HUNDREDS of disabled people in Dundee have found full-time work over the past few years thanks to a city group dedicated to helping them.
Remploy, based at Nethergate Business Centre, works to expand opportunities for disabled people in the hope they get into employment.
Staff at the Dundee branch told the Tele of the major success it has had in the city.
Ashley Brown, an employment adviser at the branch, said: “We are one of the highest achieving branches in the country and have had amazing success at helping disabled people in Dundee get back into full-time employment.
“Over the past three years, we have helped 615 people into employment and we are consistently one of the highest-performing teams in the country.”
Ashley said that one of the key things the service aimed to do was break down barriers and end the stigma attached to having a mental or physical disability that could make it difficult for someone to find full-time work.
She said: “There are many barriers that could prevent someone with a disability finding work but first and foremost they really need to want to work.
“If someone is genuine about finding employment, we can help them.”
Ashley explained that candidates could be referred to Remploy by the DWP or people could even just walk into the centre off the street and ask for help.
One major success story for the city branch is Sarah Donaldson. The 27-year-old turned to the group for help five years go. She is now employed as branch coordinator.
She said: “I was unemployed and finding it difficult to find a full-time job because of the depression and anxiety I have suffered from since the age of 18.
“I had no money and felt like I had no life. I was living on an aunt’s settee and felt like I was getting nowhere. I came to Remploy and they totally turned my life around by giving me the help and confidence I needed to work full-time.
“An opportunity for a full-time job eventually came up here. I applied, was interviewed and got the job.
“I’m now responsible for running our welcoming sessions. I’m fully qualified to help, as I understand what people are going through.”
Ashley described Sarah and the rest of the staff at Remploy as “very welcoming”.
She added: “We can offer assistance with all the skills needed to help someone with a disability find work. We are 100% committed to helping people find work and we expect the same level of commitment back.
“We have an excellent success rate. Last month we had 19 new referrals and we found jobs for 15 people.
“People stay with us for at least six months and we continue to work with people until we find them a job.”
Ashley said she could work with around 35 to 40 people a week helping them to develop the skills needed to back into work.
She added: “We cover everything from applying for a job online, to developing interview techniques. We even hold mock interviews and work on confidence building.
“We can get people into work placements and work experience situations, which all help to lead to full-time work. We go on the entire journey with them and it’s something we find very rewarding.”