By Jonathan Byrne
Two Charities Working Together
Gain International Acclaim
Tower Project Team welcome the International delegation.
T
he National Development
Team for Inclusion
selected a partnership
between two charities, Tower
Project and The Royal
Foundation of St Katharine,
as an example of excellence
in providing employment
opportunities for young
disabled people during an
Erasmus visit from French
and Portuguese groups.
For the past year The Royal
Foundation of St Katharine has
been working with Tower
Project, a local charity, which
students have gained
experience in several
departments working in St
Katharine’s House, St
Katharine’s Precinct and the
Yurt Cafe. The students have
been an amazing help to the St
Katharine’s team while learning
a great deal about the world of
work. In addition they have also
inadvertently provided St
Katharine’s staff with direct
relevant disability awareness
training.
The Tower Project JET (Job,
Enterprise and Training)
The Tower Project
spends a lot of time
understanding the
students and getting
to know their needs
and personalities.
number of factors. The Tower
Project spends a lot of time
understanding the students
and getting to
know their
needs and
personalities.
While on the
internship, the
students have
dedicated
support workers
who guide them
as they
undertake duties
at St Katharine’s.
In Summer 2017, St
Katharine’s had the pleasure of
hosting a selection of
interested parties providing
Vocational Training for disabled
people from France and
Portugal. The groups included
academics, employers,
parents, young people and
training providers who wanted
to see the Tower Project
students in action in St
Katharine’s wonderful urban
oasis. The Erasmus visitors
learned a great deal about the
best methods of supporting
people with learning disabilities
to be ready to enter the
workplace. The Tower Project
JET Supported Internship is
also unique in being the only
service provider chosen for the
Erasmus visit.
The visit to St Katharine’s was
organised by the National
Development Team for
Inclusion (NDTi). Linda Jordan
from NDTi was extremely
pleased:
Tower Project students learn
communications skills welcoming
guests to The Royal Foundation of
St Katharine.
“I am writing to thank you so
much for hosting the Erasmus
visit on Wednesday. Not only
were the visitors impressed
with the partnership between
yourselves and the Tower
Project and the fantastic
interns but also with your
beautiful place. Your hospitality
was superb – the food and
welcome – but having a
Portuguese and a French
member of staff was truly the
icing on the cake – and they
were both fabulous. A perfect
day – thank you again for such
a warm welcome and quality
experience.”
Further information about
these organisations can be
found at:
http://towerproject.org.uk/
www.rfsk.org.uk
www.ndti.org.uk
Tower Project students using service skills offering hospitality at RFSK.
enables and empowers people
with disabilities to develop
opportunities, become
independent, participate fully in
education, employment and
have a voice in the community.
During their Supported
Internship, the Tower Project
14
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Supported Internship at St
Katharine’s has been a real
success in providing the
students with transferable skills
that prepare them to seek
employment opportunities in all
areas of hospitality and
catering. The success of the
projects can be attributed to a
The Erasmus visitors learn how JET has helped Tower Project students.