A local charity which provides job opportunities for people with special needs teamed up with a local football team to provide refreshments at the recent Swindon football derby – thanks to support from a local MP.
Hjälpande Händer (Helping Hand in Swedish) is a not for profit organisation which runs a catering van to provide young adults with special needs with meaningful paid work. The young adults are involved with every aspect of the business, which has had great success at local festivals and carnivals selling coffees, cakes and other refreshments.
When Swindon Supermarine was looking for additional catering support for the recent friendly against Swindon Town, North Swindon MP – and Supermarine fan – Justin Tomlinson was quick to recommend Hjälpande Händer. The van, and its friendly staff, was on hand at the Webbswood Stadium to provide drinks, hot dogs and other snacks for the hungry football fans.
In his role a DWP minister, Justin has been passionate about increasing job opportunities for people with disabilities and helping ensure they can find rewarding and meaningful work. This has seen him launch a number of initiatives in Swindon- such as the reverse jobs fair, where businesses attended to chat to disability advocates about the benefits of employing someone with a disability.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “Over the past few years, I have spoken to many people with a disability who want to work and would be an excellent addition to any business - I want to showcase them and ensure they are not overlooked. Hjälpande Händer shares this belief and are a fantastic example of how a business can utilise the skills of people with disabilities, build their confidence and help them fulfil their potential.
