DFN Project Search

Category

Disability Organisations Unite to Call on Government to Act to Tackle Disability Employment Discrimination

Leading UK disability organisations, including charities, academics and trade unions, have united to urge the government to take more action to end employment discrimination against disabled people. Following the publication of the government’s National Disability Strategy earlier this year, the group has launched a Disability Employment Charter as a clear mandate for action: outlining the steps government and employers must take to address the disadvantage disabled people experience in UK workplaces. The Charter, created by the Business Disability Forum, the DFN Charitable Foundation, Disability Rights UK, Disability@Work, Leonard Cheshire, Scope, Shaw Trust Foundation, UNISON, and University of Warwick, calls on the government to increase workforce transparency by requiring large employers to publish annual data on the number of disabled people they employ as a proportion of their workforce, and their pay gaps. Further proposals for reform include the option to work flexibly from day one to become the legal default for all jobs, stronger rights to paid disability leave for assessment, rehabilitation and training, improvements to the Disability Confident and Access to Work schemes, and an increase in Statutory Sick Pay to the European average. The Charter also calls for employers to notify employees on decisions regarding reasonable adjustment requests within two weeks. Regarding this, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: "Disabled workers often wait far too long for even the most simple of workplace adjustments to be put in place. The government should give employers a two-week deadline to agree the required changes to offices and equipment. This would help prevent employees leaving their roles frustrated at lengthy delays". In addition to the nine founder members, a further 28 charities and Disabled People's Organisations have signed the Charter, including national bodies such as the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, Sense, and Mencap. Kamran Malik, CEO of Disability Rights UK explains: "Disabled people face a range of hurdles in finding and progressing in work, which just shouldn't be there. The Charter simply and powerfully sets out the concerted actions that Government needs to take to move the dial forward. It's not enough to tinker round the edges, we need a bold plan to bring down the barriers." The National Disability Strategy was heralded by the government as a chance to ‘build back better and fairer for all our disabled people'. The Charter argues more needs to be done to reduce the disability employment gap, and it calls on the government to bring forward detailed proposals to tackle the employment disadvantage disabled people face. It also argues that addressing the barriers disabled people encounter in employment is not only the right thing to do, but also makes business sense by giving employers access to the widest talent pool and helping them address skills shortages, thereby enabling disabled workers to contribute to the post-Covid recovery. Professor Kim Hoque, co-founder of Disability@Work, and one of the Charter's creators, described the Charter as "a powerful and timely message to government from the country's leading organisations representing disabled people that there is an overwhelming need for more robust government action, and broad consensus regarding the form this action should take." The Government's National Disability Strategy, launched this year following its announcement by the Prime Minister in the 2019 elections, was criticised by some disability rights campaigners and even the Government's own party as falling short of the transformational plan that many expected – with Conservative Peer Lord Shinkwin describing the plans as a "damp squib." Lord Shinkwin, Chair of the Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission from 2020 to 2021, said: "The Government should stop using business as a feeble fig leaf for inaction and instead celebrate the example some corporates are already setting. Transparent and consistent data reporting, the lead call of this Charter, is the first step towards building a level playing field on which businesses can compete for top disabled talent. It's time the Government built on the success of gender pay gap reporting and realised the potential of this tool to bring about true meritocracy and equality of opportunity." Currently, disabled people face a disability employment gap that has remained persistently high over the past decade at 30 percentage points and a pay gap of 19.6%, alongside poorer work-life balance, job-related mental health, and job satisfaction. Disabled people have also been particularly negatively affected by the pandemic: 21 in every 1,000 disabled people were made redundant in 2020, compared to 13 in every thousand for the rest of the population. Clare Gray, Shaw Trust Foundation Organisational Lead for Disability Advocacy and Accessibility commented: "In 2021 the labour market is beginning to recover post-pandemic. But despite the job market improving, too many people miss out from opportunities that good work can bring, and the disability employment gap remains stubbornly high." Gemma Hope, Director of Policy at Leonard Cheshire added: "Disabled people's work life has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. With the labour market slowly improving the government must close the disability employment gap so disabled people are not further left behind.” Diane Lightfoot, CEO of Business Disability Forum, one of the Charter's founder members, commented: “The Charter sets out the responsibilities that we all have - as business, government and providers - to work with disabled people to find solutions and to recognise the valuable contribution that everyone can make to the workforce.” To find out more about the Charter, and how individuals and businesses can help to support its aims, please visit: www.disabilityemploymentcharter.org

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

David Forbes-Nixon discusses his vision for Undershaw during Founders’ Day

DFN Foundation Chairman David Forbes-Nixon has spoken recently about Undershaw and how it is helping young people with special needs fulfil their huge potential. Undershaw is creating the gold standard in special needs education, providing young people with high quality education, training, therapy and care to give them a wonderful education and a pathway into employment. The DFN Foundation continues to provide guidance and support to Undershaw as it maintains its objective of delivering positive employment outcomes for young people with learning disabilities and autism.

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

Butterfly species hard hit by changeable weather patterns

Where have the butterflies gone? Butterfly Conservation launches this year’s Big Butterfly Count with urgent appeal for public’s help after disastrous spring weather. Chris Packham and wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are launching this year’s Big Butterfly Count today by asking people to help find and record butterflies across the UK. Alongside Piers’ family, staff and pupils from the school, a specialist setting for children with special educational needs and disabilities, have made a commitment to building Piers’ legacy by raising awareness and much needed funding for Brain Tumour Research. Butterfly Conservation’s current records show that many species of butterflies have had a poor spring or a delay in their emergence following 2021’s unseasonably cold and wet weather. The Speckled Wood was particularly low in numbers this spring, but the Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Green-veined White, Large White and Red Admiral were also all down in abundance compared with their 10-year average. How this will impact this summer’s butterflies is what the charity is asking people to find out, by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count. The weather in spring 2021 has been very challenging for many of the UK’s butterflies and moths. Although April was the sunniest on record, it was also very cold with a record number of frosts. This was then followed by the wettest May for over 50 years. Butterfly Conservation needs the public’s help to measure how these conditions have affected our butterflies and moths. The UK is experiencing an increasing number of extreme weather events, a likely result of climate change, and it’s important we learn the effect these changes have on our native butterfly species in order to understand the likely long-term impacts on biodiversity. The Big Butterfly Count is Butterfly Conservation’s annual three-week citizen science event. The UK-wide survey is open to everyone, of any age, living in towns, cities or the countryside. Taking part just requires you to spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space (a great staycation activity) counting the amount and type of butterflies, and some day-flying moths, you see. It is easy to do and the more people who do it, the greater the benefits to our understanding of nature and how to help it. There were over 145,000 counts submitted to the Big Butterfly Count last year, more than ever before. Though worryingly, 2020 also saw the lowest average number of butterflies logged since the event began twelve years ago. Butterfly Conservation scientists are keen to see if this is a trend that continues in 2021. This means it’s more important than ever that the public take part and help to gather the data needed. Chris Packham, Vice-President of Butterfly Conservation and wildlife broadcaster, says: “Biodiversity and climate crisis is an urgent issue and it can be overwhelming to think about what we can do as individuals to really make a difference. Because butterflies and moths make excellent indicators of the impacts of climate change and other human environmental factors, collecting data on their numbers is really important. So, something as simple as recording a butterfly spotted in your garden, at your local park or on your window box can play a part in vital research into a global problem. It’s a really valuable contribution everyone can make.” Dr Zoë Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation says: “The Big Butterfly Count, along with our other research work, is already showing us changes in the populations of our butterflies and moths. Climate change and other human-led impacts are causing some species to be found in new areas, while others are becoming harder to find in the UK at all. An example is the Jersey Tiger, a really striking moth that flies during the day as well as at night. These moths have been well-established along the south coast of England but are moving further north and are now found in ever increasing numbers in London. As a result, the Jersey Tiger appears on this year’s Big Butterfly Count identification chart for the first time. “We really need the public’s help to understand what is happening to our butterfly and moth populations. It’s a small but crucial thing everyone can do. This information will not only help us to protect these species, but also to inform what effect the changing climate is having on our biodiversity.” Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count is something anyone of any age or ability can do, in any outdoor space. It provides a real contribution to science and our understanding of butterfly and moth populations in the UK. The socially distanced launch of the 2021 Big Butterfly Count is taking place today at Winchester Science Centre, which neighbours Butterfly Conservation’s Magdalen Hill Down Nature Reserve. The reserve features a south-facing chalk hillside well-known for its butterflies and Chris Packham and the team are hoping to be able to spot some themselves during the day. Ben Ward, Chief Executive of Winchester Science Centre, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Butterfly Conservation and to have been chosen as the launch venue for this year’s Big Butterfly Count. Our charity is passionate about sparking children’s curiosity in science. By taking part, children will be using important science inquiry skills and connecting science with everyday life. We’ll certainly be encouraging families that visit us to get outside in our Bio:Space zone to see what species they can spot.” This year the Big Butterfly Count is sponsored by garden wildlife specialist Vivara and the DFN Foundation, a commissioning charity focused on influencing sustainable change in special needs education, supported employment, healthcare and conservation. Bastiaan de Jong, COO of Vivara said: “Back gardens can provide essential pit-stops for insects and are perfect locations for butterfly spotting. Whatever space you have, make it inviting to wildlife and enjoy doing your bit for nature on your doorstep. So join in and ‘get out for the count’ to see just which butterflies love your garden!” David Forbes Nixon OBE, Chairman of the DFN Foundation, said: “We are once again thrilled to be the official co-sponsor of the Big Butterfly Count and look forward to continuing our work with Butterfly Conservation to identify trends in species that will help us plan how to protect butterflies from extinction. “Last year saw more submissions to the Big Butterfly Count than ever before and it was wonderful to see this engagement even in the midst of the pandemic. Now, as we continue to follow the roadmap out of lockdown, we have a huge opportunity to build on this momentum and engage with even more people of all ages across the country on connecting with nature in a positive and meaningful way. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought into even greater focus the need to help improve our whole environment for wildlife and enrich the lives of people now and in the future.” This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from the 16th July to the 8th August. For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

Stepping Stones school raising money for brain tumour research in memory of much-loved pupil

Staff and pupils from Stepping Stones School - which provides young people with special needs and disabilities high quality education, training, therapy and care to help them reach their full potential - are raising money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of a beloved classmate. Piers Muddle (15), a student at Stepping Stones School and a much-loved member of the community, who made a positive impact on everyone he met, heartbreakingly lost his life in May this year after a heroic nine-year battle with brain tumours. Alongside Piers’ family, staff and pupils from the school, a specialist setting for children with special educational needs and disabilities, have made a commitment to building Piers’ legacy by raising awareness and much needed funding for Brain Tumour Research. In Piers’ memory, on Friday 2nd July 2021, Stepping Stones School will take part in a multi-location fundraising effort with a day of activities at the school which will honour all of Piers’ favorite things to do with a sponsored walk around the Devil’s Punchbowl, a National Trust property close to the school, and a cake sale. Additionally, two staff members Matt Fuller and Matt Peel will take part in a 152-mile cycling challenge from the Isle of Portland to The Royal Marsden Hospital, where Piers received his treatment. The most up-to-date fundraising total is £10,000, which would fund one week’s worth of research into a disease that kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to it. Piers’ mother, Yvette Muddle, said: “Our beautiful Piers very sadly died in May 2021 after fighting so hard with brain tumours since he was six years old. “Piers is proof that research prolonged his life. He had the benefit of both new chemotherapy drugs and pioneering cyber knife radiotherapy after relapsing for the first time back in 2013. However, after relapsing again in 2019 there were no more options available to him to save his life. “Brain tumours kill more children and young adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. As parents, we strongly believe that further research is still needed to improve drug therapy and other treatment options for brain tumours in order to save more children and young people. “I want to thank everyone at Stepping Stones School for the continued support to my family and for their outstanding efforts to help us create a legacy for Piers by raising vital funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Research.” Matt Peel, Piers’ form tutor at Stepping Stones School, has shared his memories of Piers and the fundraising challenge in his honour. He said: “For me, this journey began in January 2019. I had joined Stepping Stones School and was given a tutor group to work with. Within this tutor group was a young chap dressed in blue chinos, a red shirt and a grey jumper who would go on to change my opinion about what perseverance and bravery meant. “Not too long into my time at Stepping Stones, we were informed that Piers had a reoccurrence of a brain tumour and that he wasn't expected to be with us for very long. He was a hardworking student, well-liked by the staff, a real friend to his classmates, well-mannered and someone who loved walking and art, so to be told that his life would be cut short that suddenly was heartbreaking. “As a team we vowed to make his remaining time with us as enjoyable and fulfilling as we possibly could. Portland Outdoor Activity Centre was the start of this. Watching him kayak, rock climb and enjoy the Jurassic coast was a joy to behold. He was receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital and he was making the most of everything he could. Despite the ups and downs his treatment caused, Piers never complained or wanted to be treated differently, and he certainly didn't want to miss time at school where he would cook, paint and enjoy his time with his friends. “Piers left us in May, nearly two years to the day from our original trip to Portland. We wanted to remember him by supporting a cause close to his and his family's heart and so we are raising money and awareness of Brain Tumour Research. “To do so, we have set the challenge of riding from the Isle of Portland, where our journey began, to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, a journey of 152 miles and this will coincide with a day of fundraising activities at Stepping Stones School to raise awareness for Brain Tumour Research. “For those who knew Piers, they would probably know his answer if we told him this idea....either ‘that's not far enough’ or 'whatever', but it's certainly a start.”

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

DAVID FORBES-NIXON, FOUNDER OF THE DFN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND CO-FOUNDER OF STEPPING STONES SCHOOL AT UNDERSHAW, IS HONOURED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST (12/06/21)

David Forbes-Nixon, the co-founder of Stepping Stones School at Undershaw for children with special educational needs and founder of DFN Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH which helps those with special needs secure long-term employment, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s June Honours List. David Forbes-Nixon is accepting this award on behalf of everyone involved in these amazing charities. He says, “I would like to thank everyone at Stepping Stones school and at the DFN Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH for their brilliant work with children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities”. David Forbes-Nixon has fought for many years to ensure that children with learning difficulties can access good quality education and improve their employment prospects. He was inspired by his disabled son, Charlie, to set up the DFN Charitable Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH to make a positive difference to the lives of young people with special educational needs and disabilities. David bought Undershaw, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’ sold country house, in 2014 and converted it into the Stepping Stones School. In 2018, he obtained the Master Franchise Agreement for Project SEARCH for the UK which works with companies to provide long term jobs for young adults with learning disabilities and autism. David’s vision is to transform the life outcomes of disabled people throughout the country and build a more inclusive and fairer society. Today, his work in this area has been recognised by the Prime Minister who has recommended that he is awarded an OBE by the Queen in the Birthday Honours List. David says that this award is for everyone who has contributed to the success of these charities. “I am honoured to receive this award, but it is on behalf of everyone involved at Stepping Stones School, the DFN Charitable Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH. We have only been able to achieve so much because of their efforts and this award is for them as much as me”. David Forbes-Nixon has recently stepped down as Chairman and CEO of Bank of New York Mellon’s Alcentra Group, one of London’s leading asset managers, where he currently spends 2 days a week as Senior Advisor with the rest of his time dedicated to the DFN Charitable Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH. David adds, “It is hugely difficult for people with learning disabilities to get the education they need to prepare them to find long term, meaningful employment, with only 5.6% in full time jobs. I will continue to work with my colleagues at DFN Project SEARCH to do everything we can to significantly improve this outcome”.

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

"NOW IS THE TIME” CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GROUND-BREAKING NEW REPORT SHOWING WAYS TO TACKLE THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP.

The Disability Commission has today (March 23rd) published “Now Is The Time”, its ground-breaking new report showing how the Prime Minister can keep his promise and deliver a truly transformative strategy to greatly improve the employment prospects of disabled people. Currently, just 52 per cent of disabled people (and only 5.6 per cent of those with a learning disability) are in employment compared with 81 per cent of non-disabled people. The report makes several key recommendations ahead of the publication of the Prime Minister’s much-anticipated National Strategy for Disabled People. Lord Shinkwin, Commission Chair, said: “We have a once in a generation opportunity to improve the life chances of disabled people – we really hope the Prime Minister will consider our recommendations and adopt them in his National Strategy for Disabled People.” A ground-breaking new report has today (March 23rd) been launched which aims at vastly improving the employment prospects of disabled people throughout the UK. According to the ONS, disabled people across the UK have been hit particularly hard by Coronavirus, including by a further widening of the disability employment gap, and that is why concerted action by Government and business is crucial. Currently, just 52 per cent of disabled people are in employment compared with 81 per cent of non-disabled people. The report published by the CSJ Disability Commission makes five key recommendations to vastly improve the employment prospects of disabled people throughout the UK. The recommendations, which would help reduce the disability employment gap, include: Increasing supported routes into employment Introducing mandatory workforce reporting Leveraging Government procurement Reforming the Government’s Disability Confident scheme Reforming the Government’s Access to Work scheme. The Commission is chaired by disabled Conservative member of the House of Lords, Kevin Shinkwin, and comprised of both disabled and non-disabled members from the business, academic, disability and parliamentary worlds. Lord Shinkwin says, “The CSJ Disability Commission believes its recommendations will go a long way to removing the barriers disabled people face, and as such will enhance their independence, financial stability, social inclusion, and wellbeing. We really hope the Prime Minister takes them on board and delivers on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People.” Importantly, the report extends beyond employment to cover four other areas of life for disabled people: transport, education, housing, and access to goods and services. It makes extensive policy recommendations which, if enacted, would substantially increase the ability of disabled people to participate more fully in society and realise their potential. Lord Shinkwin adds: “The launch of the Prime Minister’s National Strategy for Disabled People should mark an important milestone as the country recovers from the economic and social pain caused by the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected disabled people’s income, health, and employment prospects. The Commission believes that central to the Prime Minister’s strategy should be robust policies to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and to support the ability of disabled people to live independently”. The Commission was set up with the backing of the DFN Foundation to feed into the Prime Minister’s National Strategy for Disabled People. The DFN Foundation, founded by David Forbes-Nixon, is committed to developing a new enabling vision that will seize the disability employment agenda and drive tangible and sustainable change. David Forbes-Nixon, Commission Deputy Chair, said: “Having a disabled son has opened up my eyes to the inequalities in education, employment and life chances for disabled people in the UK. Now is the time for action and driving real change in delivering a fairer society for all. We can’t miss this opportunity and I hope the Commission’s recommendations, particularly in employment, will be embraced by the Prime Minister in his National Strategy for Disabled People so we can draw on this extraordinary and untapped talent pool.” To coincide with the publication of the report, business leaders earlier this week called on the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter, over a dozen senior business leaders urged Boris Johnson deliver the most ambitious disability plan in a generation and consider the Disability Commission’s ground-breaking report. In the letter, the signatories say, “disabled people have waited long enough and now is the time for action”. They urge the PM to show in his strategy that he has given careful consideration to the Commission’s recommendations and say, in return, “we stand ready to play our part Research and analysis for the Report has been led by the influential think tank, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). The latest data reveals that disabled people have suffered disproportionately in the pandemic – in physical health, mental health, and economically – compared to non-disabled people. ONS figures show that death rates among disabled people in the pandemic are at least twice those of non-disabled people. You can view the full report here <a href="https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/now-is-the-time-a-report-by-the-csj-disability-commission">https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/now-is-the-time-a-report-by-the-csj-disability-commission.</a>

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

"NOW IS THE TIME” CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GROUND-BREAKING NEW REPORT SHOWING WAYS TO TACKLE THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP.

Business leaders have backed a call for the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter to Boris Johnson, business leaders including Post Office CEO, Nick Read, Schroders CEO, Peter Harrison, and Clifford Chance Global Managing Partner, Matthew Layton, have all urged him to deliver an ambitious and transformative disability plan that ensures all disabled people are able to realise their full potential. The letter is supported by the CSJ Disability Commission, an independent body, which is about to publish “Now Is The Time”, a ground-breaking new report designed to feed into the Prime Minister’s National Strategy. One of the CSJ Disability Commission’s five key recommendations is to reduce the disability employment gap by introducing mandatory workforce reporting, which it believes is a vital step in bringing greater transparency and a level playing field for measuring progress. Lord Shinkwin, Commission Chair, says, "Disabled people have been waiting an awfully long time for this. We really hope the Prime Minister will listen and build our recommendations into his upcoming National Strategy for Disabled People. As the PM has said, his strategy is a once in a generation opportunity. It is vital that we seize it and chart a new course that is more than just warm words. Now is the time for action." Business leaders have today called on the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter, over a dozen senior business leaders have urged Boris Johnson to keep his promise to make it the most ambitious disability plan in a generation and to consider the CSJ Disability Commission’s ground-breaking new report. Agreeing with the PM that there should be no barriers to anyone realising their full potential, they have explicitly linked the success of the Strategy to his flagship levelling-up agenda, which promises to increase opportunity across the UK. In the letter, the signatories say, "disabled people have waited long enough and now is the time for action". They urge the PM to show in his strategy that he has given careful consideration to the Commission’s recommendations and say, in return, "we stand ready to play our part". Disabled people have been hit particularly hard by Coronavirus according to the ONS and concerted action by Government and business is crucial to reducing the disability employment gap, which has widened as a result of the pandemic. Currently, just 52 per cent of disabled people are in employment compared with 81 per cent of non-disabled people. The CSJ Disability Commission makes five key recommendations to reduce the gap: Increasing supported routes into employment Introducing mandatory employment and pay gap reporting Leveraging Government procurement Reforming the Government’s Disability Confident scheme Reforming the Government’s Access to Work scheme The Commission’s report argues a central feature of the Government’s National Strategy for Disabled People must be the inclusion of robust measures focused on improving disabled people’s employment prospects. It argues that until employment disadvantage is addressed, disabled people will continue to face social exclusion, financial hardship, and reduced well-being.The CSJ Disability Commission is chaired by disabled Conservative member of the House of Lords, Kevin Shinkwin and comprised of both disabled and non-disabled members from the business, disability and parliamentary world. Lord Shinkwin says, "The Prime Minister’s strategy represents a once in a generation chance to chart a new way forward where disabled people’s potential to contribute, compete and, in some cases, excel and reach the top of their professions, on merit, can at last be realised. We have one shot at this - that’s why it’s so important his strategy gets it right. What makes this even more exciting is that big business is ready to get behind him" The Commission was set up with the backing of the DFN Foundation to feed into the Prime Minister’s National Strategy for Disabled People. The DFN Foundation, founded by David Forbes-Nixon, is committed to developing a new enabling vision that will seize the disability employment agenda and drive tangible and sustainable change. David Forbes-Nixon, Commission Deputy Chair, says, “Having a disabled son has opened up my eyes to the inequalities in education, employment and life chances for disabled people in the UK. I hope the Commission’s recommendations, particularly in employment, will be embraced by the Prime Minister in his National Strategy for Disabled People so we can draw on this extraordinary and untapped talent pool.” The Commission’s report is especially relevant now as data reveals that disabled people have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic – in physical health, mental health, and economically – compared to non-disabled people. Importantly, the report extends beyond employment to cover four other areas of life for disabled people: transport, education, housing, and access to goods and services. It makes extensive policy recommendations which, if enacted, would substantially increase the ability of disabled people to participate more fully in society and realise their potential. Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, gold medal-winning former Paralympian and a Commissioner, says, “Despite the very welcome improvements in legislation since the Disability Discrimination Act, the experience of the last 25 years shows that laws on their own aren’t enough. The political will to enforce them is crucial. Right now, disabled people feel that we’re going backwards. That’s why we really need the PM to keep his promise of a transformative strategy and drive change from the front.” Research and analysis for the Report has been led by the influential think tank, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). Andy Cook, Chief Executive of the CSJ, says, “If we are to truly level-up, we need to be much bolder in our approach towards disabled people. Disabled people face too many unnecessary barriers in society. There is an opportunity now to empower disabled people into full and active participation within all aspects of society. I encourage the government to look closely at this report’s findings." EDITOR’S NOTES: LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMISSIONERS (21/03/21) Dear Prime Minister, We welcome your promise to publish the most ambitious disability plan in a generation. You say there should be no barriers to anyone realising their full potential. We agree. As the first test of your levelling up agenda, the National Strategy for Disabled People could not be more important. In the next few days, the CSJ Disability Commission is publishing a set of truly transformative policy proposals for education, housing, transport, access to goods and services and, crucially, employment. Equality of opportunity to succeed at work is key to progress. Tried and tested change, such as gender pay gap reporting for big business, is already transforming the conversation in the boardroom. At its heart is this simple truth: unless we harness the talent of people with lived experience of disability and ensure they are driving and leading the conversation, from shopfloor to senior management, the conversation will never change, and the barriers will remain. Disabled people have waited long enough; now is the time for action. We urge you to show in your Disability Strategy that the Commission’s proposals have been given the careful consideration they deserve. If you do, we stand ready to play our part. Yours sincerely, Kevin, Lord Shinkwin, Commission Chair David Forbes-Nixon, Commission Deputy Chair, Chair of DFN Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH Nick Read, CEO, the Post Office Peter Harrison, CEO, Schroders Matthew Layton, Global Managing Partner, Clifford Chance Hanneke Smits, CEO, BNY Mellon Investment Management Jeff Dodds, COO, Virgin Media John Roberts, Founder and CEO, AO Steve Ingham, CEO, PageGroup Larry Sullivan, Chairman, COINS Manoj Badale OBE, Co-Founder, Blenheim Chalcot Charles Mindenhall, Co-Founder, Blenheim Chalcot Mark Creighton, CEO, Avado Vic Darvey, CEO, Purplebricks Paul Polman, Chairman, Valuable 500 and Chairman and Co-Founder, Imagine Caroline Casey , Founder, Valuable 500 Ruby, Baroness McGregor-Smith CBE - President, British Chambers of Commerce Helena, Baroness Morrissey DBE - Chair, Diversity Project Fleur Bothwick OBE, Director of Diversity & Inclusive Leadership | EY – EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) Tiernan Brady, Global Director of Inclusion | Clifford Chance LLP Helen Cooke, CEO, MyPlus Helen Dolphin MBE, Independent Mobility Consultant Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, former Minister for Disabled People Professor Kim Hoque, Professor of Human Resource Management | Warwick Business School James Lee, Consultant, City Bridge Trust Diane Lightfoot, CEO | Business Disability Forum THE CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION The Disability Commission is an independent body backed by the Centre For Social Justice. It’s report, “Now is the Time”, makes five key recommendations to reduce the disability employment gap: Increasing supported routes into employment - high quality supported internships that involve job coaches and learning support have been proven to be highly effective in supporting individuals with the lowest employment rates into work. The Commission makes a series of recommendations focused on increasing the quality, supply, and awareness of supported internships. Introducing mandatory workforce reporting – The Government acknowledges the benefits of transparent reporting, stating in the introduction to the framework for Voluntary reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing, which it introduced in November 2018 to encourage employers to report the prevalence of disabled people in their workforce, that ‘transparency is a vital first step towards harnessing the power of a diverse workforce’. The Commission calls on the Government to realise the full benefits of workplace reporting by requiring all employers with 250+ employees to report the proportion of their workforce that is disabled. It also calls on the Government to extend gender pay gap reporting to disability, which will enable firms to monitor whether disabled people are being given equal access to better paying, more senior roles. Leveraging Government procurement – the Government spends £292 billion per year buying goods and services from external suppliers. The Commission recommends recent reforms to the Public Sector (Social Value) Act are extended to require all large public sector contract award decisions to take tendering organisations’ disability employment records into account, and to require organisations with public contracts to work towards increasing the proportion of disabled people within their workforce. Reforming the Government’s Disability Confident scheme – to ensure all employers at the scheme’s higher levels (level 2 ‘employers’, and level 3 ‘committed’) have above a minimum percentage threshold of disabled people within their workforce. Reforming the Government’s Access to Work scheme – introduced in 1994, this provides funding for the adjustments disabled people need to perform their role, and to enable them to get to and from work. This has transformed many disabled people’s employment opportunities, but problems with the scheme remain, not least that too few employers and disabled people are aware of it. As such, the Commission recommends an extensive awareness raising campaign; reducing administrative burdens and delays within the application process; the passporting of adaptations between organisations; and, importantly removing the annual funding cap. THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (CSJ) The CSJ is proud to have supported the commission with secretariat and analysis. The recommendations in this report are the independent views of the commissioners and should not be attributed to other businesses, organisations or bodies with whom they are associated. Established in 2004, the Centre for Social Justice is an independent think-tank that studies the root causes of Britain’s social problems and addresses them by recommending practical, workable policy interventions. The CSJ’s vision is to give people in the UK who are experiencing the worst multiple disadvantages and injustice every possible opportunity to reach their full potential. The majority of the CSJ’s work is organised around five ‘pathways to poverty’, first identified in our ground-breaking 2007 report Breakthrough Britain. These are: educational failure; family breakdown; economic dependency and worklessness; addiction to drugs and alcohol; and severe personal debt. Since its inception, the CSJ has changed the landscape of the UK’s political discourse by putting social justice at the heart of British politics. This has led to a transformation in government thinking and policy. For instance, the CSJ report It Happens Here shone a light on the horrific reality of human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK. As a direct result of this report, the Government passed the Modern Slavery Act 2015, one of the first pieces of legislation in the world to address slavery and trafficking in the 21st century. Its research is informed by experts including prominent academics, practitioners and policymakers. It also draws upon its CSJ Alliance, a unique group of charities, social enterprises and other grass-roots organisations that have a proven track-record of reversing social breakdown across the UK. The social challenges facing Britain remain serious. In 2021 and beyond, the CSJ will continue to advance the cause of social justice so that more people can continue to fulfil their potential. LORD SHINKWIN / DWP SELECT COMMITTEE APPEARANCE: Commission Chair, Lord Shinkwin, will be giving evidence to the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee as part of its inquiry on the disability employment gap on 24th March (0930 am, panel 1).

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Category

"NOW IS THE TIME” CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GROUND-BREAKING NEW REPORT SHOWING WAYS TO TACKLE THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP.

Business leaders have backed a call for the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter to Boris Johnson, business leaders including Post Office CEO, Nick Read, Schroders CEO, Peter Harrison, and Clifford Chance Global Managing Partner, Matthew Layton, have all urged him to deliver an ambitious and transformative disability plan that ensures all disabled people are able to realise their full potential. The letter is supported by the CSJ Disability Commission, an independent body, which is about to publish “Now Is The Time”, a ground-breaking new report designed to feed into the Prime Minister’s National Strategy. One of the CSJ Disability Commission’s five key recommendations is to reduce the disability employment gap by introducing mandatory workforce reporting, which it believes is a vital step in bringing greater transparency and a level playing field for measuring progress. Lord Shinkwin, Commission Chair, says, "Disabled people have been waiting an awfully long time for this. We really hope the Prime Minister will listen and build our recommendations into his upcoming National Strategy for Disabled People. As the PM has said, his strategy is a once in a generation opportunity. It is vital that we seize it and chart a new course that is more than just warm words. Now is the time for action." Business leaders have today called on the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of a truly transformative National Strategy for Disabled People. In an open letter, over a dozen senior business leaders have urged Boris Johnson to keep his promise to make it the most ambitious disability plan in a generation and to consider the CSJ Disability Commission’s ground-breaking new report. Agreeing with the PM that there should be no barriers to anyone realising their full potential, they have explicitly linked the success of the Strategy to his flagship levelling-up agenda, which promises to increase opportunity across the UK. In the letter, the signatories say, "disabled people have waited long enough and now is the time for action". They urge the PM to show in his strategy that he has given careful consideration to the Commission’s recommendations and say, in return, "we stand ready to play our part". Disabled people have been hit particularly hard by Coronavirus according to the ONS and concerted action by Government and business is crucial to reducing the disability employment gap, which has widened as a result of the pandemic. Currently, just 52 per cent of disabled people are in employment compared with 81 per cent of non-disabled people. The CSJ Disability Commission makes five key recommendations to reduce the gap: Increasing supported routes into employment Introducing mandatory employment and pay gap reporting Leveraging Government procurement Reforming the Government’s Disability Confident scheme Reforming the Government’s Access to Work scheme The Commission’s report argues a central feature of the Government’s National Strategy for Disabled People must be the inclusion of robust measures focused on improving disabled people’s employment prospects. It argues that until employment disadvantage is addressed, disabled people will continue to face social exclusion, financial hardship, and reduced well-being.The CSJ Disability Commission is chaired by disabled Conservative member of the House of Lords, Kevin Shinkwin and comprised of both disabled and non-disabled members from the business, disability and parliamentary world. Lord Shinkwin says, "The Prime Minister’s strategy represents a once in a generation chance to chart a new way forward where disabled people’s potential to contribute, compete and, in some cases, excel and reach the top of their professions, on merit, can at last be realised. We have one shot at this - that’s why it’s so important his strategy gets it right. What makes this even more exciting is that big business is ready to get behind him" The Commission was set up with the backing of the DFN Foundation to feed into the Prime Minister’s National Strategy for Disabled People. The DFN Foundation, founded by David Forbes-Nixon, is committed to developing a new enabling vision that will seize the disability employment agenda and drive tangible and sustainable change. David Forbes-Nixon, Commission Deputy Chair, says, “Having a disabled son has opened up my eyes to the inequalities in education, employment and life chances for disabled people in the UK. I hope the Commission’s recommendations, particularly in employment, will be embraced by the Prime Minister in his National Strategy for Disabled People so we can draw on this extraordinary and untapped talent pool.” The Commission’s report is especially relevant now as data reveals that disabled people have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic – in physical health, mental health, and economically – compared to non-disabled people. Importantly, the report extends beyond employment to cover four other areas of life for disabled people: transport, education, housing, and access to goods and services. It makes extensive policy recommendations which, if enacted, would substantially increase the ability of disabled people to participate more fully in society and realise their potential. Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, gold medal-winning former Paralympian and a Commissioner, says, “Despite the very welcome improvements in legislation since the Disability Discrimination Act, the experience of the last 25 years shows that laws on their own aren’t enough. The political will to enforce them is crucial. Right now, disabled people feel that we’re going backwards. That’s why we really need the PM to keep his promise of a transformative strategy and drive change from the front.” Research and analysis for the Report has been led by the influential think tank, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). Andy Cook, Chief Executive of the CSJ, says, “If we are to truly level-up, we need to be much bolder in our approach towards disabled people. Disabled people face too many unnecessary barriers in society. There is an opportunity now to empower disabled people into full and active participation within all aspects of society. I encourage the government to look closely at this report’s findings." EDITOR’S NOTES: LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMISSIONERS (21/03/21) Dear Prime Minister, We welcome your promise to publish the most ambitious disability plan in a generation. You say there should be no barriers to anyone realising their full potential. We agree. As the first test of your levelling up agenda, the National Strategy for Disabled People could not be more important. In the next few days, the CSJ Disability Commission is publishing a set of truly transformative policy proposals for education, housing, transport, access to goods and services and, crucially, employment. Equality of opportunity to succeed at work is key to progress. Tried and tested change, such as gender pay gap reporting for big business, is already transforming the conversation in the boardroom. At its heart is this simple truth: unless we harness the talent of people with lived experience of disability and ensure they are driving and leading the conversation, from shopfloor to senior management, the conversation will never change, and the barriers will remain. Disabled people have waited long enough; now is the time for action. We urge you to show in your Disability Strategy that the Commission’s proposals have been given the careful consideration they deserve. If you do, we stand ready to play our part. Yours sincerely, Kevin, Lord Shinkwin, Commission Chair David Forbes-Nixon, Commission Deputy Chair, Chair of DFN Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH Nick Read, CEO, the Post Office Peter Harrison, CEO, Schroders Matthew Layton, Global Managing Partner, Clifford Chance Hanneke Smits, CEO, BNY Mellon Investment Management Jeff Dodds, COO, Virgin Media John Roberts, Founder and CEO, AO Steve Ingham, CEO, PageGroup Larry Sullivan, Chairman, COINS Manoj Badale OBE, Co-Founder, Blenheim Chalcot Charles Mindenhall, Co-Founder, Blenheim Chalcot Mark Creighton, CEO, Avado Vic Darvey, CEO, Purplebricks Paul Polman, Chairman, Valuable 500 and Chairman and Co-Founder, Imagine Caroline Casey , Founder, Valuable 500 Ruby, Baroness McGregor-Smith CBE - President, British Chambers of Commerce Helena, Baroness Morrissey DBE - Chair, Diversity Project Fleur Bothwick OBE, Director of Diversity & Inclusive Leadership | EY – EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) Tiernan Brady, Global Director of Inclusion | Clifford Chance LLP Helen Cooke, CEO, MyPlus Helen Dolphin MBE, Independent Mobility Consultant Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, former Minister for Disabled People Professor Kim Hoque, Professor of Human Resource Management | Warwick Business School James Lee, Consultant, City Bridge Trust Diane Lightfoot, CEO | Business Disability Forum THE CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION The Disability Commission is an independent body backed by the Centre For Social Justice. It’s report, “Now is the Time”, makes five key recommendations to reduce the disability employment gap: Increasing supported routes into employment - high quality supported internships that involve job coaches and learning support have been proven to be highly effective in supporting individuals with the lowest employment rates into work. The Commission makes a series of recommendations focused on increasing the quality, supply, and awareness of supported internships. Introducing mandatory workforce reporting – The Government acknowledges the benefits of transparent reporting, stating in the introduction to the framework for Voluntary reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing, which it introduced in November 2018 to encourage employers to report the prevalence of disabled people in their workforce, that ‘transparency is a vital first step towards harnessing the power of a diverse workforce’. The Commission calls on the Government to realise the full benefits of workplace reporting by requiring all employers with 250+ employees to report the proportion of their workforce that is disabled. It also calls on the Government to extend gender pay gap reporting to disability, which will enable firms to monitor whether disabled people are being given equal access to better paying, more senior roles. Leveraging Government procurement – the Government spends £292 billion per year buying goods and services from external suppliers. The Commission recommends recent reforms to the Public Sector (Social Value) Act are extended to require all large public sector contract award decisions to take tendering organisations’ disability employment records into account, and to require organisations with public contracts to work towards increasing the proportion of disabled people within their workforce. Reforming the Government’s Disability Confident scheme – to ensure all employers at the scheme’s higher levels (level 2 ‘employers’, and level 3 ‘committed’) have above a minimum percentage threshold of disabled people within their workforce. Reforming the Government’s Access to Work scheme – introduced in 1994, this provides funding for the adjustments disabled people need to perform their role, and to enable them to get to and from work. This has transformed many disabled people’s employment opportunities, but problems with the scheme remain, not least that too few employers and disabled people are aware of it. As such, the Commission recommends an extensive awareness raising campaign; reducing administrative burdens and delays within the application process; the passporting of adaptations between organisations; and, importantly removing the annual funding cap. THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (CSJ) The CSJ is proud to have supported the commission with secretariat and analysis. The recommendations in this report are the independent views of the commissioners and should not be attributed to other businesses, organisations or bodies with whom they are associated. Established in 2004, the Centre for Social Justice is an independent think-tank that studies the root causes of Britain’s social problems and addresses them by recommending practical, workable policy interventions. The CSJ’s vision is to give people in the UK who are experiencing the worst multiple disadvantages and injustice every possible opportunity to reach their full potential. The majority of the CSJ’s work is organised around five ‘pathways to poverty’, first identified in our ground-breaking 2007 report Breakthrough Britain. These are: educational failure; family breakdown; economic dependency and worklessness; addiction to drugs and alcohol; and severe personal debt. Since its inception, the CSJ has changed the landscape of the UK’s political discourse by putting social justice at the heart of British politics. This has led to a transformation in government thinking and policy. For instance, the CSJ report It Happens Here shone a light on the horrific reality of human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK. As a direct result of this report, the Government passed the Modern Slavery Act 2015, one of the first pieces of legislation in the world to address slavery and trafficking in the 21st century. Its research is informed by experts including prominent academics, practitioners and policymakers. It also draws upon its CSJ Alliance, a unique group of charities, social enterprises and other grass-roots organisations that have a proven track-record of reversing social breakdown across the UK. The social challenges facing Britain remain serious. In 2021 and beyond, the CSJ will continue to advance the cause of social justice so that more people can continue to fulfil their potential. LORD SHINKWIN / DWP SELECT COMMITTEE APPEARANCE: Commission Chair, Lord Shinkwin, will be giving evidence to the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee as part of its inquiry on the disability employment gap on 24th March (0930 am, panel 1).

Full name

11 Jan 2022 - 5 min read

Butterfly species hard hit by changeable weather patterns

Share this post

Full Name

Related Post

Disability Organisations Unite to Call on Government to Act to Tackle Disability Employment Discrimination

David Forbes-Nixon discusses his vision for Undershaw during Founders’ Day

Butterfly species hard hit by changeable weather patterns

Stepping Stones school raising money for brain tumour research in memory of much-loved pupil

DAVID FORBES-NIXON, FOUNDER OF THE DFN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND CO-FOUNDER OF STEPPING STONES SCHOOL AT UNDERSHAW, IS HONOURED IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST (12/06/21)

"NOW IS THE TIME” CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GROUND-BREAKING NEW REPORT SHOWING WAYS TO TACKLE THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP.

"NOW IS THE TIME” CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GROUND-BREAKING NEW REPORT SHOWING WAYS TO TACKLE THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP.

"NOW IS THE TIME” CSJ DISABILITY COMMISSION PUBLISHES GROUND-BREAKING NEW REPORT SHOWING WAYS TO TACKLE THE DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT GAP.

Contact