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visibility

Something is real – the gates of Street area of Liverpool – the Unity, the
Hope Street Theatre and the Everyman.
Strawberry Field are open again He has now been offered a job as an
usher and general theatre assistant at
the Everyman.
“The Steps to Work programme is
A place commemorated in a Beatles song lives again as a brilliant,” he says. “I’m a lot happier and
visitor attraction and helps people with learning disabilities more confident in myself now, and that is
find work. Peter Rainford heads off to Liverpool all thanks to the programme and the
support the work coaches have given me.
“I’m so happy that I’ve got a job,
especially working at the Everyman Theatre
eatles fans used to have to stand like to be and, with the right support, because I like drama that much. I’m really
outside the red gates of Liverpool’s could be. made up. I’ve wanted to get a job for years.”
BStrawberry Field. Now they can Alan Triggs, the Salvation Army’s Steps The other two trainees have secured jobs
enter the grounds and gardens that to Work programme manager, says: at Liverpool FC and a local solicitor’s office.
inspired John Lennon to write the 1967 “Seeing our trainees grow and develop in Thanks to a partnership with the City of
classic hit, Strawberry Fields Forever. terms of confidence, belief and self- Liverpool College and investment by local
The song title refers to a children’s esteem is truly amazing. As the first group businesses and other organisations, Steps to
home for girls run by the Salvation Army start to enter the world of work and gain Work offers a 12-18 month programme that
called Strawberry Field. Lennon lived more independence, the spirit of Steps to combines education and work placements
nearby when he was growing up in Work is truly realised.” to ensure trainees are truly work ready.
Liverpool. The home closed in 2005. Most significantly, after completing the Trainees attend a work readiness course
The Salvation Army, which has owned programme, three trainees have already to provide them with the tools they need
the site since 1934, decided to use the been offered jobs. to gain independence, discover their
famous site in a new way and open its While training, Chris Higginson, 22, potential and learn skills that will help
gates – which had not been on site since worked in three theatres in the Hope them in the world of work. After this, they
2010 – to the public. There is a visitor
exhibition, a cafe and a shop, and a space
for spiritual reflection. Tours of the garden
where Lennon used to play are offered.
All money raised from tourism to the
site goes towards Strawberry Field and the
Steps to Work programme, which supports
young adults aged 18-25 with learning
difficulties or other barriers to employment
through a training hub at the venue.

A way into work
Nationally, only 6%-7% of working-age
adults with learning disabilities are in paid
employment, although many more would Above and top: Steps to Work trainees at the project opening

18 Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk