Marion Corner

AFTER 17 years heading up one of the best-regarded charities in Sudbury, Marion Corner is calling it a day.

But, she says, she is retiring satisfied that she has “made a difference” to the hundreds of vulnerable adults and their families that she has worked with.

During her tenure as community hub manager at the Sudbury Resource Centre Ms Corner has seen the number of services offered by the charity multiply.

The charity’s main work involves developing work projects that offer a valuable service to local businesses and the town but also an opportunity for adults with learning difficulties to experience the world of work and to develop skills. Areas where Resource Centre trainees work are in recycling and packaging, horticulture and catering.

“We have over 60 service users here and what we have now are activities that cater for vulnerable adults throughout their life,” said Ms Corner, whose last day at work is tomorrow. “Younger people can help out with the more physical jobs but we also provide IT and art sessions for older adults who can no longer do these jobs.

“Just because people have learning disabilities it doesn’t mean they don’t need stimulation as they get on.

“What we offer that many workplaces can’t is a high level of support for service users, so their skills are maintained.”

Ms Corner moved up to the area from London over 20 years ago and initially worked at the now-closed Jane Walker Hospital in Nayland, which specialised in working with people with learning disabilities.

She said: “I had a background in legal services but I found the work at the hospital so rewarding, and I’ve stayed in the sector ever since.”

Several years later Ms Corner was seconded to the Resource Centre, which at the time was run by Suffolk County Council, where she has stayed until now.

And although she is retiring, she will continue to take on some consultancy and advocacy work.

She added: “Attitudes towards people with learning difficulties have improved a great deal over the past 20 years but there is still a lot of prejudice out there.

“I still want to speak out for people who haven’t got a voice. I still intend to fight for the cause.”