About Us: News

About Us: News

Jane Shreeve - Good News Story
Jane who is a wheelchair user, is a person who has always had a real desire and ability to work, but found it difficult to secure permanent employment in the past. At the age of 24 she had been working for the Tax Office for 2 years on a temporary basis. She tried desperately to get a permanent job, but was never successful. So she set about finding permanent work elsewhere and pursued the Assistant Director of Waveney Social Services, asking if there were any jobs available. One day she got a phone call asking her to fill out an application for a Clerk/Typist position at John Turner House in Lowestoft. She attended an interview and with the help of the ‘Sheltered Placement Scheme’ managed by Whitehouse Enterprises she was offered the position.

20 years on Jane is still happily employed at John Turner House, is now a Resource Administrator and has recently gained her European Computer Driving Licence. She is fully involved in the daily life of John Turner House and is a key member of staff, being essential to the smooth operation of the service. In recognition of her success in this role, Jane has now also progressed to unsupported employment with the Council.

Well done Jane and congratulations on achieving 20 years employment!

We would also like to thank the staff of John Turner House (past and present) for the support they have given to Jane over the years.

St Lawrence Centre
St Lawrence Church a Grade 2* listed medieval church in the centre of Ipswich has been restored into a 21st century community facility for the people of Ipswich.

Ipswich Borough Council is working with Whitehouse Enterprises to operate a social enterprise café Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and 10 to 2pm on Saturdays. The café will offer employment opportunities to people with learning and physical disabilities.

A variety of groups are looking to use the facility, which will meet the needs of a wide and diverse Ipswich community and still provide a central place to meet, sit down and have a cup of tea! The Council has been working closely with Age Concern Suffolk in order to try to ensure that the needs of older people are catered for.

The centre will be open from 10am Wednesday 7th May 2008.

Karleen Gurr – Success Story
Following 6 months off work due to the removal of a brain tumour (her second in a year), Karleen was desperate to return to her job as a Fast Food Assistant at Popeyes, a restaurant based within RAF Lakenheath. Unfortunately the effects of the operation meant that Karleen had to re-learn a lot of everyday things, as well as the new procedures implemented at work whilst she had been away.

Karleen was referred to Whitehouse Enterprises for a Work Preparation programme, to assess her ability to return to work. Whitehouse worked closely with both Popeyes and Icanho Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, who were helping Karleen with occupational and speech therapy following her operation. After 12 weeks slowly building up her stamina and re-learning her everyday tasks, Karleen was able to return to work supported by the Workstep Programme.

Over the following three years Karleen continued to go from strength to strength. You would never know that she had suffered such severe effects from the removal of 2 brain tumours, not to mention her Diabetes and Leukaemia treatment when she was a child! In January 2007 Karleen progressed from the Workstep programme and has remained unsupported ever since.

We would like to congratulate Karleen on her incredible achievement and thank Linda and all the staff at Popeyes for providing such a supportive environment.

Karleen Gurr - Success Story

Simon Gardiner
Simon, 20, is a catering assistant at Whitehouse Enterprises in Ipswich

Simon says: “Ever since I was small I’ve been interested in cooking and used to help prepare food for the family. I knew I wanted to work in catering. I really couldn’t see myself doing anything different.”

Simon, who has mild learning difficulties, went to Westbourne High School in Ipswich. At the age of 14 he opted to spend two days a week at Suffolk College learning about catering. At 16 he moved to the college full time and gained an NVQ1 and NVQ2. While a college Simon did a work placement at Ipswich Town Football Club as part of their food preparation team. This boosted his confidence by giving him experience in a different catering environment.

Simon’s next step was to meet with the Disability Advisor at Jobcentre Plus. She suggested he try a catering Taster Day at Whitehouse Enterprises (a Social Enterprise supporting disabled people to move into employment) and he has never looked back! He enjoyed the catering Taster Day so much he joined their six-week work preparation programme so that his skills could be fully assessed. As a result Simon was offered paid employment in their catering department, Created 4 You Catering.

Simon’s duties include preparing sandwiches for commercial vending machines, preparing buffets for outside catering and preparing food - ranging from baguettes to full dinners - for their canteen. In addition he helps with keeping the kitchen spotless and with ordering stock.

Simon says: “I enjoy the work at Whitehouse. The people are friendly and helpful and the work is interesting. I’m never bored.”

There is a good social scene at Whitehouse too with opportunities to try bowling, go-carting, horse racing at Newmarket and other activities. There are even visits to London.

”There are lots of chances to try new things. I like earning my own money because it means I can do the things I want.”

In addition to employment Simon leads a busy life. He does voluntary work with the 4YP drop-in centre in Ipswich, helping a professional chef teach young people to cook. Plus he is a keen sportsman, running with the Ipswich Harriers and training at the Northgate track several times a week. Simon competes in cross-country competitions and also in the triple jump.

Simon isn’t sure yet what the next step will be after working at Whitehouse. It is likely he will continue on Workstep, the government programme that supports disabled people in their jobs so that they can work effectively and continue to develop in their roles.

This case study was produced by the Suffolk Education Business Partnership as part of the Informing Choices European Social Fund project.

Creative sign solutions moves in the right direction
November 2007 saw the relocation of Creative sign solutions to a spacious new studio and workshop environment where Paul Baldwin and his dedicated team promote their ethos of design through to installation.

The new location offers flexibility and combined with the integration of high specification Mac & PC based design stations along with the existing machinery they are able deliver a definitive approach to signage.

Doug Catlin – Success Story

Doug Catlin – Success Story
In December 2002 at 48 years of age, Doug was happily working as a Chief Security Guard following a long and varied career in the Army. Then on Christmas Day whilst Doug was working, he suffered a severe stroke. Although he successfully overcame the worst effects of the stroke with the help of Icanho Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Stowmarket, he was not able to return to his job or take on other work of a similar kind.

Desperate to get back to work, Doug was referred to Whitehouse Enterprises to trial his ability to do something completely different. During his 6 week Work Preparation programme it became apparent that Doug had enormous stamina and was a real ‘workhorse’ when it came to general tasks such as packing and cleaning. In January 2006 Doug was offered a 6 month contract of employment at Whitehouse Enterprises under the Workstep Programme and continued his integration back into working life.

Before Doug’s contract came to an end we contacted Marian Beales at the Holiday Inn, Ipswich who had a Kitchen Porter vacancy. Marian was very open to Doug trying the job on a trial basis, so we arranged a 2 week work experience to enable Doug to prove himself before being offered the job. Doug has more than proved himself and showed no signs of the effects of his stroke. He worked tirelessly to keep the pot wash going, cleaning, tidying and generally doing whatever was required of him.

After being offered the Kitchen Porter job, Doug settled in very quickly and has remained employed in his role at the Holiday Inn for over 6 months now. We have kept in touch during that time to ensure that any problems were ironed out, but with little need, as Doug has gone from strength to strength. He has even won an employee of the month award for his ‘can do’ attitude!

We wish Doug all the best and congratulate him for doing so well in his new job. We would also like to thank the Holiday Inn and particularly Marian Beales and the Kitchen staff for the support they have given to Doug.

Michelle Bridge – Success Story
Michelle first came to Whitehouse Enterprises in June 2003 at the age of 21 on a 6 week Work Preparation Programme. She had been to Otley College doing an Animal Access course for some years but had now left and was seeking paid employment. Michelle had been working voluntarily at the Museum of East Anglian Life helping clean out and look after the animals but there were no paid jobs in this area for her.

Whilst Michelle was on her Work Preparation Programme at Whitehouse Enterprises she undertook a variety of packaging and assembly tasks in the factory environment. Michelle’s work was of a good level although she would continue to need further support to be fully competent in all areas. She was then taken onto a 2 year Workstep Programme, in paid employment, where her skills, abilities and general work ethics were built to a level where she was able to seek open employment.

After several applications to relevant positions we contacted Out of Town Restaurants at the Buttermarket Centre in Ipswich regarding a position they had. Michelle had no experience in this area but the skills she had learnt at Whitehouse Enterprises were transferable and she was able to adapt to the new tasks.

Michelle initially had a week’s work experience in the foodcourt to see if she liked the work and was capable of doing the required tasks. Glynn Terry, Out of Town Restaurants Manager, was pleased with Michelle’s work, reliability and general manner and was happy to offer her full time employment.