Voluntary work helps Sean gain permanent employment

20 December
An image of a man holding a phone

Before being referred to Shaw Trust, Sean had been on other employment programmes but unfortunately was not able to secure permanent employment. Due to his neurodiversity, Sean struggled to speak to others and often found social interactions extremely daunting.

Upon joining the Work and Health Programme, Sean’s support manager Venetia found it difficult to speak with him regularly as he did not have access to a mobile phone or knowledge of how to use one. Venetia was able to get funding to purchase him a mobile phone, help him set it up and show him how it worked. This made a big difference and Venetia was able to communicate more easily with Sean.

Venetia assessed the areas where he was struggling and referred him to Genius Within for counselling and mental health support. Sean was not positive about his finances and didn’t know what he would need to earn to cover his expenses. Venetia used the Better Off calculator to advise Sean in this area and provide him with peace of mind that, by finding employment, he was moving in the best direction financially.

Venetia identified the need for employment experience on Sean’s CV and encouraged him to do voluntary work so he could develop his skillset and add some experience to his CV. Sean secured a voluntary placement in a Douglas Macmillan charity shop, where he built up his confidence and was ready for permanent employment.

Venetia supported Sean with job applications until a hiring manager saw Sean’s potential and offered him a role as a warehouse operative with a biscuit company. Feedback from the employer to Venetia revealed how impressed he had been with Sean’s voluntary work and that this had been a key factor in giving him a position at the company.

To help Sean settle in quickly, Venetia was able to organise travel and facilitate a conversation between Sean and the hiring manager to ensure he was fully prepared for his start date.

Sean is happily employed and is in an environment where his confidence continues to grow.

What is the Work and Health Programme?

The Work and Health Programme is DWP’s contracted employment provision that will help persons who have a disability and specified disadvantaged groups to find sustained work. The Work and Health Programme will target those who are most likely to benefit from the additional support of the programme:

Participants with Disabilities, an ex-offender or offender, a carer an ex-carer, a homeless person, a member, former member of His Majesty’s (HM) Armed Forces, a partner of current or former Armed Forces personnel, a person for whom a drug/alcohol dependency (including a history of) presents a significant barrier to employment, a care leaver, a refugee, young people identified as being involved or at risk of being involved in gangs or serious violence, victims of domestic violence.

Click here to find out more about the Work and Health Programme and how to be referred.

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James Stewart OBE
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