A SUPPORT service for adults with disabilities in Bromsgrove is taking action to highlight the positive impacts of volunteering on the lives of its clients.
Amber Support Services wants to raise awareness of the barriers to employment for its clients with learning and physical disabilities and has pointed out a success story in the face of this adversity.
The service has highlighted the positive and life changing impact volunteering in the community has had on 37-year-old Bonnie who has learning disabilities, mobility issues, autistic traits, and bouts of high anxiety.
Katie Mahasoho, deputy manager of one of the services’ support centres, and her team helped Bonnie earn a weekly volunteering place at the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove.
Katie said the enrolment experience for people with disabilities was something which needed to be looked at across the board. The processes almost always involve application forms and computer literacy skills which can be very difficult for those with disabilities.
Katie and her team were determined to help Bonnie and, since she began her volunteering in May, ‘her confidence and sense of humour had really amplified’.
Katie said: “It’s wonderful the confidence its given her. Bonnie runs in the building and can’t wait to start work. She absolutely loves it.
“There should be a lot more support, Bonnie is lucky she has our guidance.
“Our motto here is ‘because you can’.”
As well as Bonnie’s love for helping other through her volunteering, she enjoys swimming and ‘absolutely adores’ Mini Mouse. Katie described Bonnie as ‘very kind, polite, generous, loving and thoughtful’.
Katie added: “We need to continue to break down these barriers to give them an opportunity to have their voices heard.”
Amber Support Services have two centres – Amber Urban and Amber Inspire – both of which provide much-needed care for people with physical and learning disabilities across Worcestershire and the wider Midlands.
The organisation also provides community care and outreach services.
