Release date 2 July 2001
Employment Opportunities’ Cardiff
Regional Centre is one of the first areas in the country to benefit from
the new job service for people with disabilities launched today by Minister
for Work, Nick Brown, at the offices of Employment Opportunities for people
with disabilities.
e-mail: eopps.cardiff@connectfree.co.uk
Working in partnership with private,
public and voluntary organisations, the New Deal Job Broking programme
provides people with disabilities with a dedicated service to match their
skills and abilities with employers’ needs. As a Job-Broker
under the scheme, Employment Opportunities’ Regional Centre will help anyone
with a disability receiving incapacity or a similar benefit realise their
employment potential.
When meeting staff and jobseekers
at the Charity’s Newcastle centre, where the launch took place, Mr Brown
said “ New Deal for Disabled People has already helped nearly 8,000 people
into work. With the launch today of the new job-broking service we
are now working in partnership with specialist organisations- we are combining
our expertise to help even more people with disabilities get work-ready
where necessary and find lasting paid employment where possible.”
He also pointed out, that “Organisations
like Employment Opportunities have great experience of the abilities and
needs of people with disabilities and will ensure that a vital section
of the labour force is not overlooked. The job-broking scheme is
also an essential step forward to helping employers find the people they
need.”
Paul Leonard, Regional Director
of Employment Opportunities South Wales commented “We are delighted to
be appointed job-brokers under NDDP. This will assist us to increase
the number of people with disabilities in the area securing sustained employment.”
Employment Opportunities for people
with disabilities South Wales has been providing a practical programme
of assistance to people with any kind of disability in the area looking
for work, since 1997. Those wishing to make use of the initiative must
be on incapacity or similar benefit, and should contact Employment Opportunities
on (029) 20394363.
Notes to Editors
Employment Opportunities is a national
charity, established in 1980, helping people with disabilities find work.
Creating CVs, completing application forms, writing supporting letters
for applicants, interview techniques, job-hunting skills and confidence
building are some of the skills covered by the Charity’s programme.
Advice and support is also offered to employers.
The charity has been awarded a national
contract to provide New Deal for Disabled People and Employment Opportunities
South Wales will be a job-broker under this scheme. Employment Opportunities
South Wales has been operating since 1997 and provides a full programme
of support to people with disabilities and employers in the area.
NDDP pilots have been operating
in different parts of the country from September 1998 to test ways of helping
people on incapacity benefits back into work.
The early NDDP pilots produced encouraging
results but it was felt that a more extensive national pilot should be
developed to build on the experience of the pilots but also test a wider
range of approaches.
Bids were sought from a wide range
of organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors and approximately
100 organisations responded. Contracts are being awarded to over
60 organisations, many of whom are due to start delivering their services
from 2 July.
Paul Leonard, Regional Director
Employment Opportunities South Wales
(029) 20394363. Out of hours
– (029) 20851090
Ian Finlinson, Director of Operations
Employment Opportunities for people with disabilities.
01225 461 005. Out of hours
- 07710 313 222