Fylde MP Mark Menzies has praised the “outstanding achievements” of a leading Lancashire charity, One Fylde,  when he paid a visit to its new site.

Mr Menzies, who has represented the Borough since first being elected in 2010, described One Fylde as “an exemplar in its field” and congratulated the 400-strong organisation, which provides person-centred support, accommodation and exciting enterprises for adults with learning disabilities and autism across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

The charity supports more than 230 individuals and its purpose is “to contribute to the wellbeing of everyone who is part of One Fylde, and to ensure that they are treated with respect and enabled to live the best life possible”.

Mr Menzies met staff, support workers and people supported by the charity after he was invited to visit its new Queensway Park Farm site, which held a showcase event recently, attended by Mayor of the Fylde, Councillor Cheryl Little, to help local residents and other stakeholders better understand the range of services it offers.

Mr Menzies said, “I can fully understand why it has been One Fylde’s most successful year to date and my sincere congratulations go to everyone involved.  This is a fantastic local success story, which we have every reason to be proud of.  One Fylde not only supports people with learning disabilities and autism, but the organisation also provides opportunities for the people it supports to live their fullest life possible.  This includes providing employment opportunities through the charity’s enterprises.”

He heard about “the amazing range of services, which One Fylde offers, as well as to see the fantastic work which our teams undertake,” the charity’s CEO Tracey Bush said.

One Fylde supports people by providing them with work-based opportunities.  As well as many programmes, it also runs a number of enterprises, two of which are based at Queensway Park Farm. Its Gardening group offers garden maintenance to homes and businesses across the Fylde Coast, while the Recycling Team provides regular cardboard, paper, soft plastics and textile collections from local businesses.

“These are great stepping stones for supporting people into employment, and demonstrate the outstanding contribution that people with learning disabilities and autism can make to their community,” said One Fylde’s Chair David Stanhope. “We’re delighted to have our teams working in the community and providing valuable services for both households and businesses. It’s a win-win situation, with customers being particularly happy with the service and price, as well as providing an important sense of purpose and achievement.”

Mr Menzies said, “I’d encourage people living in the Fylde to try the services offered by the One Fylde teams for both garden maintenance for households and recycling for businesses.  By using any of these services, you’ll be supporting the amazing work of this local charity and enabling the opportunities for even more people with learning disabilities and autism.

“It is an outstanding example of showing the important contribution that people with learning disabilities and autism can and do make to society every day.  One Fylde is an exemplar in its field, integrating people into the community, empowering them to volunteer at other local charities, such as Lytham Hall, and supporting other opportunities, for instance, presenting on One Fylde’s very own internet radio station.  Indeed, one of the people supported, Joanna Miller, from St Annes, won a hat-trick of bronze medals recently at the North West Special Olympics.  You can also listen to presenters on One Fylde Radio with daily programmes hosted by people the charity supports.

“One Fylde demonstrates and champions the valuable role that people with learning disabilities and autism can play in everyday life, providing a sense of self-esteem, wellbeing and purpose for the people it supports.  I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved for the organisation’s outstanding achievements, particularly this year, well done all.”

Michelle Riches, the charity’s Director of Operations & Quality, said, “It was a very rewarding day and we were pleased to welcome Mr Menzies and show him the wide range of work and activities we undertake to support the individuals in One Fylde. They all work physically very hard, which benefits their well-being and gives a real worthwhile purpose in life, enabling some, for example, to gain a qualification in horticulture.

“The enterprises are open to all abilities and are a great springboard for supporting people into employment, as members learn about time-keeping, health and safety, responsibility, team work, relationships and skills, such as using different forms of equipment, like gardening tools, lawn mowers, power washers, a bailing machine and other implements.”

If you are a business and would like your cardboard, paper or soft plastics collected, please ring Recycling on 07532 148908.  If you would like your garden maintained, please ring Gardening on 07532136507.

If you would like to make a donation to support One Fylde, please go to: https://www.onefylde.org/donate/

The photograph below shows the earlier site opening featuring Mayor of Fylde Councillor Cheryl Little talking to One Fylde’s Chair David Stanhope.