Menu
Employment
Projects
Cwmbwrla
Other Websites
Would you like more information on P4E?
please contact :-
Kelly Jarvis
P4E2 Project Manager,
Department of Social Services and Housing,
Cwmbwrla Day Services
Tel: 01792 652101
OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE – JOBS!
Too many people with disabilities are left without employment or personal development opportunities suited to their particular abilities. Of the hundreds of job advertisments that appear in the newspapers and on the bulletin boards every week, hardly any will be offered to disabled people.
People are excluded because they are unable to fit into the mainstream job market. This all too often results in poverty and additional pressure on carers / family members.
To achieve independence what ever that might mean for the individual people must be assured of, at least, their basic rights. This includes being offered personal care and support, but crucially too, skills-training and paid work.
The European Union does recognise that people with disabilities are excluded, and, in fact, can make a very significant contribution to the economic well-being of the member states. The Objective 1 ‘European Social Fund’ (ESF), administered in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government, targets those regions in greatest need of economic regeneration including Swansea.
So what have we done in Swansea to take advantage of this new ESF funding? The two-year Partnership for Employment (P4E2) project was started in late 2003 by the Social Services Department. Many people with disabilities have said to their Care Managers that they are not ready for the open market and need support to find and stay in employment. Services are specifically aimed at people with serious mental health problems, learning disabilities and younger people with physical disabilities and part of our new development phase with younger people leaveing care.
Also within this innovative partnership are external agencies as the Welsh initiative for Supported Employment (WISE), Gorseinon College and the BAYS Project based in High Street to form a partnership that became P4E2.
Partners receive a very welcome boost of ESF money to extend their reach into local communities and to improve the quality and breadth of their existing services - and develop new services where needed.
A central feature of P4E2 is providing long-term personal support and advice to all participating in the various vocational and work activities. These activities take place within colleges, commercial offices, shops, factories, environmental schemes and our own Local Authority.
Over 500 people will have completed their individual goals by the end of 2005. A considerable number of these will have found employment. Most will have entered skills courses and, therefore, will have increased prospects of finding suitable work in the future.