BRANCHING OUT - Southampton Day Services' social enterprise for disabled and disadvantaged people - has just clinched a ground maintenance contract worth £25,000.

Over the next 12 months, men and women with learning disabilities will provide a garden maintenance service to Millbrook's Western Community Hospital.

The deal is the fruit of a training programme to help disabled and disadvantaged people get into business.

The aim is for them to lead increasingly independent lives.

Ross Lillywhite, Branching Out manager, is delighted at its success.

"This contract is the biggest since we started. It's a great opportunity for us to go from strength to strength in the future," he said.

"Breaking into the labour market can be difficult for anyone, but when you have a disability or other disadvantage, it can be nearly impossible.

"Branching Out has given local people with disabilities the dream of becoming self-employed. It's been a tremendous success on a personal and business level.

"Some members of the team have learnt to use public transport independently to get to work and one has been accepted by Sparsholt College to study arboriculture and forestry."

Branching Out was set up by Southampton Day Services with a European Social Fund grant. Additional help from Southampton Area Co-op Development Agency and Outer Shirley Regeneration have helped further develop the enterprise.