Hope Park in Essex opens as an employment hub for young adults with learning challenges, offering work experience and life skills.

Hope Park, an employment hub in Essex, opens to help young adults with learning difficulties, autism, and ADHD gain work experience and life skills. Developed by the Hope Learning Community and Lanswood Developments, it features a cafe, bakery, petting farm, and playground. The initiative supports transitions from education to employment, with participants like 25-year-old Luke Mayhew reporting improved confidence and job stability. Trust executive Gary Smith, a longtime advocate for inclusive employment, called the project a major step toward his 1999 vision of equitable workforce opportunities. The hub aims to break down barriers for individuals often overlooked in traditional hiring.