PASTEL
Community Interest Company, based in Suffolk, actively supports
the personal and social development of children and young
people, aged 16-25 who are disadvantaged by circumstances
or environment - especially those with learning difficulties
and/or learning disabilities. PASTEL is a social enterprise
supplying transition training. It is managed by volunteer
parent/carers. We are committed to improving the life chances
of PASTEL clients - to prevent social isolation, move towards
independence and help them become active in the community,
especially with respect to employment. PASTEL aims to raise
aspirations and attainment.
As
with any other human variation, we respect and celebrate neurodiversity
- the variety of ways the brain and body are "wired".
Thus everyone has weaknesses in some areas of ability and
stengths in others. We support the weaknesses to encourage
and develop the strengths.
PASTEL
has developed transition training workshops to deliver key
soft, and life skills. This training is embedded in such activities
as drama, shadow puppetry, ball games, music, food preparation,
media studies and other fun pursuits, which take place in
a safe and friendly environment at the new PASTEL venue -
The Riverside Centre at Stratford St.Andrew, Suffolk.
‘Transition'
is the time in a young adult's life when they go from being
a teenager to an adult, from leaving school or college to
engaging fully with the local community where they live. Young
adults with learning disabilities – like all young people
– have dreams about how they want to live their lives once
they become an adult. But
they don't always get the right support and the same opportunities
to make choices about their lives and fulfil their dreams.
This can be especially true if they live in a rural area.
PASTEL is working to change that in rural East Suffolk, so
disabled young people have a better ‘transition' into adulthood.
PASTEL
is a recognised Open College Network training centre able
to deliver nationally-recognised accreditations to clients,
in the form of Entry Level, Level 1 & Level 2 certificates
and awards. The programmes are devised with and delivered
by professional tutors and are sustained throughout the year.
Above
all, PASTEL will be focussing on clients developing their
"soft skills" eg building their self-esteem and confidence
and gaining skills in communicating, decision making and team
work, which can be transferred into other aspects of their
lives. The
needs of clients are placed at the heart of service design
as well as service delivery. All PASTEL clients become regular
particpants in the PASTEL Client Panel and, through action
learning, help shape the continuous programme of improvements.
They are a key and integral part of PASTEL's decision-making.
PASTEL
has introduced the nationally-recognised PQASSO Quality Assurance
system and currently running at Level1. PASTEL will be looking
to gain the PQASSO Level 2 accreditation in 2009.
PASTEL
also produces local public performances and events to build
the confidence and self-esteem of clients and to demonstrate
their skills and potential to the general public. PASTEL has
developed a DIY "Working Model & Toolkit" for
other Parent/Carers to adopt and adapt the PASTEL programme
in their area - capacity building by replication.
In
pursuing its aims to support the personal development and
transition plans of our clients, PASTEL actively seeks to
work in partnership with other public sector, private sector
and third sector organisations. The ultimate goal is to improve
the active citizenship and employment prospects of our clients.
PASTEL
is an independent and innovative organisation, blending the
spiritual side of a charitable enterprise with a wealth of
business experience - with the deep passion and commitment
that only comes from Parent/Carers. Any surpluses will be
ploughed back into the service of supporting people with additional
needs.

The
PASTEL Team Photo, October 2009
This
website was last updated on Sunday, February 7th, 2010
|