A Northern Ireland social enterprise and charity has scooped a top award at a London event.
Orchardville, a registered charity committed to changing the lives of people with learning disability and/or autism by offering opportunities through employment and learning, has won the Education, Training and Jobs category award at the recent Social Enterprise UK Awards, held at the Guildhall in Central London.
The national awards, organised by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), recognise excellence and outstanding achievements by social enterprises and businesses set up for a social or environmental purpose.
The award given to Orchardvile acknowledges the organisation’s work in supporting over 500 people in Northern Ireland with learning disabilities and autism who have struggled to gain access into the working world.
It supports these groups from its four offices in East Belfast, Bangor, Lisburn and Derry/Londonderry by offering opportunities to learn skills that will enhance their employment prospects as well as facilitating services that improve wellbeing and skills for life whilst connecting with over 100 Northern Ireland employers.
Orchardville also operates three of its own cafe businesses in East Belfast and North Belfast, which offer direct experience to people with a learning disability and/or autism and hard to reach young people to help move them into sustained, paid employment.
Speaking about the award win, Joan McGinn, CEO of Orchardville said: “We are thrilled to have won the UK Social Enterprise Award for Education, Training and Jobs. Employment is one of the most tangible ways in which we can meaningfully include people with learning disability and/or autism in our society.
“Our mission is to provide high quality opportunities which equip people who have a learning disability or autism with the skills to improve their confidence, independence and employability. This award is a tribute to the work we’ve been doing over the years, since our beginning in 1982, and we are delighted to be recognised for the difference our team makes in supporting people who may otherwise struggle to access employment.”
Keep up to date with the latest news and views on the Northern Ireland job market and more by following the nijobfinder blog.
Follow nijobfinder on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to see the latest jobs and to ensure your dream job won’t pass you by.