A NEW social enterprise project will see My Plan Connect participants not only gaining new skills and training, but there will be benefits for the wider community to boot.
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My Plan Connect has partnered with Leeton Shire Council for the unique project, which came about through a casual conversation between Jodie Ryan and Sues Vos.
Ms Ryan is the My Plan Connect director, with Mrs Vos council's events and cultural services co-ordinator.
"Sues was talking about getting the Lands Office Cafe up and running (in the Leeton Museum and Gallery) and I was talking about buying a cafe in town for our participants to run and operate," Ms Ryan said.
"Sues really thinks outside the box so we put our heads together to see what we could do.
"As My Plan Connect we want to be an inclusive community and work with our stakeholders, so by working with council it opens the eyes and gives opportunities for everyone."
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So, with all of that in mind, six My Plan Connect participants have been busily undergoing not just barista and hospitality training, but learning and implementing vital life skills to ensure they are ready to take orders, serve customers and even complete some of the delicious cooking.
My Plan Connect participants will also assist at an upcoming launch of a new exhibition at the gallery, with some already working behind the scenes with building and construction for the display.
TAFE NSW in Leeton, as well as the Western Riverina Community College and the Leeton Showground Trust are also all on board helping with various aspects of this social enterprise project.
"It's all about our participants learning transferable skills that will take them into further employment down they track ... the idea is they can come and do this for three weeks, three months, three years, it's all up to the individual," Ms Ryan said.
"They'll be gaining their RSA as well. There's lots of things happening. We have high schools involved too."
"They are getting the experience and it's preparing them for mainstream employment, which in turns helps the community."
Other participants will also have the opportunity to contribute artistically at the museum in the months ahead as well.
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