Local radio station Andover Radio has become a Disability Confident Employer – currently only one of four in the town.
Disability Confident was launched in 2013 to replace the ‘Two Ticks – positive about disabled people’ scheme. It is designed to help employers recruit and retain disabled people and people with health conditions for their skills and talent.
Director Mo Sweeney said “We have several volunteers working for us that are registered disabled including three of our presenters.”
“I get support through the Access to Work scheme as a disabled person. This can help you with special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings.”
“It’s not just about us. We are a local radio station and are aiming to help in the community as much as we can.
“To help and support online we have the Test Valley Disabilities Forum of which I am Chairperson. It is an active group aiming to make a difference locally for people with a disability and carers. It’s not just online as we also have a meeting at Andover and District Mencap on Thursday 9th August.
“We would love more people to join us both online and if you can make it, the meeting as well.”
Andover Radio are working in partnership with the Enham Trust who hosted a Disability Confident event in March 2018 and was attended by over 50 local employers and businesses in the Hampshire area. Guests at the event were Sarah Newton, Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health and Kit Malthouse MP, former Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance.
Kit Malthouse said at the time “Getting more disabled people into jobs lets them bring their talents into the workplace, but also gives employers access to the new ideas, new thinking and new skills they offer. It is a win-win for everyone and I am very pleased that so many businesses agreed on Friday and signed up.”
You can find out more at the GOV.UK website about the Disability Confident scheme and Access to Work.
