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In
1984 a group of people came together to form a subcommittee
of Waveney Valley Society for mentally handicapped children
and adults, to be known as Waveney Enterprises. The aim was
to hire premises and operate a workshop for the benefits of
adults with learning difficulties in the Waveney District.
Joint funding was obtained from Social Services and Waveney
Health Authority. The plans reached fruition in 1985, a manager
and assistant were employed and Waveney Enterprises opened a
work center at 7 Manor House Lane, for up to twelve adults between
the ages of eighteen to sixty, producing saleable craft items.
Since that time the workshop has gone from strength to strength
with its employees gaining many new skills, and manufacturing
very professional products.
In 1991 a local charity Beccles Feoffees (Townlands Charity)
purchased a much larger property at 13 Smallgate, after extensive
restoration the workshop, finally moved, in the spring of 1992.
At this time we were also made the current Mayor's 'appeal of
the year', the money raised from this helped purchase furniture,
fittings and further equipment.
As a result of our growing reputation and high profile due to
press and television coverage with a feature on "Highway"
with Sir Harry Secombe, there became much interest from other
prospective employees, and our waiting list rapidly increased.
In April 1993 The Beccles Feoffes came to our assistance yet
again, and funded a third member of staff, thus enabling us
to take up to a maximum of eighteen employees.
In the March of 1995
Waveney Enterprises became a charity in its own right. Reg.
Charity no. 1045523 (Waveney Enterprises Workshop)
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