New work experience programme set to help unemployed disabled people

ECDP (an Essex based organisation for disabled people) has announced a ground-breaking training programme designed to offer unemployed disabled people the opportunity to participate in meaningful work placements to give them the drive, experience and confidence needed to get into paid employment.

Essex Unite, the eight-week programme run by ECDP in partnership with JobCentre Plus and the private sector group MITIE, will begin in September 2012. It is a unique peer-to-peer led programme, with disabled people supporting other disabled people to achieve their aspirations and employment goals.

The training will include a pre-placement week offering a number of courses such as: how to deliver good customer service; how to develop leadership skills and how to manage health and stress levels.

This will be followed by six weeks of valuable work experience, with participants being matched with appropriate employers and assigned a mentor, in order to gain the right level of experience to support them back into work. A reference will also be provided for future employers.

Individuals will then participate in a post-programme transition week which will include CV and job interview workshops.

For three months after the programme, ECDP will continue to support Essex Unite participants to ensure that they build on their experience and capitalize on employment opportunities.

The pre-placement training week will begin on the week commencing 10th September, with the six-week job placement starting the following week.

Participant open days are to be held throughout Essex: in Chelmsford and Colchester on 21st August and in Southend on 23rd August. Candidates who wish to attend these should be registered with JobCebtre Plus.