Hi Stuart,
I hope all is well with you.
I have in my diary an ECU meeting on disclosure on Mon 2nd Feb but I
think I must have deleted the email about it as I can't find any further
information. Could you send me some details or the original email. Sorry
to bother you and many thanks,
Moira
Moira Mitchell
Equality and Diversity Manager
Canterbury Christ Church University
tel: 01227 782795
-----Original Message-----
From: HE Administrators equal opportunities list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stuart Moore
Sent: 16 September 2008 15:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Access to Work funding still available for HEIs - ECU Update
**Apologies for cross-posting**
Equality Challenge Unit Update
Access to Work funding and public bodies
In December 2007, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) document
Helping people achieve their full potential: Improving Specialist
Disability Employment Services consulted on the proposal to remove
Access to Work funding from all public bodies.
Equality Challenge Unit responded to this consultation document on
behalf of the higher education sector, outlining the negative impact
this decision would likely have on disabled staff. A summary of the
consultation responses is due to be released by DWP in October this
year.
No present plans to withdraw funding
Through the release of the recent government green paper No one written
off; reforming welfare to reward responsibility, the DWP have now
confirmed that there are no present plans to withdraw Access to Work
funding from the public sector.
The green paper states:
'A recent consultation found that Access to Work was both highly
regarded and seen as effective by users, employers and disability groups
... We will, therefore, double the Access to Work budget. This will
enable us to expand the reach of the programme, enabling us to reassure
employers, benefits claimants and people seeking help to retain their
jobs, that support will be available to all those that need it.'
(Page 77 paragraph 3.40)
Independent evaluation
However, the green paper makes it clear that Access to Work provision is
still under review. An independent evaluation of Access to Work will
shortly commence and the findings of this review, together with the
responses to the initial consultation document will 'make sure the
additional funding is spent in the most effective way' (Page 77,
paragraph 3.41).
What this means for Higher Education
Higher education institutions (HEIs) along with other public sector
bodies, will be able to continue to apply for access to work funding.
The Access to Work fund has now been doubled, and HEIs may benefit from
promoting the availability of the scheme within their institution to
encourage further take up.
Next steps
ECU will continue to follow developments regarding Access to Work
provision and the implications any changes may have on the sector.
Useful documents
No one written off; reforming welfare to reward responsibility green
paper
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/noonewrittenoff
Helping people achieve their full potential: Improving Specialist
Disability Employment Services consultation document
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2007/des-consultation/full-consul
tation.pdf
ECU response to Improving Specialist Disability Employment Services
http://www.ecu.ac.uk/news/2008/03/ecu/assets/ECU_response_to_DWP_March_2
008.doc
Contact details
Amy Bryant
Senior Policy Adviser
Email: [log in to unmask]
Telephone: 020 7438 1020
About the Equality Challenge Unit
Equality Challenge Unit supports the higher education sector in its
mission to realise the potential of all staff and students whatever
their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion and belief,
or age, to the benefit of those individuals, higher educations
institutions and society
T: +44 (0) 20 7438 1010 E: [log in to unmask] W: www.ecu.ac.uk
<http://www.ecu.ac.uk/>
|