TWO young women, including one from Widnes, are enjoying the world of work at a theme park thanks to a unique partnership.

Gulliver’s World has joined forces with WorkFit, the Down’s Syndrome Association’s employment programme, which brings together employers and jobseekers who have the disorder.

It is a tailored service dedicated to training employers about the learning profile of people who have Down’s Syndrome so that they can be supported in the workplace.

Benefiting from the initiative are Beth Ryan, aged 25 and from Widnes, and Maya Elderton, aged 23 and from Warrington.

They both have Down’s Syndrome and are housekeepers at Gulliver’s World Hotel in Warrington, working there once a week for nearly two years.

Beth said: “My role involves helping the hotel team with all the cleaning duties.

“I love talking to different people and seeing the guests having a nice time at the hotel and on all the rides at the park. I enjoy my job so much and it has helped me gain lots of independence.”

Maya added: “I work alongside Beth and we help do the cleaning at the hotel so our guests can have a nice stay.

“I also like to meet new people and talk to them, as well all the other staff at the hotel who are really nice and supportive. I enjoy everything about my role with Gulliver’s.”

Craig Clews, resort director at Gulliver’s World, commented: “The WorkFit programme is a really fantastic initiative which supports people with Down’s Syndrome into paid work.

“It not only helps them as individuals, but also crucially by providing employers, like ourselves, with extra support and advice to ensure we are offering opportunities that the likes of Maya and Beth can really benefit from.

“To see Maya and Beth progress over the last couple of years has been wonderful. They are a credit to themselves and to Gulliver’s as they have become much valued work colleagues to us all.”