2018 has been a very successful year for WorkFit. We have continued to support more and more people with Down’s syndrome to find suitable job opportunities.
Thanks to new funding our team expanded at the end of 2017. That means that this year we have been able to create 81 employment opportunities for our candidates who have Down’s syndrome – 32 paid jobs, 40 work experience placements, eight volunteering positions and one internship since January 2018
. Our Employment Development Officers (EDOs) have also carried out 91 training sessions for 628 employees. We were delighted by these figures, especially as the team is made up of only five EDOs, supported by two WorkFit Liaison Officers.
Several of our candidates and employers received awards in 2018.
We were delighted that WorkFit candidate Tom Sewell (left) was triumphant in the Significant Achievement category at the ERSA Awards 2018 in June. Tom has overcome a number of challenges to hold down a paid, permanent job at the Environment Agency and fully deserved his award for which he got the biggest cheer of the night.
The Reader café won the Most Supportive Employer Award at the Brain Charity 25th Anniversary Awards in July. The café have provided wonderful support to WorkFit candidate Shauna (above) and she is highly valued as a member of the team.
Wiltshire Police won the Best Employer Practice Award at the BASE Awards in November in recognition of their support of the WorkFit programme since 2016 which has included five placements, fundraising support and conference appearances.
These awards recognise how well regarded WorkFit is within the supported employment sector and acknowledges the great work done by WorkFit’s partners, both the employers and their talented and dedicated employees.
We held successful conferences in the South West of England in March, the North West in September and the North and Yorkshire and Humberside in October.
At every conference we heard inspiring and motivating first-hand stories from candidates in employment and their employers.
We also attended the World Down Syndrome Congress in July and gave a presentation about WorkFit.
We would like to thank all of the employers, candidates, parents and professionals who have supported us throughout 2018 – we couldn’t do what we do without you.
WorkFit supports people with Down’s syndrome to access meaningful work opportunities that can benefit the rest of their lives.
For more information about WorkFit please contact the team (pictured above) on 0333 12 12 300 or email us on dsworkfit@downs-syndrome.org.uk
For more information visit the WorkFit website: www.dsworkfit.org.uk
