Benchmark & Can - do

The service runs from various locations in Ellon, including Ellon Resource Centre, Benchmark woodwork project and Ellon Can-Do Community Recycling. We also use community facilities and resources.

These services are supported by a team of experienced staff who have a wide range of skills and knowledge

Benchmark woodwork project

Benchmark is a woodwork project for adults with learning disabilities. The project manufactures wooden items, such as garden furniture, made to the customer’s requirements.

Project members have the opportunity to:

meet customers

be involved in making the orders

deliver the finished items to the customer

develop skills such as using tools

product packaging and customer care.

There may be additional tasks at certain times of the year such as refurbishing outdoor garden furniture. This involves sanding items, doing any maintenance needed, before painting or varnishing the item.

The kindling project collects wooden pallets locally, which are dismantled then chopped into kindling before being packed into net bags and sold.

Call 01358 729999 for more information about Benchmark.

Ellon Can-Do community recycling project

Ellon Can-Do Community Recycling is a training project giving adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to gain work experience in a safe and supported environment. It runs five days a week.

The project:

collects and recycles aluminium drinks cans from the local area

grows plants for sale in our polytunnel

dismantles wreathes for recycling

collects and composts food waste from businesses around Ellon

makes crafts for sale in the Pop up shop.

Project members can take part in different tasks in the week, including:

going out in the van collecting cans

weighing and recording the bags of cans

washing and checking plant pots

filling pots and potting up plants

watering the plants

collecting food waste locally

learning customer skills

using the Pop-up shop cash register

Staff provide training on the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and the machinery.

Team working is encouraged. You can complete tasks as part of a group or independently. Independent travel, using public transport to and from the project, is also encouraged.

Call 01358 722517 for more information about Ellon Can-Do.

Pop-up shop

The Pop-up shop project provides training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities who are interested in developing retail skills. It sells fruit, vegetables, fair trade foods and gifts. Trainees help set the shop up, serve customers, take payments and pack goods away at closing time. The shop helps participants develop skills in customer service, numeracy and money handling. It is open daily at Can - do and on a Friday morning at Ellon library