Tag: ENABLE

Charity chief honoured for leading support of people with learning disabilities

The chief executive of the human rights charity Enable has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) for devoting her career to improving the life chances of people with learning disabilities.

Theresa Shearer was presented with the honour during a graduation ceremony for students from ENU’s School of Health and Social Care at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh today [29 October].

During her tenure, Theresa has been credited with helping the charity to inspire public policy development, provide human rights advocacy, build sustainable employment, and deliver human rights-driven health and social care.

Theresa’s work has also been widely recognised, while she provides voluntary support for third sector leadership and governance organisations across the UK and Europe.

In recent years Enable has partnered with Edinburgh Napier University to establish the Breaking Barriers programme.

In conjunction with professional services firm EY, it supports young people with learning disabilities make the transition to university and higher education through a combination of study and work placements.

Fittingly, the latest cohort of Breaking Barriers students received their qualifications during the same ceremony where Theresa was presented with her degree.

Reacting to the award of the honorary doctorate, Theresa said: “It is a real honour to receive an honorary doctorate from Edinburgh Napier University, an institution which lives by the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that have inspired and driven me throughout my career.

“From researching the interplay between disability and inclusion, to training and developing the next generation of health and social care professionals, and acting to widen access to university for disabled people as a partner in the Breaking Barriers programme, Edinburgh Napier University is a shining example to organisations and businesses across sectors.

“To be recognised for my contribution to the charity and social care sectors is truly a privilege, and I hope this will emphasise the critical contribution that these sectors make to our economy and society, now and in the future.”

Giving Theresa’s laureation during the graduation ceremony, Professor Jill Stavert, from ENU’s School of Health & Social Care said: “There are so many examples of Theresa’s achievements and her enormous contribution to improving the lives of people with learning disabilities.

“As CEO of Enable Scotland – a charity which supports the human rights of people with learning disabilities – Theresa leads 2,500 staff in supporting 13,000 people to live independently in their community.

“But her influence goes far beyond this role. Theresa’s contribution to executive leadership is recognised nationally and internationally, demonstrating her passion for social care workforce development and empowering young people to realise their potential.”

Breaking Barriers students join Edinburgh Napier graduation ceremony after completing acclaimed course

The programme is run in partnership between ENABLE, ENU and EY

Enable. students with their awards at the Edinburgh Napier University graduation ceremony .

Students from a pioneering programme to help support young people with learning disabilities into higher education and work have played a part in Edinburgh Napier University’s graduation celebrations for the first time.

Breaking Barriers is a partnership between the charity ENABLE, ENU, and professional services firm EY, offering participants the opportunity to gain an accredited qualification.

Run by The Business School at the University, it helps support young people with learning disabilities make the transition to university and higher education through a combination of supportive study and work placements. 

The latest cohort collected their qualification during Edinburgh Napier’s autumn graduations, crossing the stage during a ceremony at this city’s Usher Hall with friends and family watching on.

Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal & Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “It’s really important for our Breaking Barriers students to be a part of our graduations where we celebrate achievements from across the University.

“For these young people, their achievements have been fantastic. I feel proud of them. I’ve met them all and listened to their stories and it brought a tear to my eye.

“Programmes like Breaking Barriers show people what’s possible. They provide opportunity. It really brings to life what we mean by an inclusive community. One of our values at Edinburgh Napier University is inclusion and so I hope that others will see the types of programmes that we offer, the success of the students that come and the opportunities that are open to them in the future.”

Programme leader Dr Malcolm McGregor, Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School, said: “We are all just chuffed to bits to have the opportunity to work with this cohort. 

“They are all wonderful people and we feel we are doing something very important to support their growth and development not only in terms of academic capability but more importantly perhaps, giving them confidence to make decisions they weren’t able to take a year ago.

“I am proud as punch to be supported by a highly experienced and knowledgeable team of academic staff who are all totally committed to making sure the programme is a huge success.”

Breaking Barriers is taught at ENU by Mike Sanderson, Malcolm McGregor, Joan McLatchie, Andy Moffat and Kyle Andrews. It also formed part of The Business School’s successful bid to gain AACSB accreditation.

Seven students took part in the 2022-23 programme, where they learned skills in areas, including accounting and finance, marketing hospitality and customer service, and human resource management. All elements of the ‘Applied Business Skills’ module are taught on ENU’s Craiglockhart campus, with students then applying their knowledge in a work setting at EY.

The programme, which ENABLE began running in 2018 at the University of Strathclyde, has seen 90% of graduates go on to secure employment or further education and training opportunities in recent years.

Stepping Up: Minister visits Wester Hailes High School to learn about ENABLE’s vision for the future of young disabled people

Pupils at Wester Hailes High School welcomed Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education, Youth Employment and Training, to their classroom yesterday to showcase ENABLE Works’ Stepping Up programme.

The ground-breaking initiative, established in 2009 by ENABLE, Scotland’s largest charity for people with learning disabilities, supports young people who have a learning disability to build and explore their aspirations for the future, helping them to positively progress into employment, education and industry training upon leaving school.

Stepping Up currently has a 98% positive destination success rate for young people with learning disabilities – higher than current school leaver statistics across the country. The programme aims to tackle the underrepresentation of people with learning disabilities in the workplace through early intervention.

During his visit to Wester Hailes High School, Mr Hepburn heard directly from students who take part in Stepping Up about how the variety of interactive workshops and training activities have helped to increase their confidence and develop their employability skills and has allowed them the chance to realise their potential and consider their aspirations for the future.

Mr Hepburn was also able to get involved in an interview workshop, aimed at building employability skills, and had the chance to try ENABLE Works’ Virtual Reality (VR) headset, as the programme utilises the latest technologies to allow the young people involved to truly be able to envision their future. 

Jay, one of the Stepping Up students, explained what the programme has meant to him: “I have really enjoyed my time on Stepping Up so far, as I’ve learned a lot about college and work and had the chance to try new things such as the VR headset, while working alongside people in a similar position to me.

“As a pupil in fifth year, I’ve started thinking about what I’d like to do after school. Before Stepping Up I really wasn’t sure what was next for me, I didn’t know much about the world of work, and I wouldn’t have known how to write a CV or how to act in an interview. Thanks to the programme, I now understand how to do these things and I feel much more prepared.

“I’ve been discussing college courses and I’m feeling really excited about what options are out there for me. I’d love to study drama or film and I’m looking forward to visiting different colleges to learn more about the full-time options.”

Director of ENABLE Works, Ashley Ryan said: “Stepping Up is the only programme of its kind in Europe and now operates in over 75 schools across Scotland, making a real difference to the lives of thousands of young people.

“We were very pleased to have welcomed Mr Hepburn to Wester Hailes High School to see first-hand the impact the programme is having on disabled young people, to overcome any barriers that can prevent a positive transition from school into adulthood.

“Helping equip young people with learning disabilities with the confidence and skills they need to positively progress into employment or further education is invaluable, and we hope this early intervention will help to close the disability employment gap that exists in Scotland.”

Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education, Youth Employment and Training, said: “It has been inspiring to hear about the vital work that ENABLE does to connect disabled young people to fair work, education and productive activities designed to support a successful transition into adult life and work.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting organisations, such as ENABLE, to ensure that people with additional support needs are given a wealth of opportunities.

“I look forward to learning more about the progress of the Stepping Up programme.”

For more information on the Stepping Up programme please contact the ENABLE Works team on enable.works@enable.org.uk or 0300 0200 101.

Class of 2022: Young people with learning disabilities are Breaking Barriers in education

Edinburgh Napier University hosted a unique graduation ceremony this week for a group of students who successfully completed ENABLE’s Breaking Barriers programme.

The ground-breaking initiative, established by ENABLE in 2018, empowers young people who have a learning disability to access university life whilst being fully supported to thrive. Students can undertake work experience opportunities with a leading global employer and gain a university qualification from a world-class academic institution.

Over the course of several months, a group of students have completed a learning programme at Edinburgh Napier University and a work placement with the course’s corporate partner, multinational professional services provider – EY.

The course aims to tackle the widespread lack of opportunities for young people with learning disabilities to enter the workforce. Recent data shows that while 45% of all Scotland’s school leavers go to university, only 8.6% of school leavers who have a learning disability go on to higher education.

The Breaking Barriers business class of 2022 came together this week for joyful celebrations with friends and family in the River Suite at Edinburgh Napier University. All of the students were successful in achieving their Accreditation in Applied Business Skills.

One of the students Gemma told us what the Breaking Barriers experience has meant to her: “I’m so happy to have successfully completed the Breaking Barriers programme, it was such a valuable experience that has benefited me a lot and I now feel ready to take my next step into further education or employment.

“I used to find school and college quite overwhelming but thanks to the support Breaking Barriers offers, I’ve really enjoyed the university environment and the chance to meet lots of new people. It was lovely to all come together on Wednesday to celebrate our achievement with our family and friends.”

ENABLE CEO and co-founder of the Breaking Barriers programme, Theresa Shearer, said: “Since 2018, the Breaking Barriers programme has made it possible for students who have a learning disability to access the life-shaping experience of university that is a rite of passage for so many, yet it is currently available to so few disabled young people.

“Breaking Barriers demonstrates how the public, private and third sectors can work collaboratively to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in education and the workplace. Thanks to our partners at Edinburgh Napier University and EY, I am delighted to see those opportunities extended to even more young people across Scotland, and I congratulate what I am sure will be the first group of many from the programme at Napier.”

Philip Milne, EY Sponsor Partner in Scotland for Breaking Barriers, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome the Breaking Barriers students to our team for six weeks. As part of their work placement, the students rotated across all of our core service lines, showed curiosity by asking pertinent questions, and importantly grew in confidence every week.

“At the graduation event we heard the success stories of students who had been encouraged by their experience, to explore further education and employment – a true example of how breaking barriers down can make a difference.”

ENABLE runs the Breaking Barriers programme through its ENABLE Works division that sets out to break down barriers to employment for people living with a learning disability. 

Currently the specialist employability service is embedded within 28 local authorities across Scotland and supports 5,500 people each year. The development programmes are all about getting people of all ages ready for work – and supporting their individual needs every step of the way.

Professor Nazira Karodia, Vice Principal of Learning and Teaching at Edinburgh Napier University said: “We have been delighted to welcome our ENABLE students to our Craiglockhart campus, where our vision is to be the Business School for empowerment, enterprise, and employability for all.

“Our ethos as a university is to be the home for difference makers. Not everyone has an opportunity to change the world, but everyone can make a positive difference to the world around them: working with fantastic partners like ENABLE and EY is truly helping to break down barriers faced by young people with learning difficulties.”

The Breaking Barriers programme, which originated in the West of Scotland, has entered its fifth year and works with corporate partners including STV, Scottish Power and EY, with courses at both Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Strathclyde.

The University of Strathclyde recently expanded the programme offering to include a science cohort, giving young people with learning disabilities the chance to focus on STEM subjects both in a classroom and work placement setting for the first time. This launched in September 2022 and will run for twelve weeks.

For more information on the programme and how to apply please visit:

www.enable.org.uk/breaking-barriers or contact Madeline King at

madeline.king@enable.org.uk

National Care Service Bill published

“This is the most ambitious reform of public services since the creation of the NHS” – Humza Yousaf

Legislation to establish a National Care Service for Scotland (NCS) will ensure the best possible outcomes for people accessing care and support and end the ‘postcode lottery’ of care, says the Scottish Government.

The National Care Service Bill will make Scottish Ministers accountable for adult social care in Scotland – a change strongly supported by those responding to the recent consultation on the plans.

The Bill provides the foundation for the NCS, and enables the fine detail of the new  service to be co-designed with people who have direct experience of social care services.

Plans have also been published to explain how that collaboration will work.

The aims are to:

  • support people in their own homes or among family, friends and community wherever possible, with seamless transitions between services;
  • create a charter of rights and responsibilities for social care, with a robust complaints and redress process;
  • introduce rights to breaks for unpaid carers
  • introduce visiting rights for residents living in adult care homes, giving legal force to Anne’s Law
  • ensure fair employment practices and national pay bargaining for the social care workforce;
  • focus on prevention and early intervention before people’s needs escalate;
  • create a new National Social Work Agency to promote training and development, provide national leadership and set and monitor standards in social work.

On a visit to Aberdeen-based charity VSA, which supports people with a wide range of social care needs, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf said: “This is the most ambitious reform of public services since the creation of the NHS.

“People have told us they want a National Care Service, accountable to Scottish Ministers, with services designed and delivered locally. That’s exactly what we are going to deliver.

“The design of the NCS will have human rights embedded throughout, and the actual shape and detail of how the NCS works will be designed with those who have direct experience of accessing and providing social care.

“We are going to end the postcode lottery of care in Scotland. Through the National Care Service we’re going to ensure everyone has access to consistently high-quality care and support so they can live a full life. This is our ambitious goal and while it will not be easy to achieve it is vital that we do.”

Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said: “One of the key benefits of a National Care Service will be to ensure our social care and social work workforce are valued, and that unpaid carers get the recognition they deserve.

“When this Bill passes we will be able to have the new National Care Service established by the end of this parliament. In the interim we will continue to take steps to improve outcomes for people accessing care – working with key partners, including local government, and investing in the people who deliver community health and social care and support.”

Chief Operating Officer of VSA Aberdeen John Booth, said: “We welcome the announcement that the National Care Service Bill has been published. With this being the biggest reform since the creation of the NHS we will now take the time to properly review the bill to understand the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government to co-design the NCS to ensure the voices and needs of the vulnerable people who rely on our vital services are heard.”

Local government umbrella body COSLA has issued a statement:

A massive restructuring project, limited resources, local government opposition … Now, what could possibly go wrong?

National Care Service (Scotland) Bill

Kiltwalkies!

Pups put their best paw forward for charity

A pack of eager pooches gathered at Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens to encourage owners and their canine companions to put their best foot – and paw – forward for charity.

Among them were one-year old Miniature Schnauzer Peter, one year old Labrador Retriever Nuggle, three year old Maltese cross Issey and five year old Lhasa Apso Ziggy, who along with their owners want others to join them at the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in aid of the charity ENABLE Scotland, the largest charity in Scotland that’s working towards an equal society for every person who has a disability.

The capital’s Kiltwalk is due to take place on 16th September and will be attended by thousands of walkers, including TV presenter Hazel Irvine who is returning to lend her support to ENABLE Scotland.

Registration for dogs is not required, although their owners are invited to sign up via ENABLE Scotland’s website where the charity are offering free registration to all walkers as an extra incentive to walk with #TeamENABLE.

Walkers can choose from three routes of varying distances. The 24-mile Mighty Stride sets off from Holyrood Park, the 15.5-mile Big Stroll leaves from Pinkie Playing Fields and the five-mile Wee Wander, ideal for families, will set off from Gypsy Brae.

Debbie Mooney, Head of Fundraising at ENABLE Scotland, said: “We are excited to welcome our supporters to the Edinburgh Kiltwalk and are in awe of their continued generosity.

“If you haven’t signed up already, I invite you to join us for free and help us break down the barriers to an equal society for every person who has a learning disability. We look forward to walking alongside all Team Enable supporters on what is set to be another fantastic Kiltwalk for everyone taking part.”

Last year, 830 walkers took part in a Kiltwalk on behalf of ENABLE Scotland and raised £98,122 for children and adults who have a learning disability.

As in previous years, for every pound raised by walkers, £1.40 goes to charity, with Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation pledging a 40% top up for all funds raised.

Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times during the Kiltwalk, and those with dogs must take care to be considerate of other walkers and clean up any mess.

For more information about the Kiltwalk visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk

To register for the Kiltwalk visit www.enable.org.uk

Pictures: Phil Wilkinson

ENABLE walker wins new set of wheels!

A charity worker got the surprise of a lifetime when she was told she had won a new car after taking part in the Royal Bank of Scotland Kiltwalk in Edinburgh. ENABLE’s Nicole Forsyth is the fourth and final Kiltwalker this year to win a shiny new Renault Clio, thanks to platinum sponsor Arnold Clark. Continue reading ENABLE walker wins new set of wheels!