Employment

"The Osborne Partnership demonstrated an outstanding example of how real progress can be achieved by offering people with training difficulties the opportunity to run their own businesses as an integrated part of the community."

- Judges comments following the Osborne Partnership winning the prestigious LETEC 'Blue Ribbon Award' Equality in Disability category.

The Employment Network is a specialist employment agency that has been placing people with learning difficulties into community based work opportunities for over ten years. The Network has an excellent reputation for matching individuals to jobs - this ensures that individual work placements are a real success story.

With good connections in and around the borough the Network has highlighted the useful work that people with learning difficulties can do - given the right help and support.

The Employment Network is constantly seeking new ways to help people with learning difficulties express their individuality and make valuable contributions to the local community. The Network place people in paid, voluntary and work experience opportunities.

Paid Work

Paid employment brings many benefits to people with learning difficulties. Increased financial independence, confidence, feelings of self worth and generally feeling more satisfied are some of the positive outcomes.

The Employment Network has a long history of matching people to the job that is right for them. Joining the world of work can be difficult, lots of people struggle to find suitable employment that fits their needs aspirations and capabilities. Work that rewards people with new skills and opportunities is what the Employment Network strives to offer.

Voluntary Work

Volunteering is the preferred option for many of the beneficiaries of the Osborne Partnership. Being a volunteer allows individuals to try new things, learn new skills and meet new people. It can be a valuable way to move into paid employment. Trying out work in a charity shop or helping in a care home can be rewarding and instructive, helping to set sights for future development. ABOVE ALL IT IS A GREAT WAY OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SHOWING OTHERS WHAT VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE MADE BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

Work Experience

Work experience is often the path taken by people with learning difficulties who have finished their training and want to gain practical experience of work before committing to paid work. Work experience offers the advantage of the beneficiary being able to try out a job allowing them the opportunity to make an informed choice regarding their future. Work experience can help beneficiaries build confidence, self esteem and physical fitness preparing them to take on new challenges. It also affords prospective employers the opportunity to explore a beneficiaries capabilities AND THE BENEFITS THAT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY CAN BRING TO THEIR ORGANISATION.