A local charity has taken over operations at the Manx Workshop for the Disabled.

Crossroads Care officially took over the workshop, renamed Crossroads Manx Workshop, on January 1 from the Department of Health and Social Security, which had managed the project since 2008.

Since MWFD was founded in 1983, the workshop has helped people with disabilities realise their full potential while providing them with paid employment.

The project originally began in a steel hut adjacent to the Manx Foundation for the Disabled’s offices on Victoria Avenue, Douglas before moving to the old Noble’s Hospital site on Westmoreland Road, Douglas.

Offering a therapeutic service to a number of individuals with health conditions and disabilities living in the island, the initiative strives to empower individuals through training and skills building.

All nine of the workshop’s staff have stayed on and a new workshop manager, Tim Harris, has been appointed to oversee the daily operations.

The workshop offers a range of services including engraving, wooden furniture and company seals, and also creates bespoke products and welcomes any ideas.

In recent years it has been involved in several big projects, including commemorative pieces and theatre sets.

Crossroads’ chief executive officer Jackie Betteridge said: ’We are delighted to welcome the workshop to the Crossroads family. Over the years the workshop has helped a number of individuals with disabilities realise their potential, and we will continue to build on this to help more people build their confidence and self-belief.

’We are very excited to watch the workshop grow and look forward to working with the team to develop their business.’

Crossroads provides support to carers and people with care needs, no matter their age, disability or illness, and has been helping local carers for more than 30 years.

Jackie added: ’The work that the workshop do to help people with disabilities gain confidence and employments fits in perfectly with Crossroads’ aims and values.

’We believe that together we can encourage more individuals back into the world of work and give them a new set of skills that can help them develop their own personal abilities.’

Crossroads has said that the MWFC will continue to provide the same services it has in the past and will also be looking to offer new products during 2021.

The workshop will be closed during lockdown but a few members of staff, who will adhere to social-distancing rules, will be in at times to complete any current projects.

l To find out more about Crossroads Manx Workshop visit the Crossroads website www.crossroadsiom.org