Breaking down the barriers to work

Finding quality work experience can be an uphill struggle for young disabled people. National childrenís mobility charity, Whizz-Kidz, is working with business partners to develop a more inclusive approach.

Switched-on, skilled-up, and ready to take on a challenge. Organisations hold these attributes in high esteem and they know that one of the best ways to identify quality new recruits, is to check out their work experience credentials. Meeting the growing demand among young people for tailored, high quality work placements is a universal challenge. But searching for a suitable post when youíre a young wheelchair user can often be a fruitless struggle. Find out how Whizz-Kidz is working with business partners to help make sure everyoneís included.

ëDisabled people are significantly less likely to have access to in-work skills development that would aid their career progressioní.

ëDisability, Skills & Workí (Social Market Foundation and the Disability Rights Commission, June 2007)

A valuable asset
Studies show that employers place more emphasis on work experience and a positive attitude than on class of degree when they recruit . Organisations value well-primed candidates who are able to adjust smoothly into the work environment, who demonstrate the confidence and maturity to work effectively with colleagues, and can make a positive contribution to productivity as soon as possible.

Young people also have plenty to gain. Competition for posts at entry-level is high, and students know that relevant work experience can make all the difference to their application. Over 95 per cent of all young people go out on work experience placements in their last year of compulsory education , and benefit from the opportunity to learn more about their interests, strengths and weaknesses and to test out possible careers options.

Arriving ready equipped for your first job with a set of core skills doesnít go amiss either, and itís not surprisingly that policy makers are in on the act. Earlier this year Lord Leitch recommended that the Government invest in world class skills if it is to secure the UKís competitive edge in the global economy. We can certainly expect even more emphasis on the provision and take-up of high quality work-based and vocational training.

Work experience remains out of reach for many disabled youngsters
For disabled youngsters, a heightened emphasis on skills development is a positive development. Disabled young people are over twice as likely as non-disabled young people to be not in education, employment or training (NEET). This is the single most powerful predictor of unemployment in later life . But without decisive action on the supply side to provide a range work placements which cater for all needs and interests, disabled young people will continue to fall behind their peers in the growing quest for work-based skills.

21 year old Ruth Madeley, a Whizz-Kidz ambassador is currently studying journalism at Edge Hill University in Liverpool. Ruth recently benefited from a work experience placement organized by Whizz-Kidz in partnership with the BBC.

ëI absolutely loved every minute of my work experience at Whizz-Kidz and at the BBC. Because Iím a wheelchair user I have found some barriers to getting work experience, the placements I have been offered have been limited to work that didnít fit into what Iím interested in at all. I would definitely recommend to anyone to go and get the right work experience. I feel much more confident about my transition into the workplace since taking part.í

Ruthís positive experiences remain a pipe dream for the vast majority of her peers. The gap in skills is not just a problem for disabled people. Businesses are missing out on the valuable contribution and mix of competences which disabled people can bring to the workplace.

Working together to make a difference
Companies, charities and the public sector, as well as young people themselves must all take responsibility and embrace this challenge. Businesses must do more to ensure that they are meeting their Disability Discrimination Act responsibilities and grasp the financial support on offer (such as Access to Work funding) to ensure that they make the reasonable adjustments required to support young disabled people in work placements, as well as in full time employment. More broadly the failure to ensure that disabled people are equipped with the right skills will restrict employment and prosperity at the national level. The government will fall far short of its target of achieving 80% employment rate if disabled people are excluded from mainstream work experience and sustainable employment in the long term.

Move a life forward
While there is no quick fix, Whizz-Kidz, the national charity which provides customised mobility equipment, wheelchair skills training and support to disabled children and young people, is working to increase the number of accessible work experience placements available in the immediate term.

With support from Camelot, Whizz-Kidz is piloting a national work placement programme to develop and deliver successful, meaningful work experience placements to a UK wide network of young disabled people as part of a new 3-year strategy.

With big names such as Credit Suisse and Tesco all ready on board, the charity will deliver 10 work placements this year, and hopes to reach even more young people in 2008 by exploring opportunities to roll out further schemes in partnership with the private and public sector.

Ruth Owen, Chief Executive of the charity, outlines the vision behind the programme:

ëWe want to ensure that disabled children and young people have the same opportunities as their non-disabled friends to achieve their full potential in life. Providing the right mobility equipment early in life is just one part of the jigsaw.

Access to life skills training and work experience placements empower young disabled people to develop the skills and confidence they need to take on the challenges of independent living and full employment in the future. Iím incredibly excited about the potential of the programme to increase the number of young disabled people able to develop their talents and achieve their aspirationsí

Partner organisations have welcomed the opportunity to offer work placement opportunities with a group of dynamic young disabled people, and to provide them with tangible opportunities to develop their skills and understanding of the workplace.

Companies who get involved can benefit by learning about how they can best support the individual needs and professional development of disabled employees, as well as demonstrating their positive commitment to disability equality. By taking part they are positioned at the forefront of the drive to establish a diverse work-force as the back bone for a more equal and inclusive society.

ëOur charity of the year partnership with Whizz-Kidz has really inspired us to sustain our relationship by implementing a programme of work placements for young disabled people in different parts of our business. Weíve been impressed by how Whizz-Kidz has managed our partnership and are delighted to be offering young people the chance to develop essential new skills in the workplaceí.

Debra Stones, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Tesco

If you are interested to find out more about Whizz-Kidz work placement programme, please contact Jill Cochrane, Director of Communications on j.cochrane@whizz-kidz.org.uk