If you’re a disabled person looking to get ready for work, or to move into work, Reach4Work can help you on your journey. Read on for more…
If you’re ready to sign up, click here.
What Is Reach4Work?
Reach4Work is an exceptionally successful support service for disabled people looking to move closer to or get into work. It is a free service by Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS), a charity and working community of disabled people.
How Does Reach4Work Work?
Reach4Work works like this:
- You join the BuDS community as a Reach4Work volunteer. You are a full and equal member of our community, not just a “client” or “service user”.
- You get individual support from the Reach4Work team to help you move towards work. You meet friendly members of the team to work out what support you need, and this is written down in an Individual Support Plan. Support we can provide includes training, mentoring, interview and CV skills, job placements, etc. We can help you get qualifications and certificates too.
- If you need support as a disabled person, we will make sure you get this. BuDS is a large and very diverse working community, including people with nearly every disability and impairment. We know how to make sure everyone can work and learn in the way that is best for them.
- BuDS is a supportive, inclusive and caring community, and we will provide you with exceptional emotional and peer support as a member of our community.
- When we have got to know each other, you will join a BuDS project. All BuDS projects are run by disabled volunteers like you with the support of staff. The role you will have within the project will be designed especially for you to match your needs, experience, and skills. The idea is that you have a ‘real unpaid job’ within BuDS which gives you the opportunity to learn, grown, and develop, while at the same time helping BuDS’ projects to move forward.
- Your BuDS role can be added to your CV and we will give references if needed for the work that you have done for us.
- When you are ready, Reach4Work will help you start applying for jobs and meeting employers. We work as part of the BucksWorkability Partnership so we have a lot of opportunities to match you up with employers.
How Long Can I Be With Reach4Work?
Reach4Work will support you for as long as it takes. We do not have fixed time limits for being part of Reach4Work. Some people stay with Reach4Work for years. However, around a third of our disabled jobseeker volunteers move into work or vocational training within a year of starting with BuDS.
Will It Affect My Benefits?
No. Reach4Work is recognised by the DWP as a project helping disabled people into work. You can continue to claim jobseeker and disability benefits while being part of Reach4Work. BuDS has a good relationship with the DWP, and we can help you sort out any issues that might arise.
No Travelling Involved
Reach4Work is an online support service. This means that you can be involved from home without having to travel to an office. The whole of BuDS works online and we have found that disabled jobseekers welcome the flexibility and ease of being able to join from home.
Help With Technology
When you join Reach4Work, you get a BuDS Office365 account and email, and you can download all the software you need free of charge. If you don’t have a suitable laptop or desktop computer, we can loan one to you or help you find one to buy.
Office365 is designed to be accessible to most disabled people, and we will support you to use it effectively with free training and support. Office365 is also the most widely used software in businesses and workplaces, so learning to use it with BuDS will be a big bonus when you come to look for work.
Who Can Join Reach4Work?
Reach4Work is open to any disabled person living in England who is looking for work, or would like to start preparing to look for work. You don’t have to live in Buckinghamshire, although we may give priority to Bucks residents if we run out of places. You don’t need to be receiving particular benefits or to have been out of work for any particular period of time.
Reach4Work is open to all adults (18 or over). We can provide work experience for disabled young people aged 16-18 – just ask us about this.
Are You A Disabled Person?
You are a disabled person for the purposes of Reach4Work if you have any physical, mental, sensory, or neurodivergent condition which affects you a lot in your daily life. This is the definition used in the Equality Act 2010. You don’t have to receive a disability benefit, have an EHCP, or get NHS or social care support to join Reach4Work.
Professionals & Returning To Work
Reach4Work is not just for people starting out in their careers. If you’re an experienced disabled worker looking to change careers, or if you are returning to work, you can still join Reach4Work. We will tailor your role and support to meet your needs.
Just Become Disabled?
If you are getting used to living as a disabled person, perhaps after an injury or illness, Reach4Work can help you find ways to get back to work or to find a new career. We are very knowledgeable about Long Covid and post-Covid conditions, and how these can affect people.
Privacy
Any information that you share with BuDS will be kept private and secure within BuDS. We never share any information without your permission (unless, exceptionally, we need to do so to keep you safe in an emergency). We don’t share information with the DWP, local councils, or the NHS. BuDS is a registered data controller under the Data Protection Acts.
How To Sign Up
To sign up, click here.