The Rising Sun Trust in Workington has embarked on a new project this week as 2010 is being labelled a year of empowerment.

Development manager Paul Lee says the target is for employees and service users to have turns in taking the lead, very much like a flock of geese.

It was something he picked-up from Sam Rayner of the very successful Lakeland chain.

The company was started by Alan Rayner, an agricultural feed salesman, in 1965 as a weekend sideline from his garage in Windermere. Today, the 30-strong chain is run by his three sons, led by managing director Sam Rayner, from its award-winning headquarters in Windermere (recently redeveloped at a cost of £13m).

“Thy started with one store and I believe they now have 44 and it was Sam who used the analogy with geese in flight, which we have picked-up on,” said Paul.

This week three different projects have been launched at the Trust’s base in Workington when up to 20 service-users have enrolled.

Seven members of staff at the Trust will be helped by three trainee social workers on secondment from the University of Cumbria. Professional organisations – Derwent and Solway Housing Assoiation and the Department for Work and Pensionswill also be represented.

Paul explained: “They should all run for 10/12 weeks and the first week has gone well. We’re looking to run two, two-hour sessions each day in the mornins and afternoons with a maxiumum of ten and a minimum of six service users attending.”

Tuesday deals with various life skills such as furnishing a flat, preparing to move, making a change and dealing with debt.

The main subject on Wednesdays will be domstic violence and the effect it has on family and children, with a current relationship and the need to develop a coping styrategy.

Thursdays concentrate on drugs, anxiety, the triggers, the abilty to move forward and the motivation needed to change.

Paul, who had his own persional problems to overcome, worked as a volunteer for 12 months before traking on the role of development manager two years ago.

The Rising Sun Trust was established in 1999 by David Smith following the death of his son, Ryan. The aim of the Trust was to help in the care and counselling of young drug users and to assist their families in coping with and helping their children.

The aim has now grown to supporting anyone, of any age with drugs/alcohol related issues – and very often these days the homelessness that goes with it.

“We’ve been going 11 years and we are still here and in some ways that’s an achievement. There are always financial issues but we cope the best we can.

“In this business measuring success isn’t like any other. Success could be someone coming back, dropping in at our premises the next day,” says the founder.

To hear more from both Dave Smith and Paul Lee (pictured above) just click-on http://www.getnoticedonline.co.uk/audio/cumbria-specials/rising-sun-trust-2010.html

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