This week an inspirational individual came to my office whom has shown that sustaining a serious injury, being disabled or disadvantaged, does not mean a person loses their independence. This particular young lady sustained awful injuries whilst she was carrying her three month old daughter down the stairs seven years ago, when she tripped and fell. The fall left her with a broken back and she came to my office seeking a work experience placement.
After enduring intense rehabilitation and determined not to be dependent on the state, this young lady has done everything she can to remain economically active and to try and secure employment. She has worked as a volunteer in a number of roles, is training to become a Counsellor, has done numerous courses at college and worked in retail as a Christmas temp. Finally, she has been offered an opportunity by the Shaw Trust to complete a 26 week placement at work, funded by them, in order to try and give her a platform from which to gain a permanent job role.
The Shaw Trust has been a registered charity since 1982 and is one of the largest third sector providers of employment services for people with a disability or at disadvantage in the UK. They work with over 12,000 employers and many public sector organisations and believe everyone has the right to employment, inclusion and independence. They deliver both mainstream and specialist employment support schemes across Britain and help over 50,000 people per year. They also help people gain skills and into work via a wide range of other activities including education and skills contracts as well as health and social enterprise projects.
I was so inspired by this story that I have offered the young lady a placement through the Shaw Trust at my constituency office. I hope by writing this I have raised awareness of the Trust and that I have encouraged more local businesses to do the same and give someone a chance.
For more information on the Shaw Trust visit http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/