PASTEL Community Interest Company, based in Suffolk, actively supports the personal and social development of children and young people, aged 14-25 who are disadvantaged by circumstances or environment - especially those with learning difficulties and/or learning disabilities. PASTEL is a social enterprise supplying an innovative and effective approach to 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 to lead fulfilling lives by playing a positive role in their communities, especially with respect to employment and volunteering . PASTEL aims to raise aspirations and attainment.

Everyone is different. Everyone with a learning disability is different. Beware of labels! 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 recognise and move to modify individual weaknesses, as appropriate, and encourage and develop individual strengths.

PASTEL provides new and innovative opportunities for disadvantaged young people to make new friends and develope new skills - and, in doing so, become more confident and independent.

PASTEL has developed Saturday weekend transition training workshops (10.30am - 3.30pm) to deliver key personal development and life skills. This training is embedded in such activities as drama, shadow puppetry, dance, ball games, music, food hygiene and preparation, film making and other fun indoor and outdoor activities. These take place in a safe and friendly environment at the new PASTEL venue - The Riverside Centre at Stratford St.Andrew, Suffolk. 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 eg Hip Hop Theatre, running an Italian lunch time Restaurant and taking part in Arts Festivals.

‘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. PASTEL focusses on clients developing their "soft skills", which can be transferred into other aspects of their lives eg building their self-esteem and confidence and gaining skills in communicating, decision making and team work.

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 2010.

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. PASTEL has yet to start trading - to help sustain the enterprise in the longer term - but any future 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, August 29th, 2010