A SIZEABLE donation to a Barossa NDIS program will benefit participants through local business support.

Wasleys-based Ridley Agriproducts recently donated more than $1000 in machinery and tools to Barossa Enterprises to assist community people living with disability.

Barossa Community Enterprises (BCE) Program co-ordinator Rick Mierisch welcomed the donation – set to boost the operation.

“To have those items donated has been excellent and they are products we probably couldn’t have afforded to buy as a program,” he said.

“The tools include a heavy-duty digital drill press, air stapler, another Paslode nail gun and premium hole saw kit.

“All of that totals more than $1000 and enables us to make some of the products we were previously making with much more ease.

“It is also an indication that businesses within the local community are showing their support for the program that we are doing.  That means a lot.”

The BCE program focuses on training, skill-building and participation in more of a social rather than commercial context.

Participants make products out of timber to sell at market, including planter boxes, nesting boxes for wildlife, children’s toys, and storage boxes.

“The program has only been going for a year in the Barossa, but has been really successful, and we are starting a similar program up at our Clare office,” Mr Mierisch said.

“Selling our products to the public gives our participants the opportunity of getting face-to-face with customers and that exposure, experience and connection with customers.

“It’s important to note the profit we make out of that once you take the cost of materials out gets shared amongst the participants.

“Because it is an NDIS program, they don’t get paid to attend, but they share in profits of sales and, as a group, decide how they want to spend that profit.

“There’s an emphasis on building and maintaining skills, as we are not a production facility, so we can take the time to teach people new woodworking skills.”