Monday morning is certainly the best time of the week for three service users from the Priory Day Centre for people with learning disabilities in Bodmin who spend this time helping out at the Scrapstore in Liskeard.

Sheila Powell, Sheila Parke and Gordon Griffiths travel to Liskeard every Monday morning as part of an exciting partnership between Cornwall ScrapStore and the County Council's Department of Adult Social Care.

The new Liskeard Scrapstore opened just over six months ago and since then the trio from the Priory Centre, an integrated day service for 15 adults with learning disabilities, have spent every Monday morning working with Cornwall Scrapstore Manager Gary King and his staff.

"They do a really brilliant job and are always really enthusiastic and cheerful" said Gary King. "They meet and greet people who come to use the Centre, help sort out the stock, keep the shelves stocked, and generally tidy up".

"Following the success of this partnership, we are keen to offer further opportunities for people with disabilities to experience work in a real life setting with the public".

Sam Stribley, Senior Day Care Officer at the Priory Centre, is also delighted with the scheme. "It is really important that people with disabilities have the opportunity to be integrated into the community and to be valued for the work they do" she said.

"All three immensely enjoy their time at the Scrapstore and I am very grateful to Gary and his colleagues for providing them with this wonderful opportunity".

Sheila Parke certainly looks forward to her time at the Liskeard Scrapstore. "I am responsible for tidying up and helping people to find the things they want" she said. "I enjoy working with Annette and Gary and meeting lots of different people".

Gordon Griffiths also thoroughly enjoys his time at the Scrapstore. "I like going there " he said.

The Cornwall Scrapstore opened in an old Co-operative building at St Columb Road in 1994 providing a wide range of "scrap" materials and products for use in art, craft and play activities. It now runs three stores - in St Austell, Pool and Liskeard - and has an average annual membership of 750 groups, families and individuals. As well as Gary there are two members of staff - Annette Turk, who works in the Liskeard and St Austell stores, and Karen Nicholls who works in the Pool store.

"The Scrapstores contain an amazing variety of materials, all of which are donated by businesses around the county" said Gary King. "From cards and cones, paper, plastic and wood, wool and fabrics in every size, colour and shape, to wallpaper, paint, tiles and even carpet - there is something for everyone".

"We have a wide range of members - from schools, nurseries, play schemes, community groups, youth groups, church groups, theatre groups, village halls and charities to students, families and even individuals".

Members pay an annual fee which ranges from £26 for family and individual members, to £70 for a secondary school or college. Members can then visit the Scrapstore as often as they like and take away as much material as they want - free of charge.

[quote]"The Scrapstore is a wonderful resource both for local people and organisations, and for local businesses" said Howard Roberts, Chairman of the Trustees.[/quote]

Cornwall ScrapStore is run by a Board of Trustees and is currently funded through income from membership fees and a grant from the County Council's Family Services Department.

"The Scrapstore is a wonderful resource both for local people and organisations, and for local businesses" said Howard Roberts, Chairman of the Trustees. "Not only do the stores provide free access to basic materials such as paper, card and fabric, but they also offer people the chance to sample a wide variety of unusual and exciting items which might otherwise be too expensive or difficult to find".

"They also provide huge benefits to companies by enabling them to dispose of their unwanted materials and preventing these valuable resources from being dumped in landfill sites or sent for incineration".

For more information about accessing or donating materials to Cornwall ScrapStore go to www.cornwallscrapstore.co.uk or ring 01726 821161