David Given Top Award

Congratulations to David Hodkinson who has received the Lancashire Adult Learning Award 2010/2011 which was celebrated recently in the local press. David has been part of the Land Based Enterprises for many years attending Heaton Street Gardening Team, Hands on Gardening and Pets Corner in Astley Park in Chorley.

David’s commitment to his day services has seen him develop his skills in many ways. Over the years he has learnt how to use public transport which has enabled him to travel independently not only to our enterprises and his paid job, but to Blackburn and other towns to watch Blackburn Rovers.

His confidence and self belief has grown tremendously as seen through his interaction with customers he comes into contact with, whether they are gardening customers, or visitors to Pets Corner or at plant sale days. David is also always keen to volunteer to assist with weekend activities whether they are: Farmers Markets, Picnic in the Park in Astley Park, workshops or large flower shows such as Southport Flower Show.

Currently David catches a bus 3 afternoons a week to work at Chadwick’s Food Emporium in Standish. He is supported by Jobspec and has impressed his employers so much so that he has been given additional jobs which include producing chicken Kiev’s and packaging items ready for sale.

During the rest of week when he’s not busy in the different Brothers of Charity Social Enterprises he has been attending Lancashire College and has enrolled on a number of great courses over the years and really enjoys the challenge of learning new things.

The Lancashire Adult Award is designed to celebrate overall achievement. He gained this award for demonstrating excellent skills whilst completing a computer course. His tutors said that David not only achieved the learning goals set but exceeded these allowing his confidence to grow and asking the tutor for additional work. And he’s done all this whilst also been busy gaining various National Certificates of Accreditation in the Social Enterprises!

So behalf of everyone at Brothers of Charity we would like to congratulate David on his continued development and for all the hard work he puts in. We hope he will put these skills to good use as we explore the possibility of David and one or two others setting up a gardening round and to become self employed gardeners in the future.