Jobs charity for disabled and mentally ill fights for survival

Published on Wednesday 29 October 2008 08:55

A CHARITY that has helped nearly 2000 disabled and mentally ill people in the Capital get back into work is facing a fight for survival.

The two main funding streams for Employment Opportunities in Edinburgh have dried up, leaving it facing an uncertain future.

But senior figures at the charity insisted today that they would continue to fight to secure the money to keep it alive.

The Edinburgh office at Shandwick Place is part of the UK charity that was set up by employers with the support of Prince Philip to create routes into employment.

It is estimated that it has helped 1700 people in Edinburgh in the last four years by building the confidence of the long-term unemployed and improving links with business.

The current funding difficulties come after the Department of Work and Pensions' Job Centre Plus funds dried up at the same time a lottery funding grant ran out.

A spokesman for Employment Opportunities said: "We are looking for new funds because some of the funding has dried up but we have a smashing team in Edinburgh and we are committed to keeping the office open.

"It is an important and valuable service and we will do our best to keep it going. There has been no decision made but we want to keep our Edinburgh operation going."

It is understood the DWP has provided 500,000 of support over four years, while funding has also come through a 180,000 lottery grant over the last two years.

Insiders say that if no funding is secured the office, which employs five members of staff, will face closure because the national charity does not have the funds to sustain it.

Hotel giant Holiday Inn has employed 16 people with a range of mental and physical illnesses in Edinburgh in the last two years through open days linked to Employment Opportunities.

Janet Donaldson, area HR director and development officer at Holiday Inn, today backed the charity's bid for funding. She said: "We have worked with Employment Opportunities for a couple of years and they have provided an invaluable service to us.

"They have helped us identify potential skilled recruits and supported those individuals throughout the recruitment process, ensuring they adapt well into their new working environment.

"Partnership working is one of the best ways forward to help us improve our recruitment initiative and as a business we need to look at ways to promote inclusion and equality in the workplace for our disabled customers and staff.

"For the sake of us and other employers I hope Employment Opportunities receives funding to survive as without access to their network, it could impact on our business and the future of disability recruitment in Edinburgh."

Among those who have been recruited by Holiday Inn through the scheme is Stephen Wozniak, who had previously been unemployed for 25 years after suffering serious depression and anxiety.

Mr Wozniak, 58, who last week was awarded the top prize in the "unlimiting ambition" category of the national Employment Opportunities awards, said: "After being unemployed for 25 years, Employment Opportunities and Holiday Inn gave me the opportunity to prove that I could fit back into society and a working environment."