Clive Wigley, Director at R2W and CEO of Oaklea Group “We will be sharing relevant stories and updates via the Oaklea Trust main webpage – go to this link to stay informed.” http://www.oakleatrust.co.uk/what-we-do/corona-virus-oaklea-response-and-other-related-updates “Our priority is to ensure our customers & employees remain safe in what are extremely challenging circumstances for all.”
R2W, as part of the Oaklea Group, will continue to closely monitor the situation regarding Corona virus. We are aware that the situation is likely to change on a daily basis and we will continue to follow the lead guidance provided by Public Health England to minimise the impact on our employees, customers, learners/partners. Business…
Following the sad news of the closing of the Appleby Heritage Centre, in Appleby, Cumbria. The Oaklea Trust through its subsidiary, Right2Work, have been approached to work alongside the Heritage Centre with a view to offering alternative options for learners who are now without provision. Some of the activities will take place at the R2W…
R2W Director, Sue Wigley was invited to present at the recent Cumbria Learning Disability and Autism Partnership Board at Cumbria House in Carlisle. The theme was Getting and Having a Job Other presenters were People First Hospitality Academy; 4Eden and Westhouse as well as many individuals talking about their experiences both good and bad, of…
This week is National Apprenticeships Week. Here at R2W we are fully on board in delivering Apprenticeships – in fact a great example is Sam. He’s our Apprentice at Community Works. He works full time at R2W/CW -and spends 1 day at Kendal College. There’s no need for us to tell you more as Sam…
National Apprenticeship Week starts next week – so lets get it off to a ‘tasty’ start. This is Jenssen, one of our Supported Interns with the Furness “Work & Learn” Team. Here you can see the proud moment Jenssen had his first day in the Kitchen at The Roundhouse Hub Cafe in Barrow. The newly…
Busy morning at Right2Work HQ in Kendal this morning with some VIP guests getting the grand tour of the Mintsfeet site. Members of the Westmorland Ltd Family Group (the largest private employer in Eden District and a well regarded Cumbrian business) were coming to see first hand what R2W is all about. (Many of you…
A highly successful support group for those who have been bereaved in the Eden valley has been given a further year’s funding thanks to Cumbria Community Foundation & The C&W Herald Fund. Up to 140 people (including family members) benefited from the support (4 volunteers involved) and attendance exceeded expectations over 12 months. Oaklea Trust/Right2Work…
You will recall earlier this week Robert was one of 5 Right2Work customers who were recognised at the Ernest Cook Trust “Employability” Awards held at Lowther Castle near Penrith. Robert is a well known face at The Furniture Warehouse and has been calling in to various Oaklea/R2W settings all week showing everyone his certificate – demonstrating…
Right2Work has just got another accolade. R2W have just been accredited as a “Green business” – as we’re all about sustainability. Officiator Tim Maiden (pictured), from Green Small Business: “I’m delighted to attach your certificate. Right2Work CIC is now Green Small Business certified until 22 January 2021. Congratulations! It covers the whole of the R2W…
As you are aware R2W is part of the wider Oaklea Group. Oaklea Trust is a registered charity covering the north of England (more here http://www.oakleatrust.co.uk ) Twice a year the Trust produces a magazine called ‘Branching Out’ – the latest edition can be downloaded here. http://www.oakleatrust.co.uk/news/branching-out-celebrating-with-first-edition-for-2020 Inside you will find updates and features on R2W and…
The ‘Work & Learn’ Team were busy at Lowther Castle on Monday 20 January for the ‘Employability Awards’. This was joint venture with the Lowther Estates and the Ernest Cook Trust ( a Trust formed by the brother of famous travel impresario Thomas Cook -Ernest wanted to encourage rural development) The awards were given out…
Our Community Works team have been busy by the ‘bucketload’ since the festive period working in the grounds of Holme Primary School in South Lakes. They’ve been creating a safe woodland play area for the infants. It’s been hard work but as you can see we’ve also been having some fun with a Mini Digger!…
The R2W Board and Management team met to discuss strategy for 2020 and beyond at an awayday on Wednesday 18th December. The full day session at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal involved Managers of the main strands of R2W (Regional R2W Manager Pete, Chris from Furniture Warehouse, Sarah from Appleby Hub, Claire from Work &…
Furniture Warehouse (FW) supremo Chris(mas) Pantechis can be seen having a cracking read of ‘Lakeland News’ – this publication goes to every house in South Lakeland (54,000 homes) -and this edition the big focus is on recycling for Christmas. The FW of course feature heavily thanks to the work we do in partnership with SLDC…
The Team from Community Works out making a ‘stand’ for ‘remote’ working! They’re always ‘on the level’….. Sam and the boys busy installing a TV and monitor in an office – as the CW mantra goes – no job too small As you can see they even had time to channel hop! If you want…
This little tale will have you ‘bowled over’. Yet another success story thanks to our Supported Internship programme. To tell us more – here’s R2W Employment Advisor in Furness, Claire Round approaching the crease: “This is Joe – he started the internship programme in September. He has many qualifications within media and sports coaching. Originally…
Another nice success story to share with you from our Work & Learn Team on the Supported Internship programme. This time we’re on traffic duty…with Cumbria Police! Hon Inspector Jim Thorburn from R2W Special Branch explains: “Tom joined the SI programme in September and was doing well at ATS tyre fitters in Carlisle until an…
All this week we’ve been looking at the superb work our R2W ‘Work & Learn’ Team do with young people across Cumbria. It’s also a great way of marking ‘Learning disability work week’ (18-22 Nov). A few days ago we told you about Dom – well he’s been a busy lad. On Monday he attended…
Today marks the start of “Learning disabilities work week”. (18 to 22 November 2019). And as you know we work extensively with young people to help get them into the world of work. So here’s some great current examples from our R2W ‘Work & Learn’ team. R2W Employment Adviser Claire Round: “Karl has started at…
We’ve just welcomed 2 special guests from Africa! Teachers, Brian and Joab from Kenya, were given a grand tour of the R2W HQ by Furniture Warehouse boss Chris Pantechis accompanied by R2W Director Andy Blackman. They’re visiting South Lakeland this week to see for themselves how social enterprise can make such a difference to communities.…
R2W ‘Work & Learn’ team are always cooking up a perfect recipe for success! Across Cumbria they support young people to enter the jobs market or training. A recent tasty example is Jenssen from the Furness area. Claire Round, R2W Employment Advisor in Barrow/Furness explains:”This is Jenssen, one of our Furness learners. He has started…
Our Work & Learn gang have had a really good catch up with members of the DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) team they work with in Cumbria. The rather convivial catch up was held in the lovely surrounds of the R2W Appleby Hub Cafe. Julie, a Disability Employment Adviser from the DWP (Department for…
Right2Work is part of the wider Oaklea Group – The Oaklea Trust charity. The Trust has just released its Annual Report for 2019. It’s packed full of what the Trust have achieved over the period 2018-19 and also looks to future developments. Key to that success has been the part played by R2W. There’s some…
We mentioned a week ago the online version of our Annual Report is available to download – well today the hard copy version has arrived. Some of the R2W team can be seen ‘holding their own’ …was ever thus. If you would like a copy get in touch with the team here OR save paper…
It’s always nice to receive really positive feedback on the projects we do. Our newest enterprise Community Works has just had some lovely praise from a key customer – Ambleside Parish Centre for the work the team have been doing. Here’s a quick video of CW Project Co-ordinator, Jim Green: https://youtu.be/0u6dPsdZFzQ The feedback from Ambleside Parish…
Regulars at R2W may recognise a familiar face. This is Richard – he’s getting ready to have a placement at Oaklea Group HQ in Kendal – it’s part of his University Marketing & Business course at UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire, Preston). Richard is pretty well versed in all things R2W as he was supported…
Regulars at the R2W Furniture Warehouse will recognise this very familiar face – Kelvin! He’s busy limbering up for the Taekwondo Championships in Italy next week. Kelvin is part of the GBR team – a massive achievement. There’s 8 in the team from across Britain – representing different heights and ages. As you can see…
Our Annual Report 2019 is now available Chair Phil Shea: “It has been another dynamic and successful year as we continue to grow and develop further….The challenges that lie ahead rest in ensuring that we remain a profitable and ethical business whilst continuing to enhance the learning, well-being and involvement in the community of…
The Hub Cafe team pulled out all the stops at the weekend for a highly successful “Curry night” fundraiser in a packed Main Hall. R2W Director Clive Wigley was there, and in between tasty mouthfuls- managed to take these ‘delicious’ snaps. Clive says: “Great food, great music, great company. All In aid of Oaklea Trust and…
Further to Friday’s visit by High Sheriff of Cumbria, Marcia Reid Fotheringham JP + assorted VIP’s from key funders like CCF (Cumbria Community Foundation) -we have just received delightful correspondence from Marcia. “A terrific visit – even though too short. I must say, I was totally impressed with all of the work being done. You…
The Mintsfeet HQ of R2W had a special visit this morning – the new High Sheriff of Cumbria, Marcia Reid Fotheringham JP plus dignitaries from key funders like CCF (Cumbria Community Foundation). They were seeing first hand how R2W teams make a difference to people’s lives across Cumbria. The delegates got to see the team…
Our “Work & Learn” team set up a new service for Cumbria’s very rural Eden Valley earlier this year thanks to funding from Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF). Job Coach Sarah Richardson explains: “Since starting with the scheme in the spring, it soon became apparent that there was a need for employment support within Eden District.…
The team at Appleby Hub Cafe pulled out all the stops at the weekend to assist with a fundraiser for the Oaklea #ProjectEdenside (Oaklea aims to create Extra Care Housing for local elderly people in the Cumbrian town but needs to raise £250k to make the plans a reality – Edenside is just round the…
Today – Wednesday 11 September, 2019 – we have launched our new website! The aim is to better reflect what Right2Work does. Chair Phil Shea: “It’s an exciting development that captures the dynamism of the company well. It offers good access not only to those who might commission the service but equally to those customers…
Our colleagues at Community Works spent time in the summer getting the new Oaklea Group HQ ready – Station House (above Kendal Railway Station) will be the new Headquarters after many years on Stramongate. Learners from CW have been getting real hands on experience fitting out the offices – everything from painting & decorating to…
We have a new initiative based in the Eden Valley. If you are over 16, living in Eden and have a barrier to employment? The Employment Advice Service for Eden District could be for you! This free service, made possible by funding from Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF), is currently running in Eden. Are you struggling to…
The latest edition of Oaklea Group magazine “Branching Out” is now available and has lots of items on what we’ve been up to at R2W -and how we fit into the wider Oaklea set up! Features on the launch of the new Community Works, the rebrand of R2W, SI’s going from strength to strength and…
Oaklea CEO & R2W Director Clive Wigley & R2W Director Sue Green are back from a weekend spent in Leicester with one of our major funders – Forbes. Sue says; “It was an excellent and exhausting weekend of networking with 7 other organisations who had received grants from Forbes Charitable Foundation. Oaklea Group is one…
Right2Work’s Employment Team always like to bring you the finest cuts and recently job coach, Grant Huck has been working with Keiron Goodwin from Cumbria. Keiron, one of the Furness students with the Right2Work Supported Internship team, recently undertook a taster day with specialist commercial butchers, Ulverston Meat Company. Daniel Weston and John Gray, directors…
The latest edition of the Oaklea Group magazine, ‘Branching Out’ is now available and, of course, Right2Work features in a lot of articles! There are features covering the annual Right2Work celebration in November and the recent awards Right2Work have been nominated for. There’s also plenty on what our people have been up to – they’re…
This is how we do it – promoting social enterprise, that is! Right2Work have been hosting visitors from Northumberland County Council, specifically commissioners from the Northumberland Adult Services team who were on a fact-finding mission to the Right2Work offices and Furniture Warehouse in Kendal. Right2Work Regional Manager, Pete Bradbury: “Tonia and Alan were keen to…
Never let it be said that the Employment Team at Right2Work are not perfectly cast…! Employment Adviser Claire Round explains: “Rachel from Barrow has had a few sessions in the plaster room at Furness General Hospital. Firstly she observed a cast being put on by having it put on her own left arm. Each section…
Right2Work’s Annual Report for 2018 is now available. Right2Work Chair Phil Shea is incredibly proud of what has been achieved by the team and partners and those we support: “R2W is a growing and thriving organisation that carries out an increasingly diverse range of activities from a well organised and bustling centre.” “We are a…
Right2Work has been shortlisted for yet another award! We have been entered into the Local Government Chronicle ‘Best Service Delivery Model’ category for Right2Work’s bulky waste collection service which we run on behalf of South Lakeland District Council (SLDC). The shortlisting nomination is a joint one for both SLDC and Right2Work. Right2Work Director, Susan Wigley:…
Right2Work held its Annual Awards and Celebration with more than 150 people packed into Kendal Rugby Club’s Mintbridge Stadium to recognise all the achievements of the past year. It was an afternoon all about our staff and customers, and a chance to thank them and our key partners. The celebration began with a keynote speech…
Right2Work have just been told one of our customers has been shortlisted for a national award which, along with two customers from Oaklea Trust, means we’re on for a hat-trick! There were more than 600 entries for the Learning Disability & Autism Leaders List 2018 which have been whittled down to 15 in each category,…
Our new Job Coaches have been inducted into the R2W way of doing things. 8 new Job Coaches who will cover the whole of Cumbria began their induction at the R2W nerve centre in Kendal this week (4 September 2018).They will work with the 4 FE Colleges in the county with identified learners . It…
Council praises R2W thanks to waste contract that transforms lives. R2W have recently secured the contract to remove unwanted furniture and household goods and at the same time continue helping disabled and disadvantaged people. South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has extended its bulky waste contract with R2W, which offers training, learning and work opportunities. Today…
R2W have been given a big boost thanks to the Cumberland Building Society. The Society, through their Community Fund, have handed over £726 to provide essential safety equipment like high vis vests in the bustling warehouse. Furniture Warehouse Manager, Chris Pantechis can be seen with local Cumberland Branch Manager Rebecca and Assistant Branch Manager Lynette…
The Appleby Hub was selected by the Co-op Local Community Fund in September 2016 to receive funding to support the work it’s doing in the community. Co-op Members were offered the opportunity to choose which local organisation will benefit from a 1% donation available from the Co-op. The more members spend, the more money goes…
Our Employment Team have come up trumps again! Employment Team Tutor Jim Thorburn explains: “Our colleagues in Furness have been nominated for a Healthcare Award in the 2018/19 Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) in the category of Partnership Working.” “This is further evidence of the excellent work delivered by the team in supporting Danielle and…
