Work and Volunteering
Disabled people are more likely to be discriminated against when it comes to finding work. They also struggle to find the right opportunities for work experience in order to gain vital career skills. Below are resources from well-known organisations that help marginalised people get into work.
Here you will also find information about where to find the best volunteer roles to gain those valuable skills needed for your career.
How do I know if an employer will make a reasonable adjustment for my disability?
Disability Confident is a scheme designed to highlight those employers who understand the value of working with disabled people and wish to provide equal opportunities. Paul’s Place has this accreditation as we want disabled people to feel included so that everyone can live their life to the full. Our policies and values want to empower disabled people, so looking out for this logo on an employer’s website is a good start.
Click here to find out more about the scheme.
Work experience and online courses
The Princes Trust is the main charity that helps young people get the right training and experience to land their dream job. They host workshops throughout the year, mostly online and even mentoring programmes. If you are aged 18 – 30, there are lots of ways the princes’ trust can help you start your dream career.
They have 3 main ways that can help young people;
- Build your confidence: For Ages 16-25. Making friends is easy when you’ve got 12 weeks to gain skills, and experience and take on a once-in-a-lifetime community project to transform your neighbourhood with like-minded people.
- Get a job: For Ages 16-30. Work with top employers such as M&S, HSBC and the NHS, who are ready to hire fresh talent, while improving your CV and interview techniques.
- Start your business: Ages 18-30. Find out everything you need to know to make your business a success through a short course in a centre near you. Then create your business plan with the support of a mentor.
For their current workshops and online courses, Download their programme here: Prince’s Trust Support Jan 2023 | February 2023 workshops
Currently on offer: Get into Bristol – Digital Marketing Feb 23
Volunteer to gain work experience
There is one good outcome of the pandemic and that is the increase in remote and online volunteer opportunities. More businesses are working with people remotely, especially if the skills you want to gain through volunteering are digital.
Here is a list of volunteering websites for you to find your next volunteer role;
Do IT is the national database of volunteering opportunities. Search more than 1 million volunteering opportunities by interest, activity or location and apply online.
CharityJob is the UK’s largest and most specialised job board for the voluntary sector. Every month, they connect nearly half a million people with paid and voluntary roles in a range of inspiring organisations.
With thousands of volunteer and trustee positions available at any time, they’re sure to have the perfect position for you.
Volunteering Matters believe that everyone can play a role in their community and should have the chance to participate: they build volunteering projects and programmes to reflect this.
Their volunteer programmes help to improve health and well-being; build stronger, more inclusive communities; and achieve lasting results.
Their projects are designed to suit you whether you’re looking for part-time volunteering, full-time volunteering or event corporate volunteering.
Reach Volunteering connects professionals and charities through skill-based volunteer and trustee opportunities, both project-based and long-term.
VInspired: is a free and easy-to-use platform to promote volunteering opportunities to young people aged between 14 and 30.
Disability Advocacy and Voluntary Groups
BDEF: Bristol Disability Equality Forum is a voluntary group that meets both in-person and online. They are working on various projects to make sure the council makes decisions informed by disabled people themselves. You can join BDEF if you are a Bristol resident. You can email them via their website or call them on 0117 914 0528.
SGDEN: South Gloucestershire Disability Equality Network
Paul’s Place is working in partnership with SGDEN. Since April Paul’s Place has taken over the employment of the DEN Manager Sophie Wainwright from South Gloucestershire CVS. The SGDEN remains an independent disability-led organisation and the aim of working in partnership with us is to ensure that more disabled people will get involved, in adding their voices to the issues that matter to them in South Gloucestershire.
WECIL: Independent living support for Disabled People. WECIL is a well-known local service that can advise you to help you live more independently.