Work preparation
Work Preparation has been delivered by BTCV in Sheffield since 1994. We contract directly with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and work with Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley. Currently we are helping nearly 40% of customers towards a positive outcome and have worked with nearly 200 people from March 2007 to April 2008.
Work Preparation is an individually tailored, work focussed programme that enables people with disabilities to overcome barriers associated with their disability and prepare to access a labour market with the confidence and stamina necessary to achieve and sustain their job or training goal.
Work Preparation is designed to help customers make decisions about the work that they CAN do. This may lead directly to a job outcome from Work Preparation or formulate career options that may result in identifying a training need that needs addressing first.
Sharon's story
I got involved with BTCV through my advisor Sue Sturgeon at DWP. After being ill with depression for about a year and a half, I didn't want to slip into being comfortable on benefits for the rest of my life, so my advisor suggested BTCV.
It was a scary time but the initial interview went well and I started an IT course with BTCV Enterprises in November 2006. I couldn't talk to anyone, my confidence was very low at the beginning and couldn't even ask my tutor for help so I muddled through as best I could. I didn't really know what I was doing, I was never good with computers – when I started I didn’t even know where the on-off switch was.
Slowly my confidence got better and I got through the work. My advisor came to see me every week and we had a good chat about all sorts.
When my time was nearly up I didn’t want to leave. I’d got to know some people and I didn’t want to go back and sit in the house 24/7 so I was given the chance to study for a Computer Literacy And Information Technology (CLAIT) qualification.
Because of BTCV and the support I received from the people there, I have had the confidence to go to college and pass to a level 2 counselling, I’ve taken three CLAIT exams and I am now the cleaner at BTCV. That's me on the right in the photo!
