McGimpsey visits Lisburn person-centred learning disability facility

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey today visited a charity dedicated to helping adults with a learning disability gain employment.

The Stepping Stones Facility in Lisburn affords the opportunity to access accredited training which can help provide the skills needed for the workplace.

The Minister toured the facility and met with staff and trainees in each of Stepping Stone’s community businesses, which include a coffee shop and café, picture framing workshop, and a greetings card business.

The Minister said: “Stepping Stones provides a superb person-centred environment together with a range of opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to acquire the skills necessary to secure employment and to help them to reach their own personal potential.

“I have been very impressed by the enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication shown by all those people that I have met today, both staff and trainees alike.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank local businesses for opening their doors and providing work based placements for these young people.

“Their support is vital so that provision of placement opportunities, which, as well as providing young people with much needed workplace experience and personal development opportunities, helps them integrate into their local community.”

Notes to Editors

• Stepping Stones NI, a Company Limited by Guarantee with charitable status, was established in 1996 to provide adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to access accredited training towards gaining employment.
• Stepping Stones is funded by a variety of statutory and charitable organisations, including South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (via Proteus NI and Lisburn Partnership), Lloyds TSB Foundation and Baily Thomas Charitable Trust. They were recently successful in securing funding in partnership with the NOW project in North and West Belfast, from the Department of Employment and Learning under the Workforce programme.
• Within Stepping Stones NI Ltd, the STEP Towards Employment Programme provides support and guidance for adults with learning disabilities to develop their work skills enhancing employability.
• Stepping Stones provides this training in a real world work based environment through the project’s popular coffee shop, craft shop and picture framing workshop.
• Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579 or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number on 076 99715440 and your call will be returned.