A YEAR ago Dion Magyar's life changed - for the better.

Having been previously diagnosed with depression and a personality disorder, the 27-year-old was referred to The Cellar Trust, the Shipley-based charity supporting people with mental health problems on their journey to recovery.

And, like the many other people who have passed through The Cellar Trust's doors, Dion has now turned his life around and is pursuing his ambition to secure a new career.

The Retail Academy and Charity shop is one of a number of initiatives helping people like Dion to gain new skills in a real commercial environment.

Here, in the Kirkgate shop, they get the opportunity to serve customers as well as look after and display the stock kindly donated by the public.

For potential employees like Dion, who came to The Cellar Trust a year ago, it offers them the chance to develop skills and experience to prepare them for the workplace.

Working in partnership with Shipley College, clients can undertake retail qualifications and, hopefully, progress into paid employment.

Participating in the project has opened doors for Dion. He has already completed BTec qualifications in IT and maths at Shipley College and has secured a work placement with Tong Garden Centre in Tong Village.

"It has built my confidence, I have got a lot more confidence now and I have achieved a lot through the Cellar Trust," explains Dion.

"I feel better in myself and I have a better understanding of myself."

Angela Palmer, one of the managers at Tong Garden Centre, explains having such a diverse range of departments from pets to clothing and plants, enables those on work placements to maximise their skills. Having a 75 strong workforce also allows them to allocate a mentor who can help those on work placements.

Dion is their second work placement through the charity. "From the community side of it they are a local charity and it means that we get involved with the community and it is something we can easily do," says Angela.

Other employers supporting the project are Shipley Health Store, Bradford-based contract furniture maker Knightsbridge Furniture, and Marks & Spencer, also in Bradford, who have selected The Cellar Trust as their chosen charity for this year.

"Bradford employers are leading the way in recognising some people need a little bit of an extra hand but can make fantastic employees," says The Cellar Trust's chief executive officer, Kim Shutler-Jones.

Tomorrow (Friday) the Retail Academy celebrates its second anniversary and, it is hoped, it can go on and help more people like Dion in future.

"It was set up because one of the main things we do is to support people to build their confidence and develop their skills and help them move on, hopefully, to paid employment," explains Kim.

"We have various different areas of the charity that do that but we felt there was a gap in terms of retail. It is a difficult time for everybody in terms of the job market but there continues to be jobs in retail so it continues to be a buoyant job market and we wanted to create an opportunity for our clients who may have been out of work for a long period of time, or may not have much in way of work experience to develop their skills in a safe and supportive learning environment."

But, according to Kim, like many other charities and organisations which rely largely on fundraising, the charity is feeling the pinch in the current financial climate.

While some of The Cellar Trust's funding comes through the NHS and the local authority, the charity's contract is due for renewal in March. They hope to secure funding to continue their valuable work, but they also rely heavily on fundraising and donations from the public.

As the Retail Academy is a training environment it isn't a profitable business. Donations of clothes, books, bric-a-brac, DVDs and household goods are gratefully received from the public to stock their shop and they hope that will continue and that customers will continue their support by popping in to make a purchase.

"We believe in individuals and we believe all people can live more fulfilling, independent lives. It is about believing in people and supporting people to build their self esteem.

"And we are delighted to be celebrating our second Birthday. Making it to three years is dependent on the local community helping us to keep going and helping us to deliver this really valuable service," adds Kim.

Anyone who wants to volunteer should contact the Retail Academy and charity shop in Kirkgate which opens from 9.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday. For more information call 01274 586474.