself needs to take a lead in providing and promoting opportunities within it's own organisation.

I will watch the opening of Trindlemoss with interest and look forward to seeing how the service develops and I hope there will be many more stories such as my daughters.

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