The Prospects Trust opened its farm gates to parents and carers on Tuesday 16th April for a farm tour led by Farmer Mark and a chat over tea and some delicious Enterprise Kitchen bakes with Hannah our Co-worker Manager and Maz our Executive Director. This was the first of a series of planned events throughout the year to give families and carers an opportunity to see our Co-workers in action on their farm in their workplace. A further Coffee and Chat drop in at Unwrapped is also planned for families of Co-workers in our Ely enterprise, Prospects Trust Unwrapped on Thursday 18th April at 10am to 11 am.
The feedback from our Snakehall Farm parents and carers was joyfully positive, all welcoming the opportunity to get their boots muddy on a very windy day, but also giving insight into the Co-workers we mutually support; at home and in their supported work place. The staff demonstrated the new Co-worker Achievement Plans and Daily Logs on the tablets recently funded by the Access Group and our in-house recording system developed using corporate volunteering support. Ideas for development included being able to share the daily snapshots with family, carers and social workers in reviews.
We asked the families about where they would like to see The Prospects Trust in 5 years time and the resounding response “doing what you are already doing so well”, what a great endorsement? Of course we all agreed with the improved toilets at Snakehall Farm, more customers boosting our social enterprise income, more funding to improve facilities and a general positive awareness building of Co-worker opportunities at The Prospects Trust. All attending agreed a few more opportunities to come together throughout the year as seasons (and work skills) change would be welcomed.
Other ideas included:
- monthly news updates to carers, even if they are repeating the same message and using both hard copies and emails to ensure the information gets home.
- Send leaflets home about stalls, events and fundraising opportunities as more would love to get involved
- Add staff photos to the website to connect the names with faces (agreed some staff would prefer an illustrated image due to data use)
- A daily social media post – positively promoting a Co-worker doing a meaningful job
- Work with children and education providers to break down barriers around disability – Prospects Trust being an advocate for abilities of people with additional needs
- Option to have a parent & carers association to help support charity events, awareness building, engagement with the Trust in the local area
- Consider having a Stall at Ely Market to boost awareness of The Prospects Trust
- Share Saturday Volunteering opportunities and Corporate Volunteering Opportunities with families and carers.