According to the Labour Force Survey, there were 4.4m disabled people in employment in the UK in Q2 2021. In addition, the disability employment rate was 52.7% in Q2 2021, compared to 81.0% for non-disabled people.

Although disability inclusion in the workforce becomes more prevalent, tackling stigma and unconscious bias is still a significant hurdle in bringing on disabled hires at the workplace.

We spoke to Chloe Parker, Job Coach, and Lorraine Ashworth, SEND Tutor, at our specialist college - Bridge College, about some of the potential barriers and their solutions regarding hiring, supported interns.

On 4 January 1870, our first home opened as a 'Night Refuge for Homeless Boys' in a small terraced house on Quay Street in Manchester. The charity provided basic shelter for the night and food for boys who would otherwise be living on the streets.

They averaged around 40 permanent residents each month, with 144 boys admitted from 4 January – 4 July 1870. The children were in three separate divisions: shoeblacks, messengers and those who had acquired permanent situations. They all earned wages, and a proportion of this paid for their maintenance. The rest was spent on clothes for themselves or lodged as savings.

Last week, we welcomed Robert Martin and his friendly companion Dusty at Inscape School for an engaging book reading of his new children's book, Joe and Dusty. 

Students were invited to learn more about the book, ask questions to the author and meet Dusty, his Bull Terrier and star of his book.

In November, students at Ashcroft College organised a ‘Client day’, which takes place every term and aims to support our learners, working towards their Hair and Beauty BTEC Level 1 qualification. The young people invited all the Together Trust colleagues to take part and get treated with a day at the college salon. Clients had the opportunity to choose from a range of beauty treatments the students have been learning about throughout the term, including hairstyling, nails and facials.

The Together Trust is delighted to welcome Giles Gaddum as the new chair of trustees.  The Cheshire based business owner is the fifth member of the Gaddum family to serve on the board of the Together Trust. The family have supported the charity since 1902 when Henry Theodore Gaddum took the position of trustee. His son Harry followed in his father’s footsteps and in 1920 he became the first member of the family to chair the board. Giles has served on the board since 2009 and has supported the charity all his life.

Students at one of our specialist schools, Bridge College, have been designing and selling food-themed tote bags within the college as their first major print project of the academic year, thanks to funding from the Karten Network.

The main focus of the project was designing and making a product the students felt other people would buy, so they agreed on an item that is not only practical but eco-friendly – tote bags. The design theme was fruit and vegetables and aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Bridge College had a fantastic opportunity to work with the Manchester Health and Social care partnership to share students’ experiences of transitioning from school to further education. Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership (GMHSCP) is supporting the city region’s pupils through its mental health in an education programme and Bridge College are proud to be part of this great initiative.

Learning to be a DJ is not maybe the first thing you would think of when considering what to do to help young people with their emotional and mental well-being. However, Rebecca Highton, an occupational therapy apprentice at the Together Trust, tells us how she has found common ground between music and supporting young people with autism and mental health needs.

The Together Trust is celebrating, following the announcement of being successfully accredited the highly prestigious Investors in People Gold Award for the first time since 2001.

The ‘Gold’ status was awarded following the results of an independent staff survey and series of staff interviews which highlighted that our charity demonstrated excellence in leading, inspiring and empowering the workforce and recognising and rewarding high performance.