Just months after completing a catering course, Peter Wakely, who has a learning disability, is putting his new skills to use by volunteering in the Philippines helping the street children.
The 31-year-old has been helped by Sirona’s Community Day Service Team which works with adults with a learning disability to access activities.
Chris Appleyard, a Community Support Co-ordinator with Sirona, said: “We support individuals to access group activities, voluntary work or training to help them reach their potential and to enrich their lives.
“Working with us Peter realised his interest in catering and it set off a chain reaction which is taking him from Bath to the Philippines.”
Peter completed a Work and Training in Action Catering Course gaining an NVQ Level 1 qualification which is run by City of Bath College.
Chris said: “Peter is a smashing lad and should be really proud of his achievement. Working with CDST also enabled Peter to have a work placement at Southside Youth Hub in Twerton in their busy kitchens and with his qualification he was able to secure paid work there.”
But Peter’s volunteer work comes via his father Paul who volunteers with the charity Mercy in Action, a charity dedicated to helping street children in the Philippines.
It has a core team of permanent staff based at their residential hub ‘Spring Village’ in the town of Cebu but rely heavily on volunteers to help run their varied activities from running the residential base, drop-in centre and building projects.
The hub alone, serves 85,000 hot meals a year and it is here that Peter will be using his new skills.
Paul said: “Peter makes great friends whilst volunteering. This special environment is person-focused which means Peter is not seen as ‘special needs’ but as himself and this allows him to thrive.
“His genuine sense of compassion means the children love him and he is totally accepted.”
In March, Peter is travelling to the Philippines, without his Dad, to volunteer for two weeks in the kitchens and drop-in centre run by Mercy In Action which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Peter said: “I do love it here at Southside, but I am looking forward to the sunshine and working with the kids.”
Chris said: “To volunteer, Peter is giving his time, his new honed skills, his annual leave from his new well-loved job and also his new income is funding the flight to the Philippines.
“Not only is Peter a smashing lad, but he is a true success story at the wonderful achievements possible with hard work, a fantastic attitude and a great team like CDST encouraging and creating opportunities.
“We are really looking forward to hearing about his trip when he returns.”
To find out more about CDST visit www.sirona-cic.org.uk.
