Anne Milton And Damon Hill Help To Launch New Campaign For Guildford Charity

Published on: 8 Mar, 2016
Updated on: 8 Mar, 2016

Guildford MP Anne Milton and former motor-racing champion Damon Hill OBE hosted a dinner at the House of Commons to launch the latest campaign from locally-based charity the halow project.

Pictured from left at the event: Justin Tomlinson MP, halow young person Dermot Farrell, Anne Milton MP, and halow patron Damon Hill OBE.

After-dinner speakers, Justin Tomlinson MP, minister for disabled people; and Dermot Farrell, halow’s disability works young ambassador; addressed an audience of Surrey and London-based business leaders on the issues faced by young people with a learning disability on their journey to find and secure paid work.

Mr Tomlinson said: “People with a learning disability have a six per cent chance of a meaningful career. People with disabilities want to work and can make a valuable contribution to the workforce and business. I am very pleased to be able to support halow’s disability works campaign to raise awareness and encourage employers to get involved.”

halow young person, Dermot Farrell, told the guests about his journey to find work and his time training and working in cafes and restaurants.

He said: “I have always wanted to work in the food catering industry and enjoy my job. It was frustrating when I was looking for a job but Employability helped me to get an interview.

“Even when you have a job that you are trained for it can be difficult. It is important that employers understand that people like me want to be trained and want to progress in our jobs.”

halow’s work across all of its programmes helps young people develop their skills, confidence and talents to enable them to start the daunting process of finding a job.

Working with other organisations, such as Employability (Surrey Choices), volunteer centres such as Voluntary Action South West Surrey, and DSA Workfit locally and nationally, halow has begun to see an increasing number of young people seeking and accessing paid employment.

Disability works is halow’s campaign to raise awareness of the issues and barriers faced by young people with a learning disability when looking for paid employment. For young people who can and want to work it is imperative that we encourage employers to join this campaign and to support these young people with a learning disability to join the workforce.

Damon Hill OBE, the patron of halow project, said: “It was a great pleasure to be involved in this event and support the launch of halow’s disability works campaign.

“We must work together to create employment opportunities for young people with a learning disability, to engage businesses and individuals alike for a better society for all.”

Based in Guildford, the halow project provides daytime, evening and weekend activities and support for young people with a learning disability from 16 to 35 years old from across Surrey.

f you would like to make a donation, refer a young person or require further information, visit: www.halowproject.org.uk or call 01483 447960.

Share This Post