Orchardville will work in close partnership with local government to deliver the catering service. It will complement the work the charity already delivers through its Orchard Cafe on Newtownards Road in east Belfast.
From its offices in East Belfast, Bangor, Lisburn and Derry-Londonderry, Orchardville facilitates occupational and vocational skills, wellbeing support, skills for life and work, OCN (Open College Network) accredited training, school transitions services work placements and paid employment for those with autism and/or learning disabilities.
Annually it supports over 500 local people to access employment and other opportunities, working with 100 employers across NI. As it has grown over the years, Orchardville has extended its services to South Eastern and Western Health and Social Care Trust areas.
Joan McGinn, Chief Executive, Orchardville, says the contract at Stormont provides a new channel for empowering individuals.
“We believe that with the right support, any individual with a learning disability or autism can reach their full potential and achieve their employment aspirations. The shop and the café will, over time, provide meaningful work experience opportunities to people with learning disability and/or autism who wish to pursue employment in the catering, hospitality and tourism sectors.”
Sally Johnson, Management Services Unit, Department of Health welcomed the new partnership.
She said: “We very much welcome Orchardville to Castle Buildings. The enterprise brings a new approach to the catering provision in this building and we look forward to the changes it is planning.
“Castle Buildings is the first NICS building to have catering services provided by a social enterprise organisation so it’s new ground for us all. We look forward to working with Orchardville and wish them well with this new venture.”
For more information visit Orchardville ( www.orchardville.com )
Sally Johnson, Management Services Unit; Department of Health; Joan McGinn, CEO, Orchardville; and Colin Thompson, Catering Manager, Orchardville.
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