Background

Employ-Ability is the working name of Ideas Plus.

Ideas Plus was formed in 1992 following the recommendations of a special report commissioned by Harlow District Council (H.D.C.) which examined the employment situation of disabled people in Harlow. A service was then set up, supported by H.D.C. and local companies (Blue Arrow, B.P., IDV UK, and General Portfolio) in an innovative partnership to assist people with disabilities into meaningful paid employment.

For the first 10 years, and with various funding changes, the service operated with one paid supported employment advisor.

By 2002 the service was able to appoint two full time advisors, supported by a part time manager, delivering on European Social Fund (E.S.F.) and Single Regeneration Budget contracts. Much of this work was funded through HDC in partnership with other local providers.

Also in 2004 we achieved the Matrix quality standard and began to offer Information and Advice sessions; as part of this process we (staff, trustees and users of our service), decided to change our working name to Employ-Ability.

Where are we now, and hope to be in the future?

While still working with local services, we are increasingly involved in County wide partnerships, most notably within Workskills, as funding requirements change. Also over the last 4 years our caseload has increasingly become people with mental health conditions, up to 80% of our caseload. Opportunities for ESF grant funding are reducing and our goal is to tender for contracts starting in 2008 to provide a specialist supported employment service on behalf of the mental health commissioners.

We remain keen to work in the local community and will continue to explore opportunities to fulfil our core purpose, in an innovative and professional way.

Legal Status: Ideas Plus was first registered as a company in 1992 under registration number 2772286. Our registration as a charity was made initially in 1993 under registered charity number 1016182.