Press Release

“Much has been achieved, but still a long way to go”

15th May 2008

• Summit held on supporting people with learning disabilities into work -
• Minister for third sector urges voluntary organisations and businesses to work with Government to break down barriers -

Although two thirds of people with learning disabilities would like to work, less than one in ten do, confirmed Phil Hope, minister for the third sector, at an employment summit held this morning in London. “This is not good enough,” he argued, and urged both businesses and voluntary organisations to work with the whole of Government to change this.

The summit was organised by learning disability charity United Response, and saw a host of high profile speakers discuss the obstacles facing people with learning disabilities who want to work, as well as exploring practical ways to overcome them. Supported employment – which places people in real jobs with mainstream employers, and offers ongoing support to both employer and employee– was unanimously agreed to be a positive way forward, and a report into a supported employment scheme in Trafford was launched, called “Being Something I Have Always Wanted To Be”. Phil Hope described the report as “welcome and challenging”.

The report found that the benefits for people with learning disabilities from working are considerable, including increased confidence, independence, self-esteem and well-being. Businesses themselves found people with learning disabilities to be excellent employees. “Employers didn’t just compare workers with learning disabilities to other disabled employees,” noted Sarah Wellard, author of the report and policy officer for United Response, “but with all of their employees. And in some areas they found them to actually be better at their jobs.”

Christine Shaw, a woman with a learning disability, and Amy Whittaker, her employer and environmental services training officer at the Trafford Centre, spoke at the event. “She just oozed passion,” Amy said of Christine, while Christine said that working has helped her “lift her head up”.

The report’s calls for greater flexibility in the benefit system met with wide approval. Calls for the £20 Income Support disregard for people in supported permitted work to be increased – to encourage more people to work – were backed by Huw Davies, chair of the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE). Naomi Eisenstadt, head of the Government’s Social Exclusion Task Force, confirmed that the benefits issue was “live” but “complicated.”

Eisenstadt and Susan Scott-Parker, chief executive of the Employer’s Forum on Disability, also argued that voluntary organisations needed to make the business case to employers, prove why employing people with learning disabilities makes sound commercial sense.

Phil Hope praised the successes in Trafford and said “if we can do this in Trafford we can do this in any town.” The challenge was to learn what had worked and replicate it.

Huw Davies, of BASE talked about the importance of commissioning good supported employment schemes at a local level. “Much has been achieved, but still a long way to go,” is how he summed up the current situation.

The event was sponsored by Unum, the leading disability insurer.