CHARITY AWARD OPENS DOORS TO CONSTRUCTION JOBS
A prestigious charity award looks set to encourage the construction industry across
London to open its doors to workers with disabilities.
Employment charity Shaw Trust singled out UCATT convenor Patrick Dowling at the regional STAR awards for his work supporting and mentoring Shaw Trust clients into jobs on construction sites.
Now Pat has pledged to spread the word through his union and employers Skanska to break down the barriers to employment that have kept those who have been on Incapacity Benefit off construction sites.
"I am very honoured to have won this award for Workplace Mentoring supporting people is part of my role but this win will focus attention on the importance of this role in construction," said Pat, who first began working with Shaw Trust clients over two years ago.
"It is a matter of getting employers like Skanska to recognise that people who have had health issues to overcome are no different from me and you they just need a bit of extra help to get them back on track.
By working closely with Shaw Trust, major international construction contractor Skanska, which was also nominated for an Employer award, has taken a leading role in overcoming workplace prejudices.
"Together we've broken the taboo by showing others what can be achieved with the right support for workers," said Skanska Community Relations Manager Miriam Lewis.
"Disability is largely misunderstood by the whole construction sector because of our strict Health and Safety requirements. We don't understand that disability has many forms and is as much about exclusion and underlying health problems as it is about mental or physical ones.
"There is no reason why sites all over London shouldn't have mentors like Pat helping people back into jobs with the help of the Trust. If Skanska can do it then so can the rest," she said.
Shaw Trust's Liz Obertelli, who nominated Pat for the award, has been battling for nine years to address the lack of understanding about disability in the industry and believes this is a turning point.
"Thanks to the support and mentoring Pat has been able to give there are now an extra 20 opportunities for our clients on construction sites and we hope there will be yet more in the future," said Liz.
Colin McMurray from Illford, is one of those who has a new lease of life thanks to the job he has gained working on Skanska's Barts Hospital construction site as a Traffic Martial.
"Its such a great feeling to be back at work and taking home a pay packet every week and I'm being trained. I have a new lease of life," said Colin, who was out of work for nine years before getting the support he needed to get back to work.
"I can't thank Pat, Shaw Trust, Skanska and my employers Mitchellson's enough for all they've done for me. I've had such great support and couldn't have done it without them. I very, very happy," he said.
The London STAR awards were presented by blind speed skiing champion Kevin Alderton at a VIP ceremony watched by national and local businesses, partner organisations, volunteers and individual achievers who had all been shortlisted.
"I know what it's like to face barriers, and I appreciate what it takes to knock them out of the way," says Dartford's double world record holder Kevin, a former Grenadier Guards Platoon Sergeant who lost his sight in a 1998 street attack.
"I'm delighted to be part of a special event to honour the achievements of people who have had their own battles with what life has thrown at them, and to support the Trust which does such great work in supporting and motivating them."
The event marks the first regional awards to be held by the Trust to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Winners will go through to a glittering national awards ceremony being held in
London in November.
Speaking after the awards, Shaw Trust Chief Executive Ian Charlesworth said: "These are our Oscars, when we get the chance to publicly recognise the wonderful achievements of some of the people we have worked with over the year.
"The event turns our short-listed nominees into stars for the day, they are all truly inspirational, and their achievements show quite clearly what can be done with the right support.
"We are delighted that Kevin Alderton presented our awards, and that he is such a staunch advocate of our services, which support over 60,000 people every year."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For further details, please contact Phil Williams on 0780 181 6507 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk
2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.
3. Shaw Trust has grown into a world-renowned international organisation, which over the years has supported nearly 160,000 disabled and disadvantaged people and helped some 50,000 of them into work.
4. Across the
UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.
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