Edgbaston company wins Action award for innovation in employing blind people

Edgebaston company, Gateway Family Services, has been presented with an award from Action for Blind People recognising good practice in employing a visually impaired person.

Laura Ward from Gateway Family Services, with visually impaired employee Sue Gladwish and Action's Kerry Chase

At the ceremony, Action praised Gateway Family Services for its commitment in training and employing registered partially sighted Sue Gladwish, age 43, a resident of Kitwell, Birmingham. The company was presented with the charity’s ‘See the Capability, not the Disability’ award.

Gateway Family Services is a social enterprise, which specialises in reducing inequality through training, employment and community health services. After giving Sue a six-month paid placement, they have now offered her employment, helping to transform her confidence and self-belief.

Sue is the administrator for Gateway’s Lighten Up Service. She said: “Gateway Family Services has recognised my capability, not the disability of sight loss. Their support has boosted my self-esteem, showing that being visually impaired shouldn’t be a barrier to work. I can contribute just as much as my sighted colleagues, thanks to the company’s innovation and support.”

Kerry Chase, from Action’s Social Enterprise Employment Development (SEED) team, said: “At Action for Blind People, we help employers to understand that someone with sight loss is just as capable in the workplace as sighted counterparts. In fact, as Gateway Family Services has discovered, because visually impaired people are so determined to prove themselves, they are often the most loyal and committed members of the team. We’re extremely grateful to the company for their forward-thinking attitude.”

For the next year, Action for Blind People’s SEED project is set to support more people with sight loss, improving their employability through work experience placements and a programme of confidence building.

For more information about Action’s Social Enterprise and Employment Development programme, phone 0113 386 2800, email seed@actionforblindpeople.org.uk or visit our SEED project pages

Make a nomination

If you know of an organisation which demonstrates innovation and good practice in employing visually impaired people, why not nominate them for Action’s employer award?

You can talk to Chris Dyson, PR Manager to find out more about nominating your employer.

Email: chris.dyson@actionforblindpeople.org.uk 

Tel: 020 7635 4921

Posted on 13 January 2012, in Action