Silent Cuts in Downpatrick receives National Lottery funding to support inclusive employability
Mainstay DRP is pleased to announce that Silent Cuts, our sensory-friendly hair salon in Downpatrick, has been awarded £15,791 from The National Lottery Awards for All programme.
The funding will support the delivery of a structured employability and training programme for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, alongside the continued development of Silent Cuts as an inclusive community service.
Silent Cuts is a social enterprise developed by Mainstay DRP to remove barriers that many people experience when accessing everyday services.
The salon has been designed to provide a calm, low-sensory environment and offers both regular and one-to-one appointments to meet individual needs.
The Awards for All funding will enable Mainstay DRP to provide dedicated employability support within the salon, including:
- A Support Coach role to work alongside participants
- Structured training and real work experience in a live salon setting
- A supportive environment where individuals can build confidence, skills and independence at their own pace
Participants in the programme will take part in a combination of salon-based training, real customer-facing experience, and employability skills development, with support tailored to each individual.
Sarah-Jane Mowbray, Chief Executive of Mainstay DRP, said: “This funding is an important step in developing Silent Cuts as both a community service and a meaningful pathway into training and employment.
“Many adults with learning disabilities face barriers when it comes to gaining work experience, particularly in everyday settings.
“Through Silent Cuts, we are creating opportunities that are realistic, supportive and rooted in the local community.
“We are very grateful to The National Lottery and to National Lottery players for helping make this possible.”
This funding recognises the value of creating meaningful, accessible pathways into training and employment for adults with learning disabilities, and supports Mainstay DRP’s wider commitment to inclusion, choice and independence.
Mainstay DRP would like to thank The National Lottery and National Lottery players for making this project possible. The funding will help ensure Silent Cuts continues to benefit both individuals and the wider community.
RELATED POST:
