People and Skills

ACE (Access, Consultancy and Employment)

The aim of the project is to provide a local source of training for disabled people to enter the labour market on an employed or self-employed basis.

Organisation:

Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living
Completion Date: 31st March 2007

Location

2nd Floor
5-9 Upper Brown Street
Leicester LE1 5TE

Project Description

Quotation (max. 50 words).
Author

There has been a sea change in the way that disabled people want to take part in society and the requirements of service providers to meet these expectations. For those organisations who have welcomed this change there has been an increase in business and a more inclusive approach to society. There has also been an increasing acceptance that changes made to improve services for disabled people have a knock on effect for other customers.

For other organisations understanding what needs to be done and how to use this change to positive effect is one which can at first seem very challenging and expensive.

There is a need for better information and support. Disabled People are ideally placed as potential experts in their own area of impairment to develop the skills and knowledge to work with service providers and employers to effect the change which is needed.

Major physical regeneration developments are currently taking place in Leicester at this present time. It is crucial that that issues relating to the accessibility and usability of new buildings and services are addressed at the start and do not become an expensive add on.

The project therefore provides an opportunity for disabled people to receive in depth training to establish themselves as access auditors or as trainers in an employed or self employed position.

The project is targeted at unemployed disabled people, people on invalidity benefit or disability related benefits who wish to use their knowledge, their determination and commitment to support and make the sea change a reality.

Outcomes

Disabled people better prepared to enter the job market. There will be an opportunity to view disability issues in a positive rather than the stereotypical negative view.

Disabled people will be undertaking training in IT and job specific training to equip them with the skills to work as trainers or Access Auditors.

The project will work alongside service providers in Leicester and Leicestershire to provide input into developing areas and organisations.

The training will lead to the opportunity for people to work either in an employed or self employed role and will enable disabled people to take an active role in society.

Project Contacts

Project manager:
Dee Martin
Tel: 0116 222 5005
E-mail: Dee@lcil.org.uk
Website: www.lcil.org.uk

LSEP contact:
Name Phil Durban
E-mail: phild@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk