Newlife Foundation, the disabled children’s charity, will open a special ‘Opportunity Centre’ on Wednesday 1st October, 2008. Based at Newlife’s main site on Hemlock Way, Cannock, the ‘Opportunity Centre’ is a purpose built location that will welcome individuals and groups that want to volunteer their time and skills or learn new abilities, to help disabled children through supporting the work of Newlife. The grand opening at 11am will be attended by Councillor Pat Ansell, Chairman of Cannock Chase Council. The Newlife ‘Opportunity Centre’ will benefit able bodied and disabled adults by allowing them to develop new and existing skills, use their talents and time creatively and help them to gain references. The ‘Opportunity Centre’ has a whole host of opportunities associated with Newlife’s recycling centre from repairing jewellery, de-labelling clothing, computer work, administrative duties and arts and crafts. Volunteers can be anyone – from people with time on their hands; students looking for voluntary placements, work experience, those with disabilities, people looking to gain employment skills or even people with a flair for arts and crafts that could volunteer time to create something out of recycled goods. Delighted to be announcing the opening, Newlife’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Sheila Brown OBE, said: “I am proud that in the past Newlife has given local Chase area people, the chance to volunteer and train and as a result they have help disabled children. Now this dedicated space will allow the kindness and care of local people to develop further in greater surroundings with a friendly atmosphere, free refreshments and an added benefit from a discount sales scheme. Our volunteers work in a variety of ways, some from home and others at our main Cannock site. “This specially built internal centre will bring real opportunities to local people. As one of the areas largest employers, we hope to be able to offer all sorts of prospects to help people work towards future employment. This area should be very proud that thousands of disabled children all over the UK get the help they need, because of the care and work of the fantastic people of the Cannock area, who make it happen through Newlife.” The charity has a long history of encouraging volunteering and has a wide variety of skills in the existing teams but they are looking to develop this even further – more disabled children require help, so Newlife has a greater need for volunteers. Currently Newlife has volunteers who have disabilities and learning difficulties in addition to many able bodied adults including an ex-banker, property developer, engineer, cook, housewives, retirees, mothers and grandparents. Newlife’s youngest volunteer is just 15 and the eldest is almost 83 years old. For more information about volunteering at the Opportunity Centre please contact Sarah Coughlan on 01543 468888.