“Della has been a client at Working World since 2009 since the service started. We first heard about it when Della was at college and Helen was setting this up. We were so delighted that Helen had seen this gap in the market and Della could go somewhere where she have something constructive to do - we thought the idea was brilliant. The staff at Working World are all just absolutely lovely, every single one. They make you very welcome. Della loves them all! They do everything that they can to make Working World really good for them.

Della really enjoys going away on the residential trips and the social evenings. She loves the gym and swimming session on Tuesdays. She enjoys every activity, including stuffing envelopes, making up bags of sweets and visiting the old people’s home. She enjoys shopping and providing lunch in the café.

She will want to participate although occasionally she will have a day when she’s upset. Della hates confrontation or people arguing, so sometimes she won’t want to participate, however the staff will soon persuade her back into the activity. There have been times when she hasn’t wanted to go, but there is always a good reason why. It has been difficult to say exactly what triggers for this are over the years. For a short period of time Della was ill and then had an operation to remove her gall bladder. This improved her health and she became a happier person after wards.

Della loves Working World and she is very dedicated to it. They are doing a sponsored walk this Sunday for a charity they themselves have chosen. Della was invited with our family to a christening, but wanted to go ahead with a sponsored walk as planned as she felt committed to it and had done the training.

The information Helen sends out is good; I always get copies of newsletters and also Della gets her own paper copy. Any concerns that the staff have, over her health or her overall mood, will be communicated to us either on the telephone or Helen will leave a message for us. Communication is good.

I would rate Working World as 10 out of 10 every time. It’s like one big family; they have clear objectives and clear rules and regulations. They just do the absolute best that they can for each client, according into their capability. We’ve not found a parents or carer who wouldn’t speak in a similar vein. It’s as if they have the ability to stretch the clients without it hurting – they probably don’t even realise they are being stretched! They all take part, however limited each individual is, and work together."

Jean Colley, mother of Della Colley, May 2015

“I first heard about Working World from a parent of a client. Dominic started there after leaving school and he was attending college part time as well. I spoke to another mum and she passed on the telephone number and I rang Helen (Hurdman).

Dominic and I visited one day and then he went for a taster day. I was quite happy for him to start after meeting Helen and after we had gone through some background information questions, but it was a good idea for him to go on a taster day so that Helen could know more about Dominic and get to know his personality and he would know that this was the right place for him. Everything was fine on the taster day so we went ahead.

The staff at Working World all are lovely. I know them all by sight but not necessarily by name as they work different days and times, so I don’t have much interaction with them all. They are all really helpful; I have no worries about the staff there. Whenever I go to a function or for another reason they are all very pleasant.

Dominic doesn’t really tell me a lot; he’s quite quiet and doesn’t easily offer up information. I do know that his favourite activity is cooking and especially enjoys working in the cafe and cooking away from the site for clients.  Another favourite activity is the shopping. Sometimes they all go together as a group, at other times he will be sent to the shop on his own if they need something quickly. I think he enjoys being trusted with such jobs and likes having a purpose to his day.

He doesn’t enjoy the ironing and the cleaning activities as much, but he will do some. Helen always tries to mix and match the activities so that everyone there gets to a bit of everything.

Most of the time Dominic will just get on with the activity he is assigned. On one occasion he didn’t want to do a task and Helen was fine, she just said to him “Ok, that’s fine, you can do something else”. She was pleased that he had been open and confident enough to express his wishes to her. It takes Dominic a little while to be able and comfortable enough to speak out, so we didn’t mind at all that he wanted to do something else that day.

Progress with Dominic is slow at first as he needs time to feel comfortable in a new environment and find his feet; he’s not an outgoing person. He is quiet, very self-contained and he lacks confidence. Helen has seen him develop in his time at Working World; she says he is much more talkative and chatty with his peer group and with the staff. She sends us a regular report. Development can be slow whilst he adjusts; he needs to speak up more but you cannot force him to be someone he’s not. Generally and gradually he has increased in confidence. He loves the social side of Working World – going on holiday or going along to a social event in the evening. He is comfortable with this group of friends. He’s a natural follower rather than a leader, so he will often sit on the sidelines in a group, but this has definitely been good for him. He is getting to be a little more grown up.

I find the level of reporting of progress about right for me. I know he’s happy, I know a little about what he does day to day and that’s enough for me. I wouldn’t want to give Helen the trouble to take more time doing reports and feedback. I can talk to Helen at any time, I can always get the information and I know that should I have a problem I can talk to her at any time and I don’t have to wait.

I would rate Working World as 10 out of 10, they are fab. I would highly recommend them as an organisation - although I am sure there are ways they could improve -  it’s such a good group. I don’t know of anything else that’s available locally, and I think they deserve a lot of support. “

Susanne Mattocks (mother of Dominic O’Connor), May 2015

“Vicky was one of the first clients at Working World, so she has been there for about seven or eight years. We first heard about Working World from the mum of one of her friends, which was when Vicky was just about to leave college. This other mum told us that Working World was starting and passed on Helen’s telephone number. I phoned Helen and explained Vicky’s position, about her leaving college with nothing to do. I booked a place there and then with her on the phone on the strength of what the other mum had told me about Working World. Vicky and I then went to see Helen and to ask Vicky whether she’d like to go, and then Vicky started initially just a few half days. The time she spends has increased since then, but initially we had to sort out funding for Vicky.

We know the staff at Working World very well, they are all very helpful. They provide us with a lot of feedback, especially if the Vicky is not hundred percent or if there is a problem. Vicky is a very easy person to get along with, she doesn’t have a lot of emotional issues, but I would say the staff are very helpful.

Vicky really enjoys the interaction with her peer group; she tells me all the time what she’s been doing. She loves the cooking that they do every other week, and they can take their tea home. She enjoys shopping and going off with Kevin to get provisions for the cafe. Vicky enjoys everything, the packing, counting in the money; the only thing she doesn’t really like is doing leaflets. She loves going altogether in a group to swimming and to the gym.

Vicky has gained a lot of confidence from being at Working World. She will try new things. Overall I think it gives her an aim and a reason to get up in the morning, because she knows she’s got something to do with the day. We did worry about whether she could get a job, Working World gives her meaningful activity.

In all the time that Vicky has been going to Working World she’s never had a complaint about anything. She’s kept busy all of the time; the clients are never sitting around waiting for something to do. Everything is very organised and everybody who goes there does different things every day.

"I would give Working World a 9.5 out of 10 because a 10 would mean there is not room for further improvement.”
Jane Shilton, mother of client,  18th May 2015

“Every time I visit I am struck by the happy and inclusive atmosphere”        
Peter Shilton, father of client 18th May 2015

“Working World is like a family to me. “

I really enjoy myself, I like cooking and gardening, I like swimming and I like my friends.

“Working World is just amazing. It really is, I would recommend it to anyone.

People here are very friendly as are the staff as well. I can’t fault it it’s a lot fun.

We can have a good laugh and share jokes and going to Ferry View and helping out there is good”.

“We like coming to Working World because we learn different skills like gardening and ironing.

On our new project candy u love we pack and sell sweets. The social evenings and Brean holiday are really good.

We like doing a Summer show. We like going to the gym and swimming as well.

We like cooking at Ferry View for the elderly.”

“I enjoy working in the café, I like cooking bacon and bacon butties. I have to work hard cooking the eggs; you have to watch them to turn them over at just at the right moment.

I like being able to be independent, doing my own cooking and shopping.

I like the swimming and gym session each week.

I have plenty of friends and a girlfriend at Working World, which means I get teased a little bit!

I enjoy the social events in the evenings and going on holiday with my friends.

I like learning a bit more and like doing all the different things.

10 out of 10 – I look forward to the 2 days here, I like being here with all my friends.”

“I come on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursday I work at a nursery, helping the children.

I like doing everything here.

I enjoy doing the envelopes and putting them through the doors.

I like ironing, which I do at home as well.

I like watching and playing darts, which helps me with my counting.

I have lots of friends here that come in the daytime.

I look forward to going on holiday to Somerset.

I think it’s 10 out of 10 - I love coming here.”

“I absolutely love it! I like working in the café and going to Ferry view.

I like doing the cleaning.

I love absolutely everything here- it’s a learning experience so sometimes it’s difficult having to do new things.

Being here is magnificent, superb, brilliant! I cannot fault it.

I love going away on holiday with my friends.

100% correct! It’s a superb place, I love coming here, it’s so good. It’s great value for money.”

“I especially enjoy going on the bus and cooking for the residents at Ferry View. I like making the teas and coffees.

I enjoy going in the car to do gardening at Harvington” (where Working world have a polytunnel and raised beds for their use).

I have lots of friends here. I am looking forward to taking part in the summer show this year, especially the dancing.

I likes being able to cook at home.

10 out of 10 it’s good, I love coming.”

“I enjoy the ironing – I like focusing on the clothes and getting all the creases out.

I enjoy packing sweets – you have to put gloves on and either count them or weigh them out and I like getting involved in that.

I come here to learn and I enjoy working hard! Working World is 10 out of 10. I love coming, it makes me feel happy! Coming here makes me more confident and I feel good about myself.”

“I enjoy the café work, ironing and packing the sweets. I love learning and doing the jobs at Working World. Coming here is great fun, especially the time with friends on holiday. Working World is 10 out of 10!”