Wokingham

Support Horizons, the Wokingham recruitment agency business that specialises in finding employment for support workers to work with people with learning disabilities, has won runner up in the national Community Care magazine awards, a leading magazine and website that specialises in social care issues.

Based in Broad Street, Wokingham, Support Horizons was set up as a joint project between Wokingham District Council, the Wokingham Disability Partnership Board and two other service providers. It is also part owned by local people with learning disabilities.

The nomination for Support Horizons was in the Learning Difficulties category and the high profile ceremony took place in the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London on Thursday December 14, 2006.

To enter for a Community Care award, entrants had to present extensive details of their work to the judges. In the case of Support Horizons, this included details of costs of induction training programmes and commercial accountability.

Since April 2006, when the business was registered as a community-owned, not for profit, social enterprise, in addition to its wider work in training and employer consultation, Support Horizons has successfully made many placements with local employers.

Tim Holland, managing director of Support Horizons, said: “Our nomination was very satisfying because it acknowledged that partnership projects like ours can succeed.”

Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, executive member for social care services, said: “This sector of the economy is expanding a great deal and it’s very encouraging that a Wokingham-based enterprise is at the forefront. It’s super news for Wokingham and I hope that employers in the district will be encouraged to enquire about Support Horizons work. My congratulations go to Support Horizons, the council officers and everyone else involved in making this partnership a practical success.”

Wokingham District Council