Bridge Creative

Learning Disability Week 2024

The COSE - Centre Of Social Enterprise

Learning Disability Week is here! Check out our campaign video 'Do You See Me? We See You!' now and make the We See You pledge to make your workplace visible to people with a learning disability. Find out more here.

The COSE - Centre Of Social Enterprise

Pronounced 'co-zee', The COSE is our home in Bishop Auckland - a vibrant enterprise hub with a kitchen and spaces for meetings, social enterprises and co-working including sound-proof pods!

Keeping People Connected

The COSE - Centre Of Social Enterprise

Keeping People Connected

Supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults across County Durham to keep safe, well and connected. Find out how we can support you here.

In-Work Support

MADEby Bridge Creative

Keeping People Connected

Our In-Work Support service can support you to remain in paid work, including 1-1 support, training and advice. Contact inworksupport@bridgecreative.org for more info.

MADEby Bridge Creative

See what the guys on our Creative Placements project have been making at the Workshop - bespoke large scale art installations and furniture for events, weddings and the home.

Events

MADEby Bridge Creative

Check out our exciting programme of events! We also provide event management services, event staff, and social responsibility support.

Volunteering Project

Find meaningful volunteering opportunities in your area and come along to our Employment Workshops with DurhamEnable.

Creative Placements

Volunteering Project

Work experience placements within our social enterprise - gain real work experience to add to your CV! Learn new skills in woodwork, art, design, event management and more.

Training

Volunteering Project

Training

Find out about our training courses including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, and Inclusive Employment training - all co-designed and delivered by our Expert Trainers.

About Us

Our Team

Our team of Support Mentors and In-Work Supporters are committed to working with people to reach their potential! We employ lots of people who are neurodivergent or have a learning disability, which has helped us achieve some fantastic outcomes for the people we support.

Founding Director, Ben has worked with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults for over 12 years, and previously managed a music festival!

Our Directors have lived experience of the issues Bridge Creative works to improve, from living with a learning disability, to experience of long-term youth unemployment.

Our Story

County Durham has one of the highest unemployment rates for people with learning disabilities in the country, with only 0.7% of people with a learning disability in any form of paid employment (ten times lower than the national average). This means only 11 people out of over 1,700 people with learning disabilities have a paid job!

We believe with the right support, people can have equal access to employment and reach their potential. Our focus is on creating jobs within the events, arts and creative industries, but we support people in lots of different workplaces.

We are a social enterprise and support people to work at festivals such as Glastonbury and BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend and support people to design and build art installations for music festivals and events.

Read about our vision, mission and values here.