A Llangollen mother and her best friend are launching a business creating family legacies, while also providing much needed employment opportunities for young people with autism and learning difficulties.
Dawn Roberts, 54, came up with idea when thinking about her daughter’s future, and what she would do as an adult.
“When you have a child with complex needs, its life changing,” said Dawn.
“Elinor, who is 18, is autistic and has learning difficulties, can’t talk and communicates using a lightwriter – a machine on which she types what she wants to say and it speaks it for her.
“Options are very limited for Elinor.
“She attends school in Denbigh now, and was previously home schooled, I don’t want her to lose those skills she has.
“I don’t want her to become isolated, sitting at home doing nothing. So I decided to start up a business to help Elinor and her peers.”
Dawn enlisted the help of Del Roberts-Jones, 63, who she worked with at Wrexham County Borough Council where they led the campaign to gain World
Heritage status for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal. Dawn and Del, whose nephew has Asperger Syndrome, started to look into a business where those with autism and learning difficulties could be employed.
“I knew we needed to do something that Elinor could get involved in, something that could be assembled using hands and something that was structured, repetitive and easy,” said Dawn.
“Which is when we came up with the idea of Family Legacy Cards.
“After carrying out extensive market research we found family history was increasing in popularity, but not everyone wanted to use a computer, which can get very complicated.
“The problem with family history is that people don’t ask questions. People my and Del’s age have many memories, family keepsakes and stories but you only ever think of the older generation.”
The cards cover different themes and have thought provoking front covers.
They cover themes such as belonging, courage and school days.
To keep cards safe and together, the friends designed a family legacy card book box, which holds up to 40 cards.
“The first time Del and I sat assembling the cards into boxes at home, Elinor came in the room and watched what we were doing,” said Dawn, who sold the first family box set in July 2013.
“She then sat down and began helping us.
“It was incredible and that was the confidence boost we needed, we knew this was something Elinor wanted to be involved in.”
Once the business begins to grow Dawn and Del hope to rent premises in the Llangollen area, where they can set up a workshop and take on paid employees.
“We want to provide work opportunities for young adults with autism and learning difficulties, through the assembly and packaging of our products,” said Dawn.
“Elinor and her peers would be involved in putting the cards into envelopes, putting them into boxes and posting.
“There are many people Elinor’s age who will be in the same situation once they finish school or college.
“These young adults need our help.”
Brythonium will have a stall at a number of Christmas markets this year including one at the NEC Birmingham.
The stand will be coupled with its distinctive 1960s banner ‘Did she really kiss the Beatles’.
December 14 and 15 – The Christmas Market at Erddig Hall, Wrexham (10am – 4pm)
December 7 and 8 – The Telford Christmas Fair, Telford. Stand No. F22 (10am -5pm)
December 12 – The Victorian Christmas Market, St Giles Church, Wrexham (12 noon – 8pm)
If you would like to get involved, volunteer, offer services or premises to Dawn and Del visit www.brythonium.co.uk or contact Dawn on 07545 150456.
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