WorkFit Update, January 2025

We are absolutely delighted to share some fantastic news! Esther Brittan, HR Operations Manager UK&I at Hilton, has been awarded an MBE in the 2025 New Year Honours List for her incredible dedication to volunteering and charity work. Esther has worked closely with our WorkFit team, helping to remove workplace barriers and make hospitality employment more accessible for people who have Down’s syndrome.

Here she is with WorkFit candidate Dilesh and our Head of Employment Services, Alison Thwaite. Many congratulations from everyone at the DSA, Esther.

You can read more about her achievements here.

 

We are also thrilled to share this special moment – Carol Boys, our Chief Executive, received her OBE at Buckingham Palace just before Christmas! Carol was included in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June 2024 in recognition of her outstanding services to special educational needs and disability and her commitment to research.

She received the honour from His Majesty King Charles in a wonderful ceremony. You can read more about it here.

 

 

On 13th January, Hilton hosted the inspiring Pathways Afternoon Tea at The Waldorf Hilton, London in London, celebrating success and commitment to supported employment. Our Head of Employment Services, Alison Thwaite, and WorkFit Officers, Lydia and Adriana, were proud to attend. Hilton continues to lead the way in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—our four favourite words at WorkFit—and we are proud to partner with such an outstanding organisation.

We spent time with other supported employment partners, including Aurora Foxes, and we are always delighted to work with candidates who come to us through their educational establishment, knowing that our services complement each other in changing lives and fulfilling career ambitions. The dedication to creating meaningful employment opportunities for people who have Down’s syndrome is genuinely inspiring.

 

It’s fabulous to see Charlotte, supported by our WorkFit team to fulfil her dream of getting a job, featured in Series 3: Episode 3 of the BBC’s ‘A Special School’, talking about her work at Greggs and what it means to her. You can watch the episode here – loom.ly/zD7g72o – and Charlotte comes in at about 08:38.

 

 

 

 

Sam has recently completed a hospitality traineeship at Somerset Larder, who has recently completed a hospitality traineeship at Somerset Larder. His dedication and hard work have earned him valuable experience and multiple qualifications, equipping him for a future in the hospitality industry. With his traineeship now complete, he is actively looking for his next opportunity in the field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all of our employers for their continued support of our WorkFit programme, and good luck to everyone starting new roles this month. 

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: www.dsworkfit.org.uk

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