A PENSNETT-based charity, which provides training in catering and retail to adults with learning difficulties, has awarded its workers in a special presentation event.

Lunch on the Run provides valuable NVQ qualifications to over 20 adults and young people with varying learning disabilities, who are known as ‘co-workers’.

The catering company, which has been running for 10 years, produces food for meetings and events in the borough, as well as offering lunchtime sandwich runs from its Pensnett Trading Estate base.

The charity also runs The Retreat Cafe at St Francis Church in Laurel Road, Dudley, which provides breakfasts and lunches each day, with everything run by the coworkers, alongside fully trained staff.

The co-workers were presented with awards for their effort, commitment and positive attitude at a special awards event at St Francis Church, with the Mayor of Dudley, councillor Pat Martin attending to award the certificates.

During the event, staff also presented the Marion Gill shield, a new award launched in memory of the Lunch of the Run founding manager, Marion Gill, who died last year. The award was presented to a chosen co-worker who has stood out to staff during the year.

Ken Johnson, Lunch on the Run manager, said the awards were an important event for the co-workers.

He said: “They have trained and trained for months, so to see their faces light up when they get their certificate makes it all worthwhile.

“These occasions are so important and shows people with disabilities do and can make a worthy contribution to the community.”