Local people help to mark successful Job Match project

Lorraine Cummings, Peter Thompson and Stephen Shaw joined with representatives from Disability Action to celebrate the success of the new Job Match project.

The project, which is organised jointly by Disability Action and the Disability Employment Service, helps people with disabilities find the right job for them.

Lorraine had cause for celebration as following her enrolment with Job Match she has successfully gained a work placement with AIS Ltd in Ballyclare.

She said: “I really enjoy my placement, it’s a small company which really works for me. Emma my boss helps me with aids and is very friendly and patient.”

Peter and Stephen have recently enrolled with Job Match and have commenced an Essential Skills training course at the Northern Regional College.

A number of milestones were marked at the celebration event, including, 72 disabled people enrolling onto the project. A total of 31 of these participants have successfully secured work trials, voluntary placements, paid work, training programmes or further education as part of the project.

Karen Smith, Job Match team leader at Disability Action said: “This event really demonstrated the diversity of the help our nine supported employment officers provide to ensure people with disabilities can find the ‘right match’ to the job they want, from supporting someone to realise their goal of being a self employed artist to helping a recent university graduate secure his dream job in architectural design. This is only the beginning of our project and I hope that we continue to have many more successes like these ones moving forward.”

The project operates across Northern Ireland and is jointly funded by the Department for Employment and Learning and the European Social Fund.

For further information please visit www.disabilityaction.org/jobmatch or contact Karen Smith on 02890297880.