Projects
Specialized Projects
Since its inception in 1997 the Osborne Partnership has run a number of successful projects.
The Partnership’s most recent specialized project, the ‘Healthy Lifestyles Programme’, funded by the local Primary Care Trust, was successfully piloted over a 7 month period and is now actively seeking further funding to enable it to be offered as a permanent ongoing feature of the Osborne Partnership’s services.
The Healthy Lifestyles Programme enabled 20 people with learning difficulties to participate in an extensive programme of activities ranging from regular monitored exercise sessions, active promotion of healthier foods to improve diet, team sports and supported visits to a range of sporting and leisure related activities to encourage independence and community integration.
The pilot scheme recorded some startling improvements in the fitness and endurance levels of everyone involved in the programme as well as noticeable improvements in dietary intake and the confidence and willingness of participants to go out into their local community and get involved in the various sporting and leisure activities on offer.
- 1997–2008 ‘Employment Services Contract for People with Learning Disabilities’. Provided small enterprise units such as; The Green Team – a mobile Gardening Services which provided ‘real life’ community based work experience opportunities to people with learning difficulties interested in horticultural work, Craft Creations – a handicraft enterprise unit which produced and retailed – hand made cards, floral arrangements and rugs and provided work experience and training opportunities to people with learning difficulties interested in hand craft work, Partners Café – an in-house café which provided training and work experience to people with leaning difficulties interested in catering work and the Employment Network an employment placement service which supported and placed people with learning difficulties into work. Contract funded by LBB&D local authority.
- 2000-2002 ‘The Market Garden’ - retired gardening enthusiasts (volunteers) worked in partnership with people with learning difficulties growing vegetables and fruit for consumption in the ‘Partnership Café’. Funded by LBB&D ‘Across the Generations’ and the Ethnic Minority Foundation
- 2000-2006 Unlocking Potential Project – Supported and built confidence in teenagers with learning difficulties enabling them to engage with the local community. Ffunded by the Neighbourhood Support Fund (NSF) and ICT funded by Jack Petchey
- 2002-2005 ‘Open Doors Project’ An after school club for children with learning difficulties. Funded by The Childrens Fund.
- 2004 ‘Fired Up’ – pottery classes for people with learning difficulies. Funded by a ‘National Lottery ‘Awards For All’ grant.
- 2004- 2007 ‘Harpers Café’ – Internet Café serving light refreshments and ICT classes jointly funded by Osborne Partnership and Harmony Housing Association
- 2004-2005 Tibbles Nibbles – A retail outlet jointly funded by Osborne Partnership and Harmony Housing Association.
- 2005-2008 ‘Valence Work Unit’ An industrial warehouse unit which provided work experience, training and paid work opportunities to people with learning difficulties. Jointly funded by LBB&D Regeneration, LDA, LSC and LBB&D Jobnet.
- 2007-2009 ‘TOP Textiles’ (see separate web page) funded by LBB&D local authority and supported by Lloyds TSB and the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust.
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