Half term weeks tend to be quiet for campaigns, given the amount of parents who take time off. However, to buck that trend, this week we’ve had three opportunities for I Can Make It.
Half term weeks tend to be quiet for campaigns, given the amount of parents who take time off. However, to buck that trend, this week we’ve had three opportunities for I Can Make It.
On Wednesday 25th September Phil Murray from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)’s Disability and Work Opportunities Division came to our offices. This was to be interviewed (or as Phil jokingly put it, “grilled”) by our Champion for I Can Make It in Essex, Heather Richardson and Leo Capella, Campaign Project Coordinator for I Can Make It. Phil wanted to talk to us about our experience of finding work, as well as accessing support to do so.
Phil answered six challenging questions from Heather and Leo, including one on job opportunities for disabled people up to the next election. As a result of our meeting, Phil will be passing on information about Heather’s experiences of using Access to Work (AtW) to its Head of Policy. I Can Make It campaigns on and promotes the use and uptake of AtW so it’s good to have this route to sharing our experiences of it.
Following that, we now look forward to meeting with officials in DWP’s Commercial Directorate to strengthen the department’s use of positive action to create job opportunities for people with disabilities within their commercial strategy.
We’d also like to congratulate Heather on her new job as a First-Class Lounge host for Abellio Greater Anglia after successfully completing a work trial. Excellent performance, and best of luck in your new job Heather!
On Tuesday 24th October Philip Connolly, our Policy and Development Manager, and our Chief Executive, Kamran Mallick, met with Jacqui Dobson, Global Head of Advertising Client Services at the Financial Times . Following that meeting, Philip and Kamran also met with officials from the Policy Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office.
And now, to end this update, it’s time for something completely different!
Possibly wearing something purple, Leo Capella, Campaign Project Coordinator for I Can Make It, will be taking part in a stand-up comedy gig on 21st November and raising money for Disability Rights UK. Thanks to two generous donors he is twenty percent of the way to reaching his target already! So please do look at and share Leo’s Just Giving Page, all donations welcome!