Cargill Enterprises is the trading name of the

 Disabled Citizens Society (Otago) Inc.  The society

 was formed in 1960 with the intention of enhancing

 the rehabilitation of people with disabilities by

 providing job training and social activities. 

 The Society's first sheltered workshop was opened

 in August 1961 with 6 trainees at 279 MacAndrew

 Road, a house owned by the Department of

 Education. 

 As the society's services increased so too did the

 need for larger, purpose-built premises, and in

 September 1967 the first part of a new workshop

 and social hall at 199 Hillside Rd was opened by

 Lady Fergusson, wife of the Governor General.

 This was extended with the addition of a large new

 workshop in 1979.  A new lunch room, extra

 administration space and two classrooms for

 teaching adult literacy were added in 1988, and in

 1994 a large seperate workshop was built to

 accommodate, woodwork, and light engineering

 activities.

 The Society provides assessment, training and

 employment for people with a wide range of

 disabilities -- physical, emotional, and intellectual,

 in varying degrees of severity.  The assessment

 service is linked with basic educational and

 vocational training, and with medical reports.  The

 Society has 130 disabled staff with 40 to 95

 working on any one day, and employs a

 paid Senior staff of 20.  A General Manager is

 employed for day to day operations and decision

 making, with control of the society vested in an

 elected Board.

 The Board Members are volunteers from all walks

 of life who, although meeting formally only

 monthly, give many hours of their time and are

 responsible for the well-being of a very sizable

 operation.

 Potential staff with disabilities are referred to the 

 society by doctors, hospitals, schools, parents,

 social workers, government departments and

 employers. 

 All staff receive a special government benefit/s 

 and now a wage from the society. Training is

 not only in work skills but also in social and living

 skills, and a very wide range of activities are

 undertaken.  The ability to participate in such

 activities and to be employed on a daily basis as

 others are, leads to remarkable improvements in

 both personality and capability in most trainees. 

 The Society organises a choir and also holds an

 Annual Concert/Social during the year.  About 50

 staff with disabilities participate in sports events

 run by Otago Special Olympics for example, and 

 many also take part in open competition events.

 In an effort to ensure that the Society and

 other similar societies around New Zealand could

 learn from one another, the society was

 instrumental in setting up the New Zealand

 Federation of Vocational and Support Services

 Inc. In 2008 that body has 65 members and also

 has beome an effective political pressure group. 

 In March 1998 the Disabled Citizens Society 

 Otago, was the recipient of the Richmond

 Foundation Award for 'excellence in mental

 health'. This award is not given lightly, and was

 presented by the Governor General, Sir 

 Michael Hardie-Boys.

 To recognise the evolution in rehabilitation 

 methods that has taken place during 48 years of

 service to the disabled, the society has adopted

 the following statement of mission:

"CARGILL ENTERPRISES will be the catalyst to building strong links within Otago business and Community that inspire disabled staff to develop their Uniqueness in the pursuit of employment opportunities "

 With this statement firmly in mind, the Society

 looks forward with confidence to a continuation of

 its work and service in offering care, help, and

 training to the disavantaged members of the

 community to assist them to live purposeful and

 rewarding lives.