Our Activities
Basic Adult Education:
Basic Adult Education: We became aware that quite a few people who attended The Workshop had difficulty reading, writing and counting (Even although some who we thought were more than capable of learning.) We therefore do weekly individual sessions with people working on the basics first.
This has become a very popular activity e.g. one man who is in his sixties had never been able to write/sign his own name. Others have difficulty using/counting money, even though they can do things in the community on their own
Our Sox’n’Box:
A unique enterprise buying and selling funky/brightly coloured socks. Various styles and sizes.
Socks online for babies, young children, school children, young adults, adults with many different bright colours, cartoon characters, sports socks, casual socks and dress socks.
People who attend the workshop are involved in budgeting, purchase of socks, marketing, sales and dispatching of socks.
They are also involved in banking, stock control, display, taking telephone and online orders etc.
Corner Café:
There are a number of people who attend our Workshop who have some experience of catering. In recent months, people who attend our workshop have been involved in the preparation of tea/coffee/drinks and snacks. (They have also been washing up and drying the dishes and generally tidying and cleaning up afterwards.) We have taken this a step further at Balmanno House by setting up a small training café, offering people attending the workshop the experience of working in a small café. (we will only have 3 - 4 small tables and seating for 12 – 16 people). People who attend The workshop and who will be working in The Café will be taking orders, serving drinks and snacks to customers (restricted initially to close family and friends and to local people and professionals who may want to offer their support in what we do.)
This will be a training exercise rather than a commercial enterprise.
Recycling aluminium cans:
We collect aluminium cans from local people, pubs and clubs. We wash and dry them,we remove 'ring pulls' and save them for a local charity who can get a little bit of morny for them, we then we crush and sell them to local scrap metal dealers.
Paper shredding/recycling:
We do paper shredding in house, but after our move to our new premises we will providing a shredding service to local residents and businesses
Mary’s Repair Shop:
Mary is a lady who loves the television programme ‘The Repair Shop.’ She likes to speak about the programme with others who share her interest. We therefore suggested to Mary that she should set up her own ‘Repair Shop’ and she thought that this was a great idea. She has been Mending broken or damaged ornaments and other items. Some of these have become a bit faded over the years. Mary also has orders to mend a jacket and to reupholster an old rocking chair and cover the seats of two dining chairs.
Printing:
Linen Carrier bags: We print various designs on to linen carrier bags. (at the moment, we buy printed designs, but hope in the future to get Mark (our artist at The Workshop) and others to come up with new designs.
Cotton Tshirts: We are also going to be printing tshirts, using our own colourful designs from our ‘inhouse artist’, portraits, family pets as well as those we can buy online, cartoon characters, popular singers, animals etc
Personal cushions