Northamptonshire adults with special needs will gain valuable work experience packing free gift bags for cancer patients receiving treatment in hospital.

In a new partnership between two local charities, Teamwork Trust service-users – adults with mental health needs, learning and physical disabilities – will join The Lewis Foundation’s growing team of volunteers and supporters, to sort and fill hundreds of gift bags each week.

The gift packs, which contain overnight essentials, toiletries and other helpful items that many people in hospital find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford, will be put together at Teamwork’s Kettering centre before being hand-delivered to individuals on oncology wards across the East Midlands by The Lewis Foundation.

“Our Teamwork members all know people who have had or are undergoing cancer treatment, so packing the gift packs for patients is a really meaningful and worthwhile work experience task for them, and they all understand the significance of what they are doing."

Teamwork’s Head of Development, Victoria Bell added: "We have a fully functioning factory floor at all three of our centres too, so we are well prepared to manage the whole process very efficiently, just like we do for other business customers. We are simply two local charities who have recognised how our support of each other will benefit both sets of service-users – adults with special needs and cancer patients.”

Lee Lewis, CEO, The Lewis Foundation ran Teamwork members through the packing processes during a short training session to prepare them for the weekly tasks. He said: “We were thrilled when Teamwork Trust approached us about working together as it will help us improve our packing and delivery processes to help more people who are hospitalised with cancer. It also gives us a chance to support likeminded charity who provides another valuable service in the community.”

The Lewis Foundation currently delivers over 2,000 free gift packs a month to individuals in six different hospitals in the East Midlands, including Northampton and Kettering Generals.

Victoria added: “Our factory floors means we could be in a position to help The Lewis Foundation pack even more bags. This is just the beginning of a very fruitful partnership.”

For more information on Teamwork Trust visit: www.teamworktrust.co.uk

For more information on The Lewis Foundation visit: www.thelewisfoundation.co.uk