BASE Conference 2024

Six of the WorkFit Team attended the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) conference and awards event this year in Manchester where practitioners, jobseekers, families and other stakeholders came together to celebrate all the amazing achievements of the last year and to plan for another 12 months of hard work and success.

Once again, a WorkFit nominee was successful with Severn Trent Water taking the award for Large Employer of 2024 for best practice. This is now seven years in a row that a WorkFit employer has won this award – an incredible achievement that is a tribute to the support of inclusive employers who deserve to be recognized, the hard work of the team, and the excellent framework that we deliver.

A collage of three images. On the left, a young man, smartly dressed in suit and tie, holds out a glass award. He has Down's syndrome. Top right is the Severn Trent logo. Bottom right, the young man who has Down's syndrome stands with two equally smartly dressed colleagues, a man and a woman.

Ed with Ian Tuckley and Josie Muncaster from Severn Trent

A group of nine people pose in front of a big screen that reads BASE Supported Employment Awards. In the centre is a Ed, a young man who has Down's syndrome. On his right is his Mum. His Colleagues Josie and Ian are also part of the group. The other people are members of the WorkFit team.

Ed and his mum Jane, with WorkFit and Severn Trent

A young man who has Down's syndrome, wrapped up warmly in a thick waterproof coat, reflective jacket and woolie hat, smiles at the photographer. You can glimpse a body of water in the background.

Ed Daly, Ranger at Severn Trent Water

Ed Daly was part of the team going up to accept the award and he told us about the wonderful support that he has had from the team he works with at Tittesworth Reservoir. Ed is very proud of the fact that he is the first Ranger who has Down’s syndrome to be employed in the UK and he has just celebrated his 2-year anniversary.

Also shortlisted were H&M who also attended the awards dinner. An incredible achievement for them to reach the final but richly deserved following the development of a hugely successful partnership with WorkFit resulting in 12 employment opportunities to date.

A group of women smile at the camera. They are standing and sitting at a large table at an awards event.

WorkFit with Victoria Still and Debra Eustace (front,left) from H&M

The conference featured a number of key stakeholders from the supported employment community. Keynotes were delivered by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and Deputy Director at the Department for Work and Pensions, Julia Gault. You can see a full list of speakers on the BASE website.

The theme of the conference was ’Careers for All’ which aligns with the objectives of WorkFit where our commitment is to work to source sustainable  employment opportunities for people who have Down’s syndrome that will meet their needs and suit their skills and abilities.

Five of the DSA's WorkFit officers pose for a photo next to a BASE banner.

WorkFit Team members who attended

Thank you to all at BASE for arranging such an uplifting and valuable event.

 

 

To find out more about WorkFit and how we support people who have Down’s syndrome to access meaningful work opportunities that can benefit the rest of their lives, please contact the team on 0333 12 12 300 or email us on dsworkfit@downs-syndrome.org.uk For more information visit the WorkFit website: dsworkfit.org.uk

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