Into Work

1. Tell us about your organisation and its mission.

Into Work’s mission, aim, objective, purpose and values are all focused on the equality of disabled people in employment. We deliver supported employment services for disabled people with the aim of removing the disability employment gap. Our vision is a world made up of inclusive workplaces in which disabled people have equal access and experience of employment as non-disabled people’s access and experience. Into Work delivers a holistic service including income maximisation support, wellbeing supported and peer mentoring support delivered by trainers who have lived experience.

2. What kind of support did you receive from Borders Community Action?

I reached out to Borders Community Action as our charity has ambitions to grow our services in the Borders region. We are very familiar at delivering services through NOLB across other local authorities but the landscape of the Borders is very different. Reaching out to Ryan and having a good conversation about the types of services that could benefit local residents really helped, as a charity delivering services that people need, we didn’t want to replicate current provision. Ryan helped me understand the local landscape and the challenges, he also advised who I should speak to regarding our project idea. He kindly hooked me up with a local hub called Burnfoot and also advised that Into Work should focus on SIMD areas of need which really helped with the planning our our project.

3. What challenge or need were you facing before receiving support?

Into Work applied last year once the NOLB Employability grants launched. We had no success with our applications. The work Into Work covers around Employability provision for disabled people is so impactful and we believe that identifying the right partners to work with and deliver income maximisation support could really make a different to local residents. The financial return is life changing. Receiving support from Borders Community Action has given our charity real confidence and the support has been welcomed.

4. How did Borders Community Action’s support make a difference?

Making links to local community hubs and hopefully designing a service that could change people’s lives and have a major impact for their future is our mission. We don’t know if we have been successful as yet but having the confidence to speak with the Borders Council, Burnfoot and Langlee Community hubs has really increased our knowledge about the local landscape and the services that would make a difference and allow people to consider employability as a real option.

5. Can you share a specific success or milestone that came from this support?

Yes our Income Maximisation Lead has linked up with Burnfoot Community Hub. We are really hoping that we can deliver workshops about benefits, cost of living etc – watch this space.

6. What has been the longer-term impact on your organisation or community?

Can’t say as yet, still waiting on funding decisions. What the conversation has done is improve our knowledge as a charity about the issues the Borders region is currently facing.

7. Would you recommend Borders Community Action to other organisations? Why?

I found Borders Community Action (Ryan) to be friendly/knowledgeable and very welcoming. They showed interest and hopefully learned about our charity along the way. I felt listened to and supported, and it certainly gave me confidence to apply for this round of funding through NOLB grants. I would definitely reach out again and found Ryan’s advice and contacts really useful.