Business Details
28 Years
experience
Your Trusted Disability Support Centre in Preston
Established in April 1998 by Poppy Tanna, Pukar Disability Resource Centre has been a cornerstone of support for disabled individuals, carers, and families in Preston. Our mission focuses on maintaining independence through accessible resources, culturally sensitive advice, and multilingual services tailored to diverse communities. We provide advocacy, outreach, and educational programmes, including ESOL courses, IT training, and confidence-building workshops, delivered by experienced staff and volunteers. Our three training rooms and IT facilities cater to both personal development and professional growth. As a user-led organisation, we prioritise lived experience in management and service delivery, ensuring our offerings align with community needs.We collaborate with statutory and voluntary sectors to address cultural and religious requirements while campaigning for improved service provision. Our carers' support initiatives include training, respite opportunities, and practical assistance with applications and debt management. Volunteers play a vital role in our operations, contributing skills in administration, education, and community engagement. We maintain transparency in operations, adhering to ethical standards while fostering trust through consistent, client-centric approaches. With over 25 years of service, we remain committed to empowering individuals through education, connection, and inclusive opportunities.
Services
Carers Support
ESOL Courses
IT Training
Outreach Services
Advocacy Support
Confidence Building
Work Clubs
Short Courses
Debt Advice
Bilingual Assistance
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- We are a user-led organisation with lived experience of disability and caregiving embedded in our management.
- Our multilingual team provides culturally sensitive support tailored to diverse ethnic communities.
- We offer accessible facilities including three training rooms and IT suites for inclusive learning.
- Our advocacy services help navigate statutory organisations with proven expertise in disability rights.
- We deliver accredited training programmes for external service providers on BME and disability inclusion.
Services
Carers Support
We provide comprehensive support for unpaid carers through training opportunities, respite breaks, and advocacy services. Our programme includes debt advice, application assistance for benefits, and regular support meetings. With language support and home visit options, we ensure carers receive tailored assistance that addresses cultural and practical barriers.
ESOL Courses
Our English for Speakers of Other Languages courses cater to all proficiency levels from pre-entry to advanced. Qualified tutors deliver practical communication skills while providing progression pathways to further education and employment. Classes incorporate cultural context and real-life scenarios to enhance learners' confidence in both personal and professional settings.
IT Training
We offer structured IT training programmes ranging from basic computer literacy to functional skills level 2 qualifications. Our facilities with 20 computers support courses in internet essentials, office software, and digital job search techniques. Training aligns with modern workplace requirements and personal development needs.
Outreach Services
Our outreach workers help overcome access barriers to mainstream services through home visits and community engagement. We provide advocacy support, facilitate service navigation, and deliver targeted interventions for individuals facing multiple disadvantages due to disability and ethnic minority status.
Work Clubs
Weekly employment support sessions help job seekers create CVs, search for vacancies, and develop interview skills. Experienced tutors provide one-to-one guidance and digital job search training. Many participants have successfully transitioned into employment through our work club programme.
People
Keith Holden
Chairperson
Experienced leader with expertise in organisational development and community engagement. Brings strategic oversight to Pukar's operations while ensuring alignment with user-led principles and community needs.
Khalid Akram
Acting Treasurer
Financial management specialist with extensive experience in budgeting and resource allocation. Ensures fiscal responsibility while supporting Pukar's mission through strategic financial planning.
Heather Deans
Secretary
Community development professional with administrative expertise. Facilitates governance processes and maintains organisational records while supporting Pukar's operational transparency.
Sanuwar Ali
Trustee
Multilingual community worker with lived experience of disability. Contributes cultural insight and practical knowledge to enhance service delivery for diverse ethnic communities.
Saajid Tagari
Trustee
Education specialist with teaching and training experience. Supports programme development and quality assurance across Pukar's educational offerings for disabled learners.
Questions
What services does Pukar offer for carers?
We provide carers with training opportunities, respite breaks, advocacy support, debt advice, and assistance with benefit applications through our dedicated carers' support programme.
Do you offer English language courses?
Yes, we deliver ESOL courses from pre-entry to advanced levels with progression pathways to further education and employment opportunities.
Are your facilities accessible for disabled users?
Our Preston centre has three accessible training rooms, IT suites, and facilities designed to accommodate diverse accessibility requirements.
How can volunteers contribute to Pukar?
Volunteers support administration, IT training, funding applications, and service delivery while receiving professional development opportunities through our structured volunteer programme.
Do you provide digital skills training?
We offer IT training from basic computer literacy to functional skills level 2 qualifications using our 20-computer facility.
How does Pukar support ethnic minority communities?
Our multilingual staff deliver culturally sensitive services, including language support and tailored advice addressing specific needs of black and minority ethnic disabled individuals.
