Percy Hedley Foundation

New partnership to help disabled people find work

Ruth Woodfine (Employability Project), Niccola Swan & Paul Newman (Employers Forum on Disability) at the 'Valued in Public' Event at Northern Counties College.

The Percy Hedley Foundation is excited to announce that a new Employability Project has been set up to work in the field of disability and employment. The project will be working in partnership with the Employers Forum on Disability, the UK's largest employer led disability organisations.

David Barker, Director of Adult Services, Percy Hedley Foundation, said: "The partnership between this innovative project and the Employers Forum on Disability is very significant and one of the first of it's kind. We're really looking forward to watching this partnership grow and witnessing the real employability opportunities develop for disabled people in the region."

Niccola Swan, Deputy Chief Executive of the Employers' Forum on Disability, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Percy Hedley Foundation on the Employability Project.

"The aims of the project fit very well with those of the Employers' Forum on Disability - making it easier for business to employ and retain disabled people.

"We are looking forward to working on the Employability Project, and to developing a close relationship with the Percy Hedley Foundation in the coming months."

Employability has been awarded two years of funding from the European Social Fund through the Learning and Skills Council. Ruth Woodfine, Project Manager, commented: "My role will be to work with employers, introducing them to the foundation and encouraging them to be socially responsible and proactive by organising visits, work placements and looking into voluntary and paid employment opportunities for disabled people."

Ruth will also be developing an interactive website and organising events throughout the project for disabled people, employers and local labour market intermediaries.

This is an excellent opportunity for both employers and disabled people. Not only will it lead to an increase in disabled people gaining work experience and employability skills, it will also result in more disabled people entering the world of work.

If you'd like more information, please contact Ruth Woodfine at the Employability Project office on: 0191 281 7532, or if you prefer email: ruthwoodfine@percyhedley.org.uk.

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