Training centre offers Newlife

A Staffordshire based charity is investing £50,000 to help train local volunteers and workers with disabilities. BDF Newlife, Hawks Green, Cannock, has unveiled a plan to create a dedicated training centre.

The centre will be created at its existing warehouse where disabled staff and members of the community will be able to get specialist training to help get them back into work. The charity hopes to lead the way in showing how people can find their way back into work.

Volunteers who give up their time to help keep the charity's warehouse – which sells new end-of-stock clothes, furniture and other items – running will also benefit.

Currently volunteers from local groups including the Soroptomists and Rotary groups visit the charity twice a week on a Tuesday and a Thursday to help process new deliveries from high street stores.

They too will be able to get new training at the centre which BDF is hoping will attract sponsorship to help pay for a dedicated tutor.

Under the ambitious plans a mezzanine floor at the warehouse will be extended to provide the new training centre which could help not only staff at the organisation but also members of local colleges and groups.

Sheila Brown OBE, chief executive and co-founder of the charity, recently attended a conference where Prime Minister Gordan Brown spoke about the need to get people currently on benefits back into work.

She said: "We employ around 200 people locally in Cannock, we are one of the largest employers in the area, and if we can't lead the way with something like this then it is a poor show. We employ a significant number of people with disabilities or who face challenges when it comes to work." Mrs Brown said it was hoped the alterations and building work could be completed by April.