A social enterprise in Burntwood has received another thumbs-up.
Cherry Orchard Gardening Services (COGS) – which helps people with disabilities get back to work – recently won the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award and has now welcomed a top civil servant to see the work they undertake.
John Skinner, director of strategic disability at the Department for Work and Pensions visited the group to see how they were training participants to become gardeners.
Mr Skinner visited their office in Burntwood last week to see for himself how they are making such a difference in the community by training and employing people with learning disabilities to become competent gardeners.
Ian Wells, COGS Project Co-ordinator, said: “We were delighted with our visit and are chuffed to be asked to share our success with the rest of the country.
“Mr Skinner was very impressed with the work we are doing and will be passing on his findings to the minister for disabilities in Whitehall.
“When the service started out following the wishes of the learning disabled gardeners, nobody could have predicted the level of demand or the benefit our work would have for the local community. We have often said that it would be great if the project could be rolled out further a field and this now looks possible with the interest we have had recently.”
