Employability Project

Employability Project wins Innovative Service Award

A new project to equip disabled people in the North East with the skills they need to find work has won a prestigious award.

The Employability Project team at DNEX07

Visitors to the Disability North Exhibition (DNEX07) voted the Percy Hedley Foundations' Employability Project winner of the Innovative Design/Service Award for the work it does in developing employability opportunities for disabled people in the region.

Ruth Woodfine, the Employability Project Manager, was presented with the award at the exhibition. She said: "I am absolutely delighted to receive this award. We work in partnership with the Employers Forum on Disability, encouraging employers to be socially responsible and proactive by organising visits, work placements and looking into voluntary and paid employment opportunities for disabled people."

Chris Roberts, Regional Director, Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, which funds the project through the European Social Fund (ESF) said today: "The Employability Project is a truly deserving winner of this award thanks to all the hard work it does in helping disabled people access employment opportunities. Entering the world of work can be daunting for many disabled people and this project helps them face the challenge head on. The LSC aims to make it possible for students of all abilities to reach their full potential and ultimately gain employment and this project is an ideal example."

Ruth Woodfine & Terry Mallon (Disability North, CEO)

Disability North are the north east based charity responsible for DNEX and the Innovative Design and Service Award. This annual award seeks to recognise the advances in products and services available to disabled and older people and is in line with Disability North's mission, which is to promote inclusion, independence and choice for disabled people.

Ruth added: "To have the Employability Project recognised in this way means a lot to me both personally and professionally. The fact that it is judged by disabled people along with individuals and organisations with an interest in disability is of great value especially when the project is in its initial stages."

The Employability Project is a two year project funded by European Social Fund through the Learning Skills Council. Its aim is to develop employability opportunities for disabled people.

If you'd like more information on the Employability Project and how you too can get involved, please contact Ruth Woodfine on: 0191 281 7532, or if you prefer email: ruthwoodfine@percyhedley.org.uk.

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