BucksWorkability Website

We need a new way for disabled people to find the most appropriate employability information and support services in Buckinghamshire, and we want you to take a leading role.

Introduction

You will be working on the BucksWorkability project that BuDS took ownership of in 2020.

The project offers disabled jobseekers the opportunity to gain digital skills by working remotely using Microsoft Teams and other software and collaboration tools such as learning how to design a wireframe for a digital event app.

Background

The county has a dense, overlapping and opaque network of services supporting disabled people into employment. This is collectively referred to as the Bucks Workability Forum, and comprises of around 34 organisations, charities and local Government authorities.

We are immensely proud of the website redevelop and have new objectives to become a "one-stop" information service in the future, along with making connections with the Workability Forum in Milton Keynes.

Training

You will receive hands on work experience alongside professional mentoring and coaching from experienced IT developers and your project manager. Working in a team is a large part of the work experience, and a personal development plan will help you to build your confidence in a supportive setting.

What makes this programme special?

No fixed predetermined plans: team members decide how best to improve the site together.

No fixed roles: work together as required, share skills and knowledge and find tasks which match your skills or interests.

5 hours direct training and guidance per week.

A standout piece of work experience to really impress employers.

Making a difference to disabled jobseekers in Bucks. The BucksWorkabilty group consists of 34 organisations compromising charities and local government authorities. The new website is crucial in achieving our aim of greater collaboration between support services, employers and disabled job seekers.

Who Will Benefit The Most?

Anyone looking to build on their skills and knowledge who is seeking careers involving digital design, project management, website development, research, content creation (including video) and copywriting.

This project offers the opportunity to research, create, promote and update content, problem solve, demonstrate high level IT and analytical skills, web-design and artistic skills, UX and UI design, teamwork skills and more. It's run as an agile project, so you can choose the tasks that you are most suited to. We are always interested to find out what skills people can bring to our project and we will develop those with you.

Project FAQ's

Project Specific Eligibility

Project Specific Eligibility (funding) criteria are:

Have a legal right to work in the UK, be over 18 years of age, live in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire or Northamptonshire.
Strong preference for disabled people or people with a long-term physical or mental health condition or neurodivergent traits (autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, ADHD ect).

General Eligibility

Currently not in paid work, with a desire to progress into employment
IT literate with a working knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office
Understanding and appreciation of the Social Model of Disability – see https://buds.org.uk/the-social-model-of-disability/
Have a legal right to work in the UK, be over 18 years of age.

What Is BucksWorkability?

The Bucksworkability partnership, comprising health, local authorities and other relevant agencies within Buckinghamshire aimed to work together to improve access to work opportunities for disabled people.

It was originally operated under an NHS umbrella, until funding for the BucksWorkability partnership ceased in 2014 and its legacy assets, including its website, was passed to BuDS. BuDS Chair Andrew Clark has successfully persuaded the DWP, NHS and local councils to relaunch the partnership model in Bucks, meetings are currently chaired by the DWP. This project is in its early days, but it is potentially hugely important for disabled people in Bucks, offering the chance of much better and more coordinated services to support those who are in work and who want to work.

Where Is It Based?

When Is It?

How Long Is It For?

General FAQ's

General Eligibility

Eligibility (funding) criteria are:

Check project eligibility in case of additional requirements.

Currently not in paid work, with a desire to progress into employment
IT literate with a working knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office
Understanding and appreciation of the Social Model of Disability – see https://buds.org.uk/the-social-model-of-disability/
Have a legal right to work in the UK, be over 18 years of age.

Please note: Anyone can volunteer to help, but Reach4Work volunteers will receive extra support and training and are more likely to be accepted.

Will It Effect My Benefits?

What is BuDS?

Where Is It Based?

What Type Of Work Do People Find Afterwards?

What Is The Application Process?

Get in touch, let us know why you would like to volunteer and confirm if you meet the eligibility or not.

We will invite you to a telephone or video chat with us to talk about the role and how you can help. These chats are taking place throughout the week.

We will discuss the roles available, identify if a DBS check is necessary and ask you to complete some paperwork (virtually).

You also get free access to MS Teams, which we use to message and video-chat with each other. We work together in teams and you’d be added to a team to work with other people. Everyone has a line manager to guide the work and offer support, and we can offer training in all the software.

Get In Touch

Please say the type of work you are interested in and tell us a little about yourself.

Email info@reach4work.org.uk if we don't reply within a few days.

National Council for Voluntary Organisations