STAFF from the Mortgage Advice Bureau in Bingley have helped to makeover a youth facility within the Pamela Sunter Centre, also in Bingley.

The building, which is home to the Down Syndrome Training and Support Service Ltd, has a dedicated space for young people with Down syndrome aged from 11 upwards who meet every Friday evening.

Called the WisH Club (‘Weekend Is Here’), the group is run by staff and volunteers and provides a valuable social network for its members.

It offers a range of activities, including pool, karaoke, table football, quiz nights, pamper and beauty nights.

The young people can bring a typically developing friend or sibling along to promote inclusion.

The WisH Club and Down Syndrome Training and Support Service Ltd are both the brainchild of Wendy Uttley, who was inspired to start the charity in 2000, along with three other families who had young children with Down syndrome.

Andrew Milnes, business principal at Mortgage Advice Bureau Bingley became involved with the Pamela Sunter Centre when he agreed to take part in a work placement scheme.

It is designed to provide young adults with Down syndrome the opportunity to learn professional skills and experience workplace life.

The ‘I Can Work’ project means that Rebecca Spalding (24) from Idle has been working with the Mortgage Advice Bureau team, spending 15 hours per week in their Bingley office assisting with administration tasks since the beginning of this year.

Mr Milnes said: "Rebecca started her placement with us in January, as the result of Wendy literally knocking on our door to see if we could help.

"I’m a firm believer that everyone deserves the opportunity to realise their potential, and my colleagues agreed that it was a great idea."

Explaining how he and his team became involved with the makeover project, he said: "Rebecca organised a social event for the team in March, which Wendy came along to.

"Over dinner, she told us more about the centre, and what a valuable resource it is to both young people with Down syndrome and their parents and carers.

"Wendy also talked about the WisH Club and told us that the attic room where the group meets every week really needed brightening up.

"Straightaway, my team and I volunteered to assist in helping with a makeover for the space. So, over the past week we’ve spent time at the centre to help get the place ship-shape.”

Ms Uttley said: "The attic room that the WisH Club meets in every week really was looking quite sad and tired.

"To have so many willing hands to help us makeover the space and give it a bright new look is wonderful – we are all so grateful for their help."

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