Phase 1(2006) Research Pilot: Completed successfully.

Phase 2 (2007): Full launch and roll out, building improvements from lessons learnt from the Phase 1 Research Pilot - and looking to investigate possible training accreditation for Clients. Completed successfully.

Phase 3 (2008): Become a recognised Open College Network training centre for delivering training with national accreditations, deliver more public events involving clients demonstrating their capabilities, and introduce the PQASSO quality assurance programme.

Phase 4(2009+): Run workshops leading to nationally-recognised accreditation and introduce more elements of citizenship, preparing for employment and work experience. It has been reported across the UK that disabled young people are frequently being told that they can not do work experience like their peers ‘due to health and safety'. This is alarming for many reasons, not least that it gives these young people the message that they will never be able to operate in the work place. This is setting up disabled young people for failure and could be seen as discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act. PASTEL will pursue avenues of work experience with a positive outlook and a belief in these people and their potential in the community. PASTEL will investigate training for other disadvantaged groups, using both the performing arts model as well as vocational training eg food hygiene/preparation.

Phase 5 (2011+): In the longer term , PASTEL will look to access facilities to run an additional "all day" mid-week operation - in addition to the Saturday morning activities - in order to better cater for the 25+ adults who have left school or college and other disadvantaged groups. This would open up new revenue streams to underpin activities for long-term sustainability.

i) We would establish a non-domestic office base in the Saxmundham Community Resource Unit and give us the space to grow (when The Saxmundham & District Community Interest Company take over the management of the building and its facilities from October, 2011). This is already our venue for the current PASTEL activities.

ii) We would expand our coverage of beneficiaries by starting the PASTEL IT Club with 2-hour informal training workshops for those 50+, with disabilities, health problems, lone parents, ethnic minorities, no or low qualifications and those wishing to return to work, looking to volunteer with other community groups or use IT to enrich their personal lives and communicate with others using IT and internet opportunities.

PASTEL would aim to deliver informal, personalised training to initially build learners' self-esteem, confidence and experience of team-working – leading to building knowledge and skills of using IT equipment , IT applications and the internet. These IT skills can be transferred into other aspects of the learners' lives with the ultimate goal of improving their chances of becoming active citizens and improving their employment prospects. PASTEL would provide information for progression to more formal / accredited IT training – and courses where the knowledge of IT could be applied - with support, as appropriate

There would be a strong social element and peer-to-peer support / team working. Provision would be a mix of basic structured training blended with service-user demand-driven applications. This would represent a new, conveniently accessed, approach to engaging with disadvantaged groups in a disadvantaged community - to encourage and support their education, stimulate their self-directed continued learning (online and with each other) and progression to more formal training courses.

This would be a charged for, but initially subsidised, service – in order to sustain itself into the longer-term. Initial research has already generated an interested waiting list.

iii) We would aim to establish a mid-week, all-day, drop-in social club for vulnerable adults – a natural development from the current PASTEL Saturday workshops. This would provide a follow-on for PASTEL clients leaving school / college and not in full-time employment.

However, this would not be restricted to adults with learning disabilities but include those with other disabilities and mental health issues – providing a safe and friendly environment with stimulating and positive activities eg addressing health issues eg Chi Gung and Tai Chi and art activities eg art, crafts, drama, dance and music, as well as possible work-based training / learning, where appropriate.

Each member would have their own action plan driven by their personal needs, wants and aspirations. This would be regularly reviewed and updated.

Again, initial research with Parent / Carers, social work professionals eg Community Inclusion Facilitators and Community Support, and The Richmond Foundation indicate a latent demand for such a service in Saxmundham.

However, unlike the IT Club, this all-day drop-in social would take much longer to become established, as it is a more focussed audience which is a hard-to-reach audience. It would require an extended promotion and recruitment period for at least an estimated six months. It would need a sustained and protracted start-up in order to reach out and register with the target audience. The PASTEL experience has demonstrated this to be the case in a rural and isolated community.

This would be a charged for, but initially subsidised, service – in order to sustain itself into the longer-term.

PASTEL workd the nationally-recognised PQASSO Quality Assurance system

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 social 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.

PASTEL puts its clients at the centre of identifying, planning, delivering and evaluating training programmes so that they make a lasting difference to them and their communities. Their community may mean people living or working in a particular area and/or people who share common disadvantages (such as disability or unemployment).

In all this planning and client research, PASTEL will employ the "PASTEL Client Panel", which will involve all the clients.

Gradually clients should develop a growing feeling of teamwork where clients, management committee members, tutors and teachers work in partnership towards shared goals. The PASTEL Panel will promote an inclusive and caring team, where all clients feel valued and a vital part of the discussions and the decision-making process. Once firmly established clients will be introduced to the principles of democracy and voting for key roles on the PASTEL Panel e.g. Chairing, with the appropriate training and support from the rest of the team, including peer support.