Having a job isn’t simply about earning a wage. Employment can enable individuals to build their confidence, develop valuable skills and widen their network of friendships.

Unfortunately, the prospect of finding and securing employment as an adult with learning disabilities can be extremely overwhelming.

With the lack of widely available employment support for individuals living with disabilities in the UK, it comes as little surprise that figures from the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) estimate that only 5.1% of adults with learning disabilities were in paid work during 2020-2021. 

Considering just how enriching employment can be for our sense of purpose and community, we are determined to improve this figure.

 Committed to making a difference 

The work that we do is all about enriching the lives of adults with disabilities, and we believe that gaining experience in employment certainly has the potential to do exactly that, allowing individuals to:

• adjust to the practicalities of employment, such as travelling to work, waking up early and working under a manager
• develop new and varied skills
• experience a different environment
• learn how to work with a wide variety of people and develop different types of relationships
• build confidence, self-esteem and a sense of independence
• begin building a strong CV
• improve their chances of securing and sustaining employment in the future

Here at PRS Inclusion & Training services, we have an excellent Transition to Employment scheme in place, which allows adults living with disabilities to gain invaluable work experience in a variety of areas through partnerships that we have developed with local employers and education centres. One of the fantastic opportunities that we offer allows individuals to gain work experience in a catering setting that straddles both the corporate and public sphere.

Introducing PRS Café 

Located in Mea House in Newcastle, our PRS Café is a popular eatery providing freshly prepared food and drink to both the corporate population of the building and the general public, too.

The purpose of our PRS Café is to support individuals living with disabilities to gain experience in employment whilst developing valuable skills and building their confidence. For those who are interested in the hospitality sector, the café provides the perfect opportunity to gain practical skills in all of the various aspects of the day-to-day running of a busy café , such as handling cash, serving customers, clearing tables and preparing foods.

Our specialist job coaches work alongside the interns and trainees in order to provide supervision and assistance whenever needed. As those in training gain their confidence and find their feet, the support offered by the job coach becomes more passive, encouraging a sense of independence amongst those gaining experience in the café.

Sharing a home with Smart Works Newcastle 

The PRS Café in Mea House also shares its home with Smart Works Newcastle, a wonderful, innovative charity who are committed to giving women facing difficulties and disadvantages the confidence necessary to succeed in interviews. This is hugely beneficial to the women within our Transition To Employment scheme, providing them with confidence coaching and access to suitable interview attire, thus enabling them to take their employability to new heights.

Here at PRS Inclusion & Training Services, we’re committed to improving the employment prospects for adults living with disabilities. If you or your loved one are looking to gain experience in employment but are not sure where to start, get in touch today to find out how we can help.