Severn Hospice has been working collaboratively with a local college by offering their students who have learning disabilities work placements. 

George Weston is 22. He comes from Hampshire and is a full-time student studying hospitality and food at Derwen College, near Oswestry. 

During term-time he works one day a week at Refresh at Severn Hospice: welcoming customers, taking orders, working the till, and serving food. 

Confidence

His work at the café forms part of his third-year placement and the benefit of this experience goes both ways – George is doing a job he loves, and which has led to him developing independence and confidence while the café is able to offer support to the wider Shropshire community. 

“I have been coming for a year. I love talking to the customers and doing the washing up,” said George, who has Downs Syndrome. 

“I love meeting people and ordering drinks for everyone. When I leave Derwen I want to work in a café. I like to be in a team” 

Supported

George is supported in his work by café manager Jane Steventon and by his college learning support assistant Gail Beasley. 

“It has been a delight having George here,” said Jane. “When he finishes college in July, he will leave here and go back home to Hampshire, and he will leave with a glowing reference from me which I hope will help him get the job he deserves and which he will enjoy.  

“When we opened the café, my vision was to have adults with foundation learning coming here to help.  

Recommend

“I recommend anyone thinking about working in collaboration with Derwen College and offering work placements for their students to do just that. We are going to really miss George – he is such a popular member of the team.” 

Independence

Gail added: “When George first came to the café, he needed a lot of support from me but over the months his independence has grown.  

“Now I have stepped back and instead of me giving him the support that he sometimes needs, his colleagues in the café can help him. He has made friends at the hospice, it seems that everyone knows George. I know he will miss them when he leaves but he has learned so much.”