EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH CHARITY-BASED BUSINESSES

That this House states its support for local charity-based businesses like the Usual Place Café in Dumfries, whose core objective is to create employability, training and wider citizenship opportunities for young adults with additional support needs; is committed to offering prospects like these in communities across Scotland and welcomes the aim of awarding qualifications to those who seek employment in the catering and hospitality industry; acknowledges that employability in this sector is crucial to the long-term survival of towns and villages which rely on tourism to keep going; and will actively encourage the Department for Work and Pensions to recognise this opportunity for people with additional support needs as one that will lead to eventual employment and training and that will not hinder any access to benefits to which a participating claimant may be entitled.