Social enterprise looks to 'fill the vacuum'

The Yume Project is taking on some activities affected by the cuts in adult social care within West Berkshire

A SOCIAL enterprise has recently been formed to help “fill the vacuum” left by some of the cuts made in adult social care by West Berkshire Council.

A small number of former council staff have created the Yume Project, which is designed to give people the chance to experience social, leisure and work based activities.

The staff have particular expertise in helping people with learning difficulties and autism and project worker, Cláudio Monteiro, said the enterprise, which he said he did not feel was linked with the Big Society concept, was working closely with other local projects to help deliver services on a fraction of the budget that they were previously run by the district council.

He said: “We are helping to fill the vacuum left by some of the cuts.

“We are taking on some of those activities that were run at the Phoenix Centre and at Newtown Road.

“We couldn't sit and see those relationships be torn apart.”

The enterprise held a ‘meet and greet' session at St Nicolas Church Hall in Newbury last Thursday (May 12), where people could find out more about the project and Mr Monteiro said there had been a good turnout.

To find out more about the project or to offer your help, voluntary or financially, click on the link below.