30th August 2002
DISABLED AND LONG-TERM ILL SAY YES2WORK IN BARNSLEY

A pioneering recruitment agency for the disabled and ill, Yes2Work in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, is celebrating its first year in business and the registration of over 425 clients so far.

Yes2Work is a free job broking service for people who are out of work because of illness or disability, and has been set up to run according to Social Firm principles. It is, therefore, a 'not for profit' organisation that aims to employ a significant number of disabled people itself, in addition to helping people with disabilities or illnesses with employment problems generally.

Yes2Work chose the Acorn Centre in Grimethorpe as its base because it wanted to contribute to and participate in the regeneration of a former coalfields area.

The Acorn Centre is a £3m multi-purpose Community Resource Centre, based at the former Coal Board Headquarters. Managed by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in partnership with Grimethorpe Regeneration Executive (GRE) and Barnsley Development Agency (BDA), the centre was purchased in 1992 and is now approaching 10 years of successful partnership that has already made a significant contribution to the social and economic regeneration of the village.

Yes2Work is now delivering a Job Broking Service within the New Deal for Disabled People Scheme in South Yorkshire, Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, County Durham, Northumberland and Scotland. Any person receiving eligible disability benefits including those unable to work due to illness can benefit from the Yes2Work' service. More specifically, it maybe that candidates are lacking confidence, have difficulty expressing themselves, are worried about new technology or equipment, or simply have transport problems.

These, and many other obstacles to work, are ones which can be discussed in confidence in a friendly and non-threatening way at Yes2Work, and solutions found to help the individual get back to work. And it's not just individuals who benefit, as Katharine Bonney of Yes2Work explains: "We offer a free service not only to help people find the right job, but also to help companies and organisations find the right people. We have experienced and qualified people registered with us as clients, so employers just need to let us know the skills, qualifications and qualities they're looking for, and we'll match their needs with one of our clients."

When the client starts work, Yes2Work will support both the company and the client to ensure both parties are satisfied with the arrangement. Katharine continued: "People come to us with a whole range of disabilities, from back trouble to depression. Most candidates want to work, and have had such negative experiences in the past that they don't know where to turn, which is where Yes2Work can help. Many of our candidates are highly qualified and experienced and can do a good job for employers, and we are now creating a database of those employers who recognise these benefits and are willing to work with us."

Some candidates have not worked for so long that they would like a 'work trial', which is a good way for the employer and the applicant to test out whether an arrangement will work at no obligation, but which could lead to a job in the long-run. In return, Yes2Work can offer expertise on disability awareness, job retention, workplace adaptations, recruitment, selection and training and other consultancy services to support and guide the employer through the process. For further information contact Yes2Work free of charge on 0808 144 7080, fax 0808 144 7081, Textphone 0808 144 7082, or email info@yes2work.org.uk Alternatively, you can visit the Yes2Work website at www.yes2work.org.uk

For more information on the Acorn Centre, contact John Heckingbottom at the Acorn Centre on 01226 712575



Notes
What is a social firm? "A Social Firm is a business created for the employment of people who have a disability or are otherwise disadvantaged in the labour market. It is a business which uses its market-orientated production of goods and services to pursue its social mission. A significant number of its employees will be people with a disability or other disadvantage in the labour market. Every worker is paid a market-rate wage or salary, appropriate to the work.

Work opportunities should be equal between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged employees. All employees should have the same employment rights and obligations." Definition of a Social Firm from CEFEC, Confederation of European Firms, Employment Initiatives and Co-operatives,1997).

Disabled people? Each disabled person has their own history, and their employability might relate as much to their past employment experience, family situation, their qualifications and training, and attitude towards work, as it does their particular impairment or health problem. When disabilities are treated as objectively as qualifications or work experience then the DDA (1995) will have achieved one of its main aims. Disabled people are not a homogeneous group but a collection of individuals with different strengths and weaknesses. Yes2Work aims to create employment opportunities for the full spectrum of disabled people and overcome peoples fear and lack of understanding about disabled people. Thousands of disabled people need no adjustments in order to work on equal terms with others; they simply need someone to give them an opportunity.



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