Style Acre Work Programme

Employment support from our Work Programme

Since 2009, our Work Programme has been removing barriers to employment faced by adults with learning disabilities by giving employment support in Oxfordshire. As a result of the programme we now have 107 people supported to undertake paid and voluntary placements in our own social enterprises, office’s and hubs or with local companies.

Within our Work Team we have our Head of Work Programme and our Job Coach who organise work experience and voluntary and employment opportunities for the people we support, providing ongoing support and conducting regular progress reviews. They also support the employers to ensure placements are happy and productive.

We also have Employment Support Workers who provide direct support to teach people how to complete work tasks. This support may be occasional, at the start of a placement, or on an ongoing basis depending on individual need. Without this support some people would not be able to participate.

The Benefits of Working and Volunteering

New skills and knowledge

Increased confidence and independence

Meeting people and expanding social networks

Sense of purpose and improved self-esteem

Inclusion and recognition of contribution

Dom's Story

The East Hagbourne Community Shop is a much-loved village store, run entirely by volunteers. Open for over 20 years, it serves as a small convenience shop with an integrated post office and is a true hub for the local community, attracting many regular customers.

To keep the shop running smoothly, a volunteer rota system is operated. Volunteers can choose a fixed weekly shift or opt for a flexible schedule, signing up week by week based on availability. There are no paid employees, success depends entirely on the dedication of volunteers.

The shop offers a welcoming environment and a great opportunity to learn retail and customer service skills. The shop committee is proud to support Style Acre by providing work placements for individuals looking to gain experience.

Dom sitting at the serving counter smiling.

The first placements began in January 2023 with two people we support, who each volunteer for an hour every week. With support staff alongside them, they help run the shop—serving customers, tidying, and restocking shelves as needed. This placement has become a regular part of their weekly routine, and both have developed valuable new skills. They continue to be a fantastic asset to the shop.

In April 2025, Dom joined the team after expressing interest in volunteering. We trained him and his support staff on the till system and shop layout, including practice transactions. Dom now works a regular morning shift. His cheerful personality makes him a favourite among customers, and he quickly mastered the till. He also assists with serving and stocking when needed.

An additional person we support joined the team in October 2025. Already familiar with retail through her work at the Style Acre shop, she picked up the processes immediately and will be a wonderful addition to the volunteer team.

Beyond placements, the collaboration with Style Acre includes offering locally made products created by the people we support—such as chutneys, jams, preserves, and Christmas cakes. These items will debut at the shop’s annual Christmas event on Saturday 13 December and be available in the shop. Both the shop and Style Acre are excited about this partnership, which provides a valuable retail outlet and encourages the creation of new products and work placements.

More stories about those engaged in our Work Programme can be found here:

Your Stories

The Work Programme is only possible through funding and in 2025 we were delighted to have been awarded funding from the National Lottery Community Fund over three years.

How you can support our Work Programme

Donate

We need to raise funds so that people can access our employment support. We fundraise towards the costs of employing our Work team who help people we support find and keep work. The benefits of work are different for everyone, and our work team make it possible for people we support to fulfil their work and volunteering aspirations.

Offer a Work or Volunteer Opportunity

If you are interested in employing someone we support, please let us know and our Work Team will be in touch to discuss the possibilities and support we can offer.

Support our Social Enterprises

People we support work and volunteer at our Tea Room in Blewbury and charity shop in Wallingford so please eat and shop with us to help our social enterprises flourish. If you are in the market for biodegradable medals for sports events, consider ordering from our medal making workshop in Banbury. Green Acre, our garden maintenance business in South Oxfordshire will be happy to provide a quote for regular gardening work.