4 February 2022
The WorkFit programme from the Down’s Syndrome Association delivers successful supported employment by finding the right role for the right candidate, with the right level of support.
We placed our first candidate in 2012 at a time when many employers were unsure of how to offer an opportunity. We had one WorkFit Officer and an ambition to provide meaningful employment opportunities. WorkFit has grown considerably since then, both in reach and reputation. We are planning to further expand the WorkFit team this year to be able to develop and support more opportunities.
The programme has won numerous awards thanks to a personalised, bespoke approach to finding a good fit for candidates and their employers.
WorkFit has never received any funding from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), however despite this, we are moving confidently towards a milestone figure of developing and delivering 1,000 employment opportunities. Our retention rate of over 90% for people going into permanent jobs is exceptional.
We were delighted to support The Hiring Chain in 2021 from Coor Down, Italy which is a wonderful video featuring people who have Down’s syndrome at work with a song sung by Sting about why employers should recruit them.
The WorkFit programme has been featured in numerous BBC local and national news items, and recently featured on BBC1’s The One Show.
You can hear from people who have Down’s syndrome and their employers on the WorkFit YouTube channel. You can also watch the latest BBC News item, which highlighted the visit of Chloe Smith, Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health to a WorkFit employer in November 2021. She met with three employees placed by WorkFit to hear about their experiences.
It was also an honour to deliver a keynote speech, co-produced by and featuring people who have Down’s syndrome at the 2021 World Down Syndrome Congress in November.