Hundreds of visitors flock to Taurus Crafts in Lydney in the Forest of Dean for their special days, including their recent Ukele Day on Sunday, which took place on August 13th.

Centre Manager, Wendy Firkin, told the Ross Gazette that it was lovely to see so many people enjoying the place, trying local produce and the entertainment, but she stressed Taurus Crafts is about so much more.

Run by the Camphill Village Trust (CVT) the charity leases the site from the Lydney Park Estate to provide meaningful employment for people with learning disabilities.

CVT is a leading, long established and progressive UK charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems and other support needs. They support people in their home life, at work, and in social and cultural activities through their nine communities in England, including Taurus Crafts in Lydney.

CVT has five flats on the site where vulnerable adults live, and the charity runs a café where many of the supported adults work, as well as a shop which sells fair trade goods and clothing, and a very high quality gift shop. They also run the pottery painting workshop which is very popular with visitors of all ages.

Everything is run by mixed ability teams, and when you visit there is a real sense of people working together in a calm, orderly way.

Wendy explained that it is very important that everyone feels part of the team and the Trust does not exploit people. This includes those they pay, those who are volunteers and those who pay to go there.

New adults with learning disabilities usually start off by clearing tables then delivering orders, then they may move on to making toast and drinks before finally getting to master the till.

The biggest issue Wendy has is recruiting the key workers who are the able members of the team, as they have to constantly assess what they are doing to ensure that everyone understands and is able to carry it out.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition.