Access Employment has received £1,000 of funding from Northern Ireland’s leading energy provider to help those with learning and physical disabilities to learn new skills – and develop existing ones.
The support – which has been awarded to the Larne-based social enterprise as part of Power NI’s Brighter Communities scheme – will equip local people with all-important life skills, such as how to budget and plan, prepare, and cook healthy meals for themselves, their friends and family members.
The money has allowed equipment to be bought that builds confidence and independence in people by making cooking easier, including kettle tippers, adapted knives, and multifunction prep boards.
However, Access Employment is about more than cooking as participants also get the chance to learn about nutrition, and the benefits of this when it comes to improving their overall quality of life.
Lorraine Black, Head of Services at Access Employment, said: “This grant will enable us to purchase much-needed adapted kitchen equipment. Our trainees have a range of disabilities which can make cooking independently difficult. This new equipment is going to help support our trainees on their journey to independence and make cooking tasks, which seemed impossible before, achievable.”
Power NI launched the Brighter Communities programme back in 2018 and since then more than £90,000 has been donated to groups and projects across Northern Ireland. The scheme supports community groups, charities, teams, and projects that are making a difference in their local areas.
Ashleigh O’Neill, Power NI’s Senior Marketing and Communications Executive, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support Access Employment Ltd in empowering people with disabilities. Through our Brighter Communities scheme, we aim to make a positive and lasting impact in local communities.
“By helping people build their cooking skills, we are not just encouraging independence, we are also helping to improve their physical and mental wellbeing,” added Ashleigh.
Find out more on how Power NI is energising local communities.
