Our vision is that every disabled and disadvantaged person has the opportunity for work…

Any one of us could be affected by ill health, disability, or circumstances that make it hard to find work or hold down a job. When this happens, it can bring a loss of independence, income, social life, sense of belonging and diminishing self-belief.

 

As a national charity, which supports disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for work, find jobs and live more independently, our work at Shaw Trust is about empowering people to improve their lives and to believe in their own abilities as passionately as we do.

We believe everyone has the right to work and we have campaigned for over 25 years to turn our vision into a reality. Every year we work with over 75,000 people who face barriers due to disability, ill health or social circumstance. Thousands of employers and public sector organisations also benefit from our range of services for business; in addition to working in partnership with like minded organisations overseas. Thousands of employers and public sector organisations also benefit from our range of services for business; in addition to working in partnership with like minded organisations overseas, in countries such as Poland, Romania and Australia’

We’ve been progressing towards our vision through the wide range of activities and programmes we deliver across the UK, providing:

 

§         Personal development and training schemes

These help people to decide what they want to achieve and where they want to be; equipping them with the skills, support and motivation they need to get there.

 

§         Pre-work activities

We operate over 200 projects and initiatives which enable people to become more ‘work-ready’, develop their self confidence and acquire life skills. Working closely with public sector organisations, we develop and deliver effective social care services designed to fit the community they’re part of. Each project is designed to meet the needs of local people and reflect local work opportunities.

 

§         Employment programmes

We provide one-to-one support to help people to find jobs and to stay in work. We are the UK’s largest provider, and one of the Government’s lead partners, in the delivery of employment programmes for disabled and disadvantaged people.

 

§         Promoting diversity

We provide a range of diversity management services for business, including recruitment, help to retain valued staff, ensuring websites are accessible to all and much more. We also work continually to help employers and individuals to understand and value equality and diversity.

 

§         Independent living services

We provide support to people who want more choice and flexibility in the care services they use, empowering people to live more independent lives.

 

§         Working in partnership

We work closely with employers, funders, service delivery partners and volunteers. Working together enables us to offer the people who use our services the very best opportunities to find and retain work and achieve their goals.

 

We also have 36 charity shops across the UK, helping us raise awareness of the work we do and to generate income towards it.

www.shaw-trust.org.uk

Date Updated: 14/10/09