Shoppers bagged a good deal
Thursday 21st December 2007
Hundreds of recycled bags were handed out for free to people in Plymouth at late night shopping in the run up to Christmas. The bags are produced by Pluss, who teamed up with Plymouth City Council’s recycling team to give away the recycled bags and encourage the public to minimise waste over the Christmas period.
Read the press release (PDF)
Pluss holds 'Big Mingle'
Tuesday 18th December 2007
Pluss held our annual 'Big Mingle' event in Plymouth, where all services get together to celebration the achievements of the year. The event was a great success, and highlighted a great year for all teams.
Pluss team up with Plymouth City Council to launch Recycle Bags at Late Night Shopping
Monday 17th December
Pluss have teamed up with Plymouth City Council to produce material recycled bags which will be handed out to the general public at late-night shopping on Thursday 20th December.
Pluss and Plymouth City Council will be in the city centre giving away the recycled bags and offering advice on the importance of recycling and waste minimisation over the Christmas period.
Read the press release (PDF)
New Showroom opens at Mount Gould
Monday 3rd December 2007
Pluss is delighted to announce the opening of our brand new mobility showroom, based at Mount Gould Local Care Centre, Plymouth. This is a valuable addition to the wide range of services providing further information, advice and equipment in the heart of the local community.
Councillor Dr David Salter, Cabinet member for Adult and Social Care, and Plymouth representative of the Pluss board of Directors officially opened the showroom. He said "as both a former carer and a former Professor of Bioengineering I can really appreciate the great opportunity this new showroom will give to those who visit Mount Gould. There is an excellent range of aids to be seen and lots of advice to be had".
Click here to read the press release (PDF)
Pluss feature in House of Commons debate
Thursday 29th November 2007
The following is an extract taken from House of Commons debate on Remploy which happened at the end of November. The discussion came about due to the modernisation of Remploy and subsequent plan to close the Remploy factory in Plymouth. Linda Gilroy is the Labour MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Peter Hain is The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Linda Gilroy says: This will be a very sad day in Plymouth, which has one of the factories listed for closure, where 35 people currently work……There are a lot of other help services in Plymouth. It has already been agreed that four or five of them will go to Pluss—a supported workshop that has, by diversifying, done exactly what Remploy should have been doing all these years. May I invite my right hon. Friend, along with the Minister for disabled people, to visit Pluss..…..to see how that award-winning factory operates so that he can draw on that experience when he works with Remploy to take these matters forward?
Peter Hain says: My hon. Friend has been a fantastic champion of disabled people in her constituency…...We will continue to work together to ensure that there is a future for others affected. The case of Pluss is a model example of what should have been possible a long time ago, and I will look to see whether I can visit, because I have heard a lot about it from her, as has my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for disabled people.
Alison Seabeck MP visits Pluss
16th November 2007
Pluss were pleased to welcome Alison Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Devonport to our Southway base. Alison met with Managers and staff to see the successes and achievements of the organisation, including our employment, manufacturing and mobility equipment services.
Transitions event in Plymouth
Friday 23rd November 2007
at Plymouth Guildhall 10am - 2pm
Leaving School? What next? An exhibition for young people with disabilities.
Pluss will be exhibiting among many others to provide information, advice and guidance on training, lesiure, work and health.
For more information please contact 2007 Transitions Steering Group (Georgina Thompson, Disability Employent & Training Advisor, c/o DIAC, Buckwell Street, Plymouth. Tel: 01752 201766 or email: deta@plymouthguild.org.uk)
Health at Work Awards
Wednesday 14th November 2007
Pluss are pleased to be awarded the Gold Level Health at Work Award, which shows our commitment to health and well-being at work. The award is given by The Business Health Network, with the purpose of helping workplaces to implement healthy living policies and schemes. Three is a focus in the award on the four common preventable risk factors for chronic disease: smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and stress.
New Business Opportunities
Dragon Open Day
Wednesday 31st October 2007
Dragon held it's annual pre-Christmas Open Day, which was deemed the most successful so far. Visitors came from as far as Saltash, giving them the opportunity to chat to staff and services users about their services. Sales of Dragon's products were also flying off the tables, though not a carrier bag in sight - only the Dragon recycled shopping bag.
Pluss responds to 'in work, better off consultation'
Tuesday 30th October 2007
Pluss has sent its reponse to the Department of Work and Pensions, detailing our views on current and future provision for disability employment services.
Click here to view the full consultation (PDF)
Plymouth Respect Festival
Sunday 28th October
.jpg "Respect Festival")
Pluss attended the Respect Festival, an annual celebration of Plymouth's multiculture. This was a great opportunity to raise awareness of Pluss and network with other organisations. (The food wasn't bad either!).
Matrix Inspection
Friday 15th October
Pluss are pleased to announce the recent Accreditation Review demonstartes that Pluss continues to meet the Matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance services. Higlights include comments from service users, employers, partners and members of staff including:
"Can't praise them enough - brilliant support"
"Good teamwork among staff"
"Give you confidence to go out and do things"
Read the full report (PDF)
Equipping Matters
8th - 10th October
Pluss Equpping held 3 team days, in which all members of staff were invited to attend oneof the days. This was a great opportunity for colleagues to get together to share experience and celebrate their sucesses.
Pluss launches its first Annual Report
Wednesday 26th September
We are please to announce that we have launched our Annual Report for 2006-07
Click here to download a copy (PDF)
Pluss named Star Quality employer for disadvantaged people
21st September 2007
Pluss is among five outstanding organisations in the UK officially awarded a special status for the quality of our their business the employment they provide for severely disadvantaged people. Pluss has received the new Star Social Firm quality mark for creating rewarding jobs within a market-led business for people who would otherwise have substantial problems finding employment.
Read the press relase (PDF)