 A disused toilet block has been brought back to life in Rutland recently, with local social enterprise ‘Out of the Rut’ transforming it from a vegetated state into home grown glory. The innovative project will help people in a variety of ways, as Out of the Rut is a social enterprise, which helps people with learning disabilities and mental health issues to gain experience and develop their skills and confidence with a view to becoming employed. The disused public toilet has been converted using joint funding from Rutland County Council and Out of the Rut Ltd social Enterprise. Out of the Rut gained permission from Rutland County Council and working in partnership they drew up plans to create this useful resource for the community, which not only provides a community shop with locally sourced fruit and veg for residents and visitors, but also helps a disadvantaged sector of the community to gain employment. Often, people with mental health problems or learning disabilities have frequently been unemployed for many years and face many barriers to paid employment. Social enterprise Out of the Rut is trying to address these issues in Rutland and hopes that the shop will provide a range of new opportunities for people to work with them. The toilet block was originally an eyesore in Oakham and has since been replaced by much improved facilities in nearby Church Street. Director of Out of the Rut Limited, Paul Watson said: “This is fantastic news for people with a disability to engage in mainstream work by giving them the opportunity to work in a shop and develop their social skills and confidence.” Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, Councillor Hugh Rees added: “The shop will make an important new facility for residents and visitors as well as providing support for some of our most vulnerable people. I am proud to see such a beneficial and forward thinking use for an otherwise unused building.” The fruit and veg shop will also sell plants grown by Out of the Rut themselves as well as a range of locally sourced fruit. All produce will be free of chemicals and additives. The toilets were closed due to vandalism and have now been replaced with brand new facilities, which are fully accessible for people with a physical disability, as well as the general public in Church Street, Oakham. Further information about Out of the Rut: The Out of the Rut team was set up in 2006 and provides support and help to people with a disability to get on the career ladder by providing them with training and experience. Out of the Rut is based in a business unit at Lyndon, its business interests include; leaflet distribution to 15,500 homes across the county (their first project), growing specialist grass and wild flower seed mixes which are currently available in bulk, bicycle maintenance, conservation work and producing a range of owl and bird boxes. The team consists of three Directors from Rutland County Council, with the aim being to support individuals with a learning disability or mental health issue to develop skills, confidence and self esteem at work. For more information about the shop please see the BBC Radio Leicester website.
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