Maesbury Metals day service opens showroom to sell handmade products

People who attend a day service for adults with learning disabilities have opened a showroom to sell their products directly to the public.

Maesbury Metals is a metal workshop near Oswestry where people with learning disabilities produce a variety of handmade products, such as garden gates and bird tables.

The people who attend the centre are so proud of their work that rather than just displaying it, they want to sell it.

So they decided to open a showroom, which will be open to the public, at the workshop unit on Maes y Clawdd Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Oswestry.

As well as showing off their impressive work, the showroom is intended to be one of the ways the centre will attract revenue to mitigate the continuing financial pressures that councils are facing due to reduced Government funding.

Peter Phillips, who attends Maesbury Metals and will run the showroom, said:

“We want to change people’s perceptions of what adults with learning disabilities can do.  We think people will be amazed when they see what we make here, and we are so proud of what we can achieve we want to make sure people know about it.”

A grand opening was held on Friday 24 May 2013, when North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, the Government’s Environment Secretary, officially cut the ribbon.

Councillor Tim Barker, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, said:

“The most impressive thing about this project is that it has come from the people who go to Maesbury Metals themselves.  The whole idea came from them – they have led it from the start and will run the showroom themselves.  I have been impressed at the obvious pride and enthusiasm felt for the unit and this new venture, and I wish it every success.”

Council leader, Keith Barrow, who is councillor for Oswestry South, added:

“Maesbury Metals is a fantastic facility which really improves the quality of life of the people who attend.  I would urge everyone to come along and visit the showroom to see the quality products that are on offer.”

Maesbury Metals can be found at Enterprise Units 21 to 23, Maes y Clawdd Industrial Estate, just off the A483 at Oswestry.  The showroom is open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday.

(Pictured is Owen Paterson MP, with Michael Burton and Gavin Ryan who attend Maesbury Metals, with a wrought iron boot stand.)