Mother and son Sue and Tom Prisk, from London shop and online community interest company Promise in Store, visited Derwen College this term. They came to collect Christmas cards, jams and chutneys to sell to festive shoppers.
Derwen College is very pleased to supply goods and printing services provided by Retail and Hospitality pathways to Promise: a business that shares the College’s goals and values. Promise in Store sources beautiful gifts and cards from across the UK which create training and employment opportunities to people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Owner Sue Prisk and her son Tom – a former student at Derwen College – visited College in the run-up to Christmas. They came to pick up beautiful Christmas cards which have been printed by Retail students at the College-run Karten Print Shop.
Sue Prisk said: “We believe everyone has the right to work, to develop skills and to be creative. It is important that we work with organisations like Derwen College, that provide quality products and support the employment of people with learning difficulties, disabilities, or need a bit of extra support in society.”
“We work in partnership with a range of organisations across the UK to source beautiful gifts, and we build and nurture these partnerships”
Work experience
Cards with a range of designs were printed by Retail students as part of their work experience at Derwen College.
Promise in Store also sells a range of award-winning Made@Derwen jams and chutneys made by Hospitality & Housekeeping students. These are made in the College’s Food Centre and labelled by Retail students.
Picking up stock from Derwen College is a journey down memory lane for Tom Prisk, who has Down’s Syndrome. Tom was a Retail student at the College, and used to work in the Karten Print Shop.
Tom, who is 24 years old and finished at College in 2018, said: “I like coming back to see the College. I liked working with Jerry in Karten Print Shop when I was here, as well as in the farm shop.
“There have been a lot of changes since I was here, but it brings back memories.”
“I learnt a lot about working in retail, and also about cooking and independence skills.”
Find out more about Promise in Store here.