Support For People With A Learning Disability

The Action Group
Real Jobs Edinburgh & Real Jobs Midlothian
The Action Group is a major voluntary organisation working on behalf of people with a learning disability. Its Real Jobs Edinburgh supported employment service provides comprehensive assistance to people seeking employment and wishing to retain employment.

Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel: 031 475 2315
Fax: 0131 475 2316
Email realjobs@actiongroup.org.uk
Website www.actiongroup.org.uk

ENABLE Scotland
ENABLE Services is a national organisation working with people with a learning disability. The Woodhall at the Inch Supported Employment Unit works with people resident in Edinburgh, and assists them to move into employment.

Enable Scotland, Woodhall at the Inch, Supported Employment Unit, Inchpark Nurseries, 46 Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4UF
Tel: 0131 672 1541
Fax:0131 672 1877
Email edinburgh.woodhall@enable.org.uk
Website www.enable.org.uk

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The Engine Shed (Garvald Community Enterprises Ltd.)
The Engine Shed was established as a training organisation in 1989 with the main purpose to provide training to people with learning disabilities and help them make a successful transition into paid employment.

Garvald Community Enterprises Ltd., 19 St. Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9SD
Tel: 0131 662 0040
Fax: 0131 667 5319
Email engineshed@aol.com

Polbeth Market Garden Trust and Project
Polbeth Market Garden Trust sponsors the Polbeth Market Garden Project. Ten training places are available at any on time to residents of West Lothian. Applicants must be aged between 16 and 24, unemployed, have finished their formal school education and have a learning disability / special educational needs and / or a mild physical disability.

Parkhead Farm, Polbeth, West Calder, West Lothian, EH55 8BQ
Tel. and Fax: 01506 871603

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McSence Training Services
McSence offers a training for work service in catering and food preparation. The service is backed up job coaching and workplace support for people moving into open employment. Training is practically based in the Greenhall Café (which is open to the public. The project works mainly with people with a learning disability, but also people experiencing mental health problems, people with a sensory impairment and people with a physical disability.

McSense Training Services, Greenhall Community Education Centre, 4 Gowkshill, Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4PE
Tel: 01875 823005
Fax: 01875 823006

Support For People With Or Recovering From A Mental Health Problem

Forth Sector
Forth Sector believes that mental health and well-being can be promoted through work. The organisation recognises the expressed desire of service users for 'real work'. It develops social firms, which are businesses that provide supportive employment opportunities.

Forth Sector, Unit 1, Block 3, Peffermill Industrial Estate, 12 King's Haugh, Edinburgh, EH16 5UY
Tel: 0131 539 7374
Fax: 0131 539 7375
Email info@forthsector.org.uk
Website www.forthsector.org.uk

National Schizophrenia Fellowship (NSF) Scotland
National Schizophrenia Fellowship's Employment Support Services, based within the Stafford Centre, can offer support, practical advice and information to people with or recovering from mental health problems.

NSF Scotland, Stafford Centre, 103 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3RZ
Tel: 0131 557 0718
Fax: 0131 478 7119
Email nsfstaford@hotmail.com

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Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
SAMH is an independent voluntary organisation concerned with all aspects of mental health in Scotland. The organisation provides a number of training places in a variety of occupational areas including office skills, horticulture, catering and retailing. Details of these employment related services can be obtained from the area office in Musselburgh including

Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), South and East Scotland Office, Fisherrow Community Centre, South Street, Musselburgh, EH21 6AT
Tel: 0131 653 6719
Fax: 0131 653 3498
Email se.office@samhservices.org.uk
Website: www.samh.org.uk

Workstep Programme
Workstep provides advice, guidance and support to individuals wishing to return to the labour market. Supported Employment matches an individual's skills and employment needs with those of a supportive employer, with the underpinning principle of full integration in the workplace and social inclusion in the community.

Workstep, Scottish Association for Mental Health, SAMH, Fisherrow Community Centre, South Street, Musselburgh, EH21 6AT
Tel: 0131 653 6723
Fax: 0131 653 3498

Signposts
Signposts assists people resident in the East Lothian area. It provides vocational guidance, job search assistance, benefits advice and confidence building support in finding and keeping a job.

Signposts, Scottish Association for Mental Health, Fisherrow Community Centre, South Street, Musselburgh EH21 6AT
Tel: 0131 653 3334
Fax: 0131 653 3498

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Atlantic Text and Midlothian Text
The projects are computer and office skills projects, offering training in keyboard skills, word processing and general office duties for people who would benefit from learning at their own pace in a supportive environment. Users of the service have the opportunity to study for recognised Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), National Certificates and the European Computer Driving Licence. Training is backed up by periods of work experience with employers.

Atlantic Text, Scottish Association for Mental Health, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel 0131 475 2522
Email atlantictext@samhservices.org.uk

Midlothian Text, Scottish Association for Mental Health, Community Education Offices, Academy Lane, Loanhead, EH20 9RP
Tel 0131 448 2965
Fax 0131 448 2965
Emaili midtext@samhservices.org.uk

Redhall Walled Garden
Offers vocational training in amenity and commercial horticulture.

Redhall Walled Garden, Scottish Association for Mental Health, 97 Lanark Road, Edinburgh, EH14 2LB
Tel 0131 443 0946
Email redhall@samhservices.org.uk

Borders Survey Team
Scottish Association for Mental Health, 50-52 Island Street, Galashiels, TD1 1NU
Tel 01896 759746
Email bst@samhservices.org.uk

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Support for People with a Sensory Impairment

RNIB Scotland
RNIB Scotland's Employment and Learning Services promote and develop employment and educational opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.

They offer a range of services including:

The Service also undertakes technical assessments and gives advice relating to special technologies. It also provides employment advice to employers.

RNIB, Employment & Learning Services, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh, EH4 3TP
Tel: 0131 311 8500
Fax: 0131 311 8529
Email rnibscotland@rnib.org.uk
Website www.rnib.org.uk

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Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)
The RNID offers a comprehensive regional information service covering all aspects of deafness and hearing impairment. The Scottish Regional Office has access to a national database of information on local and national services for deaf people, as well as offering a wide range of literature. The RNID runs various training courses to improve communication between deaf and hearing people.

RNID Scotland, Scottish Regional Office, Crowngate Business Centre, Brook Street, Glasgow, G40 3AP
Tel: 0141 554 0053 (Voice / Text)
Fax: 0141 554 5837 & 554 9726
Helpline: 0808 808 0123 (Voice) 0808 808 9000 (Text)
Email informationline@rnid.org.uk
Website www.rnid.org.uk

RNID Scotland, 54a Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 3AP
Tel: 0131 478 7800
Textphone: 0131 478 7801
Fax: 0131 478 7804

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Support for People with a Range of Disabilities

Capability Scotland
Capability Scotland is Scotland's largest voluntary sector provider of training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The Employment Development Department provides assistance to individuals and employers through - the 'Workstep' programme, the 'Releasing Potential' employment assistance package, 'Work Preparation' assistance, and 'Gateway' advice and guidance as part of the government's New Deal employment initiative.

Website: www.capability-scotland.org.uk

Employment Development Department, 2 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6HP
Tel: 0131 313 1500
Fax: 0131 313 1216
Email: rose-marie.mcintyre@capability-scotland.org.uk

Releasing Potential
Releasing Potential provides a supportive link between a disabled person and prospective employers. Employers receive assistance in the recruitment process and during the initial period of employment.

Releasing Potential, 89-91 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BU
Tel: 0131 228 5790
Fax: 0131 228 5791

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INTOWORK
Intowork is a development and supported employment agency working in the Edinburgh, East, West and Midlothian areas. Its services are deliverd through a number of project teams (see below)

Intowork, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2369
Fax: 0131 475 2379
Email enquiries@intowork.org.uk
Website www.intowork.org.uk

Networks Team
Intowork works extensively to improve links between people with disabilities, employers and support organisations. To achieve this, the Networks Team currently supports networks of proactive local employers (The Lothian Employers' Network on Disability) and support organisations (The Employability Forum). It is also assisting Mid and East Lothian develop and 'join-up' its employment support services.

Intowork, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2369
Fax: 0131 475 2379
Email networks@intowork.org.uk
Website www.intowork.org.uk/networks

Moving Into Work
Provides a dedicated employment consultancy and support service to people with an acquired brain injury, and people with Asperger's Syndrome. The service works intensively with people with a view to making a good match between a person and the right job or to assist them to retain employment. The service then provides flexible workplace support for as long as this is required.

Intowork, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2600
Fax: 0131 475 2379
Email moving@intowork.org.uk
Website www.intowork.org.uk/moving

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Job Brokers
The Job Broker Service is specifically designed to complement the UK government's New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) Job Broker service. The project works with people with significant disabilities who are in receipt of long-term inactive welfare benefits (primarily Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disability Allowance)

Intowork, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel 0131 475 2422/26
Fax 0131 475 2379
Email jobbrokers@intowork.org.uk
Website www.intowork.org.uk/job-brokers

Intowork West Lothian
Supported by West Lothian Council, Intowork West Lothian provides direct assistance to people with disabilities (resident in the council area) seeking employment. It provides flexible 'pre employment' and 'in employment' supports tailored to individual needs. The service strives to make an accurate match between a person and the 'right' employer, providing practical workplace assistance to both parties for as long as this is required.

Intowork West Lothian, Braid House (upper floor), Labrador Avenue, Howden, Livingston
EH54 6BU
Tel: 01506 443100
Fax: 01506 443055
Email anne.reid@intowork.org.uk
Website www.intowork.org.uk/iwwl

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Bits and Bobs Scrapstore
Bits and Bobs is a social enterprise set up to create jobs for people with disabilities (mainly people with learning disabilities or an acquired brain injury) and to provide a service to the community and the environment.

Bits and Bobs provides training and work experience for up to 24 individuals (with the potential for 6 permanent jobs). One to one support is delivered by a team of project development staff with additional input from volunteers.

Bits and Bobs, Unit 15, New Lairdship Yards, Broomhouse Road, Edinburgh, EH11 3UY
Tel 0131 444 9490
Email bitsandbobs@intowork.org.uk
Website www.bitsandbobsscrapstore.org.uk

EUS Community Learning Centre
An educational programme which is open to people living in Edinburgh and the Lothians who are unemployed. Action plans are negotiated to include computer literacy, wider life skills and employment related college studies. EUS CLCalso operates a New Deal training initiative to train people who want to work in the growing 'call centre' industry. The 'Cybercentre' helps people gain the necessary computer related and communication skills to compete for employment.

EUS Community Learning Centre, Old Royal High School, 5/7 Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5BL
Tel: 0131 557 8662
Email margaret@mbeacon.sett.ed.ac.uk
Website www.microbeacon.org.uk

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Moving On
Sponsored by the City of Edinburgh Council, Moving On provides a one-door access point to a wide range of local and city wide training, educational and employment opportunities. Available to people living in the Greater Pilton area, the service also includes job search, assistance with CVs, business start-up, New Deal Gateway and benefits advice.

Moving On, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2333
Email pat@movingon.sol.co.uk

Nisus Scotland

Nisus Scotland offers free accessible IT, communications and personal development training to socially disadvantaged individuals through the following courses:

FlexIT - FlexIT provides accessible and flexible training in IT and personal development for men and women with a disability or health concern; and their carers.

FlexIT allows trainees to use the computers at times which suit the individual.

Women's Course - The Edinburgh Women’s Training Course in computer technology includes nationally recognised Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) units and the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) and runs from August to June each year.

Skilltech - Skilltech is targeted at black and minority ethnic people in the Edinburgh and Lothian area. The project delivers two main programmes:

In addtion, Nisus Scotland also provides cost effective tailored IT training to the voluntary sector, and small to medium sized enterprises.

Nisus Scotland, 121 Giles Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6BZ
Tel: 0131 554 5656
Fax: 0131 554 4645
Email info@nisusscotland.co.uk
Website www.nisusscotland.co.uk

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Remploy Interwork

Remploy Interwork is part of the national Remploy organisation which operates a chain of over 90 factories throughout the UK.

Remploy Interwork, Unit 13, South Gyle, ndustrial Estate, Edinburgh, EH12 9EB
Tel: 0131 334 4066
Website www.remploy.co.uk

Women onto Work (WOW)
WOW assists women who are not in paid work to look at options for education, training and employment. Short courses offer guidance, personal development, skills development and practical work experience. The courses are fully accessible and are supported with childcare, allowances and personal assistance. WOW also provide also provide specialist materials and support in the form of Braille, signers etc. where required. Specific courses are run for women with a disability and long term follow-up guidance and training is also available to women who have attended courses.

Women Onto Work, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY
Tel: 0131 475 2626/2624

Sam Hardie, Project Manager
Email sam.hardie@womenontowork.org.uk
Webiste www.womenontowork.org.uk

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