OUTSIDE the Box, run by local charity Ilkley Community Enterprise, has been busy working with local employers as part of its “20-20” campaign to help more people with learning disabilities into paid employment locally.

For a second year, Outside the Box teamed up with local store Mortens to provide work experience for people with learning disabilities in the shop’s Christmas tree sales.

An added bonus to this collaboration was that Mortens recently made a donation to the charity of £2,000 and committed to support the 20-20 campaign continuing to offer work opportunities for members of the Outside the Box.

Jenna Peel, Operations Director at the charity, said: “Our members thoroughly enjoyed their experience with Mortens, and gained really valuable work skills. We are also extremely grateful for their very generous donation. It will help us to continue to support adults and young people with a learning disability and push forward with our campaign to support 20 people with a learning disability into paid work during 2020.”

Another large local employer, Ilkley Grammar School has also joined forces with Outside the Box to help broaden the work experience opportunities for members. Callum North, a member at OTB, has recently completed a successful three-month work placement in the school’s Post-16 café.

“I really enjoyed my work placement at the grammar school, everyone in the school were really friendly and made me feel welcome. I was nervous at first, but they made me feel comfortable,” said Callum on his experience. Jamie Gutch, Director of Post-16 at Ilkley Grammar, added that:“Callum turned up without fail and has been very calm under pressure. It was a pleasure to have him with us.”

The charity also made a presentation about the 20-20 campaign at a recent meeting of the Ilkley Business Improvement District and the BID Board endorsed the initiative.

Alex Toothill, Skills and Employment Manager at Outside the Box said:“We have members who are highly skilled and motivated and ready to move into paid jobs.

“We are thrilled to have the commitment and support of Mortens, Ilkley Grammar School and the many other employers who are already working with us but are also very keen to hear from other employers who may be interested in joining the campaign.”

If you can help, would like to find out more about the 20-20 campaign or want more information about the OTB Works scheme, please get in touch with Alex Toothill on 01943 609692 or alext.outsidethebox@gmail.com

Outside the Box Café is a community café run by local charity Ilkley Community Enterprise Ltd. As well as a being a café open to all it provides training, work experience and a range of social and learning activities for adults and young people with learning disabilities (its members). The Café is located at 2-4 Bridge Lane, Ilkley, LS29 9HN and is open seven days a week 9am to 4pm.

Ilkley Community Enterprise Ltd is a registered charity and runs as a social enterprise with any profits made reinvested back into the work of the charity and local community. The Trustees of the charity are local people who give their time and expertise voluntarily.

The OTB Works project is supported with funding from The Igen Trust as well as investment from Ilkley Community Enterprise Ltd.