Forum Connemara CLG is delivering the WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme in Connemara.

The WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme works towards building an inclusive workforce by supporting people with Disabilities or Mental Health Conditions.

Our working title is ‘Working Together/Ag Obair le Chéile’.

This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Social Protection, and the European Union.

This programme funds, local, regional and national projects who provide progressive pathways into employment (including self-employment) through education, training, skills development, and in-work supports for people with disabilities based on their needs, their abilities and their potential.

The programme aims to ensure that people with disabilities are fully supported to find and maintain employment and organisations which employ programme participants are supported to ensure that their employment is successful.

The primary target group for the programme is people with disabilities aged 16 years and over who are currently not work ready and/or are distant from the labour market. Projects funded under the WorkAbility Programme incorporate a strong focus on employer engagement, raising employers’ awareness and building their capacity to recruit, retain and progress people with disabilities in their workforce.

The Objectives of the Programme are:

To improve the employment prospects of people with disabilities who are currently distant from the labour market.
To build the capacity of employers to recruit, retain and progress people with disabilities within their workforce.
To facilitate new partnerships amongst stakeholders (people with disabilities, disability services, employment services and employers) and new approaches to providing employment supports to people with disabilities.

The WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme is co-financed by the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training Programme (EIST) 2021-2027 and the Department of Social Protection (DSP). This new five-year programme closed for applications in September 2023. Successful organisations were notified in December 2023 with projects commencing on 1 January 2024 and running to 31 December 2028.

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What does WorkAbility do?

We help people with disabilities, particularly those who are not ready and most distant from the labour market.
We work towards building confidence, skills and foster independence to access and maintain employment / self employment.
We will observe the labour market and support employers’ engagement with participants.
Who is WorkAbility for?
The project works with eligible participants aged 16+ years.

How can the WorkAbility project help?

It can:

Encourage and support participants to gain employment / work experience /volunteering opportunities.
Improve employment options through education and training.
Support local employers to provide employment for people with disabilities.
Provide workplace mentoring and support.

How do we work?

We work in a person-centered way. This means looking at the participants’ interests, abilities, needs and potential. We help identify and set achievable goals with participants.

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How do I sign up?

For further Information/Expression of Interest form, please contact one of the following:

Lisa Kane, Project Worker, Clifden Office
085 1868473 l.kane@forumconnemara.ie

Cathy Keane, Project Co-Ordinator/Project Worker, Clifden Office
087-2749240 c.keane@forumconnemara.ie

Niamh McGauley, Employer Liaison Outreach Worker, Oughterard Office
085-1868474 n.mcgauley@forumconnemara.ie

Yvonne Keane, Project Co-Ordinator/Project Worker, Carna Office
087-2988793 y.keane@forumconnemara.ie

Who funds WorkAbility?

The WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme is co-financed by the EU Employment, Inclusion, Skills & Training Programme (EIST) 2021-2027 and the Department of Social Protection (DSP). FORUM Connemara CLG manages the WorkAbility Project in Connemara.This is one of 52 WorkAbility projects across the country.
The programme will run from January 2024 - December 2028.

Link to Pobal website for more information and resources: https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/workability-inclusive-pathways-to-employment-programme/