Elouise Quinlivan, 4th June 2016 - The Chronicle
A TOOWOOMBA project is building pathways to work for people with disabilities - using timber work construction.
KBH Enterprises School 2 Work program teaches students from high schools across the region, including Clifford Park Special School, manufacturing skills.
The organisation has received a cash injection from two grants to help the program develop.
Participants work to restore classic timber furniture and create other woodwork.
General manager Paul Booker said the service had operated in Toowoomba since 1994.
Mr Booker said it was difficult for many students with disabilities to make the transition out of the structure of the school environment.
He said the group was also looking to extend their community networks and provide further work experience opportunities and expand their services.
KBH Enterprises recently received a $10,000 grant from the Westpac Foundation.
They were also successful in a Mazda Foundation grant of $18,524.
The funding will be used to purchase materials including wood, a cordless orbital sander, protective equipment and hand tools for the construction projects such a chopping boards and creative cheese boards.
It will also provide funding for a project officer to work part time and liaise with stakeholders and the schools.
KBH Enterprises has also secured a social procurement partnership with Nexus to supply the survey pegs needed for the Second Range Crossing work.
He said the School 2 Work project began earlier this year and had proved successful.
"We developed the program so students could experience the work environment while also learning valuable woodworking and on-the-job skills," he said.
"We are constantly looking for new opportunities and social enterprise options to provide more employment pathways for people with disabilities."
This is from The Chronicle
