A NEW charity, which helps disabled people to lead more independent lives through employment, has been officially launched in York.

York Disabled Workers Co-operative, whose workforce is made up of disabled people, specialises in the production of garden furniture and pet accommodation.

The charity employs three people and hopes to raise that to eight people by the end of the year, plus an apprentice. John Wilson, one of 51 workers who have been unemployed since the closure of Remploy in 2008, described the Disabled Workers Co-operative as a “blueprint for other factories” to give opportunities to disabled people and start employing more disabled people.

Phil Davies, the national secretary for manufacturing with the GMB union, was present at the signing of the deed which formally established the charity. York Disabled Workers Co-operative receives no central or Government funds and relies entirely on donations.

For more information visit disabledworkers.org.uk