Intowork Website Home Page

OVERVIEW Intowork is a voluntary sector organisation that operates in the Edinburgh and Lothians area of Scotland. Intowork exists to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities and, in certain geographical areas, other client groups who can be described as 'significantly distanced from the labour market.' We achieve this in two ways: Our employment service teams provide direct support and guidance to people wishing to gain or retain employment. By providing direct support and guidance to people wishing to gain or retain employment. Intowork West Lothian provides supported employment services to people in West Lothian with a mental health condition. Moving Intowork provides services to people with Asperger Sydrome or an Aquired Brain Injury (including strokes). Bits and Bobs Scrapstore provides training and support to people with learning disabilities. The Scrapstore has it own website here www.bitsandbobsscrapstore.org.uk Our development services project, the Networks' Team: Work with other support organisations and individuals to build their capacity to deliver services to people with disabilities and employers. They achieve this by facilitating training and information events, information provision and the development of resouces to enhance the sharing of knowledge and information. Work with local authorities, other statutory agencies and employers to facilitate the creation of a positive and proactive labour market environment within which people with disabilities can work. A major part of the Network Team's work has been to develop and support partnerships to create and sustain change in the labour market. We currently support a network of around 40 disability organisations, the Employability Forum, and a network of around 35 employers, the Lothian Employers' Network on Disability (LEND). Background Originally formed as the Intowork Resource Team in 1993, Intowork was set up with Urban A funding from the Scottish Executive and was directly managed as a project of Lothian Regional Council. The aim of the project was to look at ways to enhance the work of local disability and employment organisations through: partnership working. the development of shared resources the development of mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of information and ideas. Identify gaps in service provision and look at ways to fill them, in some cases by developing new projects. Research good practice and identify projects or activities that could be replicated locally. Around 1998/99 Intowork moved into a different phase of its development by getting involved in the setting up of employment projects that could offer direct support and guidance services to disabled people seeking employment. Intowork has grown considerably since it was set up with just 4 staff in 1993. Today, with over 20 staff, the organisation still retains its original project development role which is undertaken through its Networks Team.

Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY, Scotland Tel. 0131 475 2369 Fax 0131 475 2379 Contact: enquiries@intowork.org.uk Intowork is a company Limited by Guarantee (Registered in Scotland No. SC181737), and is a recognised Scottish Charity (Scottish Charity No. SC028327)