Community interest company Bridge Creative is urging employers to sign a pledge to ‘think differently’ this Learning Disability Week (17 - 23 June) and commit to actively creating inclusive workplaces.
The company’s campaign, ‘We See You’, a direct response to this year’s Learning Disability Week theme of ‘Do You See Me?’, asks employers to put inclusive recruitment and retention practices in place to support adults with learning disabilities or those who are neurodivergent.
Ben Tinkler, Managing Director, Bridge Creative, said: “Creating an inclusive workplace should never be a box-ticking exercise or empty social media campaign. It’s about genuinely making changes to ensure that everyone feels able to bring their best self to work. For example, offering alternatives to traditional interview settings such as half day work experience trials, creating sensory-friendly quiet spaces and committing to staff training to ensure that all line managers are aware of how to best support neurodivergent colleagues or those with learning disabilities.”
Bridge Creative, a national company based in County Durham – an area which has one of the lowest employment rates for people with learning disabilities – already works with a wide range of employers to train management teams and support the recruitment of adults. Successful collaborations to date have included working with Festival Republic, Glastonbury, We Out Here Festival and Tough Mudder.
Hayden Davies, Volunteers and Workforce Manager for Spartan & Tough Mudder UK, said: “At Tough Mudder we are deeply committed to fostering inclusive environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Having recently been involved in a working capacity at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact that inclusive opportunities can have on individuals and communities. We are thrilled to welcome Bridge Creative and their staff to our Tough Mudder Scotland event on June 15th. Aligning with our ever-increasing efforts and values towards inclusivity, this campaign comes at a perfect moment to shine a light how proud we are to create opportunities for their team to contribute to our events. I want inclusivity to be at the heart of what we do here at Tough Mudder, because everyone is welcome to our join us on our mission to change 100 million lives”
Ben added: “One of the key misconceptions we are keen to address is the idea that creating an inclusive workplace is beneficial only to the employees seeking work. That’s simply not the case. Colleagues with learning disabilities have so much to offer and contribute enormously to creating diverse, motivated and productive teams. People with learning disabilities tend to have better retention and loyalty rates, limiting staff turnover, and they also bring curiosity, pride and a willingness to learn.
“One of our recent colleagues who we successfully secured paid employment for was known for his ‘infectious smile’ and his curious nature encouraged debate and reflection regarding current working practices. This fresh perspective led to improved processes and a more cohesive team dynamic.
“I can honestly say, having worked with many colleagues with learning disabilities over the years, that they are some of the most motivated, hardworking and committed staff you could ever have the privilege of working with.”
Dean White, Events Assistant at Bridge Creative said: “I get to work with Bridge Creative which I enjoy and get to work at so many fantastic events. I’ve gained more confidence, pushed myself out of my comfort zone, learnt new skills, I get to work with new people and it’s really positive.
“Just because I have a learning disability doesn’t mean I can’t work, I can work like anybody else with the right support.
“I would say that businesses just need to consider what reasonable adjustments need to be in place, consider the person’s needs, and disabled people have the expertise to help you do this.”
Join the ‘We See You’ Campaign
1. Make a ‘We See You’ Pledge – employers can show their commitment to inclusivity by pledging to think differently about employing people with learning disabilities. See bridgecreative.org for more information and to sign up.
2. Share the ‘Do You See Me?’ Video – Bridge Creative’s new campaign film will be live on the website during Learning Disability Week. Visit bridgecreative.org.
3. Post the #WeSeeYou hashtag – join the conversation to show support.
By supporting the ‘We See You’ campaign, employers will become more visible to people with learning disabilities and autism who may be interested in working in their sector.
For more information about Bridge Creative, please contact: hello@bridgecreative.org or visit www.bridgecreative.org
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