Vangarde Shopping Park take on a trainee each year from The Blueberry Academy based in York to provide a work-based placement for adults with learning disabilities, giving them employability skills.
Each year in February the onsite team take part in raising funds for St Leonards Hospice – a local charity providing service for those nearing end of life – in the “Accumulator Challenge”. The team are given the task to raise as much money as possible within 30 days along with other companies in the York area.
The award ceremony was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic as was hosted a year late on 31st March 2021 where a fantastic £26000 was raised with Vangarde Shopping Park raising just under £1100 of this total amount.
The team undertook daily static cycles, guess the sweets in a jar, lucky squares and a local dealership donated a car which we filled with balloons for the public to guess how many. Our suppliers donate prizes for the team to give away.
Our trainee from The Blueberry Academy – William – who has downs syndrome and uses a tablet to communicate actively took part in the challenge and went back to the academy and arrange a tombola, baked cakes and sold them to staff and other trainees.
William’s placement was cut short due to the lockdown although the team now have another trainee working with them.
Because of the involvement of William taking park and ensuring he is made to feel included the St Leonards Hospice made the award to the team for the second running.
For more information on The Blueberry Academy please visit: http://www.blueberryacademy.co.uk
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