The Norwood Future Clean team with
Norwood Chief Executive Norma Brier and Cllr Keith Ferry
The first commercial car wash in London to be manned by people with a learning disability was today launched by leading UK charity Norwood. Norwood Future Clean, which is part of the Charity’s rapidly expanding Supported Employment programme, is a training project that teaches participants vital work skills. The eco-friendly hand car wash and valet service is based at Grimsdyke Road Car Park in Hatch End, where the space has been kindly donated by the Harrow Council in a partnership agreement.
Norwood Future Clean gives people with a learning disability the opportunity to gain important work skills and some business experience. Once the project begins to generate sufficient profit, the employees will be able to earn an income. Through the use of bio-degradable cleaning fluids, it is also virtually waterless and demonstrates Norwood’s green credentials.
The project, which has received no capital investment, is open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays, although Norwood runs training sessions throughout the week and aims to increase the operation to four days a week by next July. Supported by two dedicated job coaches, Drew Needs and Daniel Hyams, the car wash team currently consists of 12 trainees, the majority of whom have no previous employment experience.
Project Development Manager Linda Looney said: “Norwood believes that everyone, regardless of their ability or circumstance, has the right to play a full and active part in society and having a job is a key aspect of this.
“Based on social enterprise principles, Norwood Future Clean is a fantastic new training project that provides an important stepping stone on the road to employment for people with a learning disability. It really suits the needs of the people we have identified as participants and, because it is environmentally-friendly, we also believe it will be attractive to motorists.”
Shalev Nymark, 23, a member of the Norwood Future Clean team, said: “I like coming here. It makes me really happy to have a job and to learn new things. I’ve learnt how to clean cars and how to speak to customers politely. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Norwood, which has also been working in partnership with Exeter-based charity Pluss, is already in talks with the London Borough of Barnet and Wokingham Borough Council about additional car wash sites and has plans to establish a mobile valeting unit.
Cllr Keith Ferry, portfolio holder for planning and economic development at Harrow Council, said:
“We want Harrow to be a place where everyone has a route into work, regardless of their ability, and we are delighted to be part of this excellent project. It is about giving adults with learning disabilities the skills to thrive in the workplace and enjoy the pride and self-esteem that brings.
“The car wash is one of a number of employment schemes for adults with learning disabilities in Harrow. We were so impressed we even brought the Mayor’s car with us today to test out the service.”
Norwood Future Clean is the second such training project to be launched by Norwood this year. In January, the charity established an online gift shop, www.norwood.org.uk/gifts, which sells jewellery and other items hand crafted by people with a learning disability who attend its craft workshops in London and Berkshire.
Both projects are an expansion of Norwood’s successful Supported Employment programme, which supports people with a learning disability to access training and employment opportunities to develop their skills and, where possible, find paid employment. Since its launch in 2009, the programme has supported 148 people in full-time, part-time, voluntary and work experience placements, and an additional 61 individuals into work related courses.
For more information, call 020 8420 6965 or e-mail norwoodfutureclean@norwood.org.uk
