Lakeside partner with local disability charity, Enable Ability…
Helping occupiers recycle their old technology throughout January.
Enable Ability is a well-established, registered charity dedicated to supporting children, young people, and adults with disabilities across Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire. With over 70 years of experience, the charity provides a wide range of tailored services aimed at promoting independence, enhancing quality of life, and fostering inclusion for those with mild to severe disabilities. By offering activities and programmes that focus on social, educational, and emotional support, Enable Ability empowers individuals to overcome challenges and participate fully in their communities, while also providing much-needed respite and support for families and caregivers. Through its compassionate and personalised approach, Enable Ability remains committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves.
The charity has it’s very own employability service, named Inter Activ, which is an innovative employability and skills-building programme designed specifically for young people and adults with disabilities. Its aim is to provide participants with the tools, training, and opportunities they need to enhance their employability, develop new skills, and boost their confidence.
The service includes a range of activities through a variety of practical, work-related experiences, including roles in café services; arts, crafts & gardening; “What’s It Like” (virtual video tours); marketing; and a Computer Repair Shop, and offers work experience placements, volunteering opportunities, and personalised support in areas like job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation, to empower individuals to gain meaningful employment or transition into further education, while fostering independence and self-esteem.
Enable Ability’s Inter Activ Computer Repair Shop is an initiative that offers professional computer repair and IT services to the local community. Run by participants of the Inter Activ programme under the guidance of skilled staff, the repair shop provides hands-on experience for young people and adults with disabilities, helping them develop practical skills in technology, customer service, and business operations.
The shop specialises in a wide range of services, including diagnosing hardware and software issues, performing repairs, upgrading systems, and providing IT support. By offering these services at affordable rates, the Computer Repair Shop not only benefits the community but also creates a valuable training environment for participants to enhance their employability and technical skills.
Simon Bateman, Lakeside Asset Manager said:
“This initiative fosters independence, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment for individuals with disabilities, all while generating income to support Enable Ability’s broader charitable work. It aligns well with our environmental and ESG agenda, by promoting sustainability and reducing electronic waste.
We are delighted to offer Enable Ability our pop up shop space in Building 1000 on a Thursday of each week between 1000 and 1500, for occupiers to bring along their faulty or broken equipment for repair or donate to the Charity for recycling.”
Enable Ability would also like to hear from businesses who would like to partner with them for fundraising initiatives to help them fund their 16 services or for diversity driven volunteering and employment opportunities. Please get in touch with their Partnerships & Events Officer, Hollie: together@enableability.org.uk
For a full overview of Enable Ability, its services and partnerships, please visit www.enableability.org.uk