Member Article

Visually impaired to get employment boost

A North East scheme to help visually impaired people into work has been awarded a £215,000 grant.

Henshaws Society for Blind People will use the Big Lottery Fund money to help isolated, unemployed visually impaired people to move into employment, further education or voluntary work.

The funding will help the charity’s Skillstep to Success Programme continue for a further three years. Students on the programme follow a flexible programme including training in IT, personal and social development, independent living, work experience and job seeking advice.

David Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer North East, Henshaws Society for Blind People, said: “We are delighted with the success of the bid to the Big Lottery Fund. Skillstep is already a success here in the North East, 54 students have undertaken the programme in the last three years. This extension will develop Skillstep into a project that offers the student more personal choice in relation to the delivery of their training.”

The funding also enables Henshaws to create a drop-in suite at its Newcastle based centre where current, past and potential Skillstep students will be able to use the computers provided to improve their IT skills.

James Turner, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the North East, said: “I’m delighted the Big Lottery Fund is supporting this project. It is providing a real lift for visually impaired people across the North East, giving them the self esteem, confidence and skills to make the big step back into employment and to reach their potential.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .