Shaw Trust Merger has Royal Seal of Approval

The successful merger of two leading employment charities which looks set to boost job opportunities across Scotland, was given the royal seal of approval at a prestigious launch at The Palace of Holyroodhouse today.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh hosted the event to celebrate a pioneering new partnership between Shaw Trust and Employment Opportunities.

Both organisations have been helping disabled and disadvantaged people across Scotland for more than 20 years to access training, work placements and job opportunities.

“We share a common mission and by combining our skills, we have a great opportunity to support more people and make an even greater impact,” said Shaw Trust Regional Manager for Employment Scotland, Ian Bruce.

“This successful merger brings together many years of expertise and we will build on our achievements and hope even more employers and partner organisations will now join us on our journey to support people across Scotland into jobs,” he added.

The event was attended by staff, partners, clients and supporters of the charities plus representatives of some of the 800 employers who have worked with Shaw Trust providing work placements and jobs.

Employment Opportunities CEO Karin Pappenheim said: “We are delighted His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, was able to host this unique event for us, as he is both a founding patron of Employment Opportunities and well known for his passionate support of the third sector.”

“The event has provided a unique opportunity for staff, partners and supporters to come together in one of the UK’s most prestigious settings, a renowned Royal Palace,” she added.

During the past 12 months alone Shaw Trust has reached out to support some 3,500 people in Scotland and has helped more than 1,000 of them into employment, while helping others fulfil ambitions to gain independence, training or volunteering skills.

Shaw Trust works across Scotland to deliver the New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) programme in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, which provides advice on training, job search, benefits and tax credits for people with disabilities or those with a health condition. Shaw Trust also delivers the employment support programme Workstep and an alternative to day care project based in Dunfermline.

Shaw Trust Scotland has grown during the past seven years from a team of ten, to around 50, who offer one to one bespoke services across large areas of the country including Fife, Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders, and the Highlands, Islands and Clyde coast .

Shaw Trust works alongside partners which include Jobcentre Plus, SCVO, and local councils including North Lanarkshire Council, also employers such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Barclays, plus numerous local employers including Borders Books.

Shaw Trust has set up a freephone number - 0800 085 1001 - for people who want to work and for employers who want to access them.


NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further details please contact Shaw Trust Press Manager Samantha Jobber on 01225 716 300 or 07595 214 649. Or you can email Samantha.Jobber@shaw-trust.org.uk Photographs will be available on Tuesday August 11.

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. Across the UK more than 1,400 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

3. If you would like to support the work that Shaw Trust does to help disabled and disadvantaged people find work and achieve independence please visit our website
http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/support_us 

 Back to Press Releases