Back-To-Work Disability Scheme

As a new project launches in Bristol aimed at giving people with disabilities the skills they need to find work, we look at background statistics.

• There are around 50,000 disabled people in Bristol. Of them 4,800 are unemployed and looking for work.

• Nationally only half of disabled people of working age are in work compared with 80 per cent of non disabled people.

• Employment rates vary greatly according to the type of impairment a person has; only 20 per cent of people with mental health problems are in employment.

• 23 per cent of disabled people have no qualifications compared with 9 per cent of non disabled people.

• Nearly one in 5 people of working age have a disability.

• The average gross hourly pay for disabled employees is £11.08 compared to £12.30 for non disabled people.

A new project is being launched in Bristol today aimed at giving people with disabilities the skills they need to find work.

The Vassell Centre's work club will help disabled jobseekers acquire computer skills and use the internet to find vacancies and apply for jobs.

The service will be free and led and delivered by disabled people.

A disability organisation in Bristol is launching a new project to help disabled people find jobs. The Work Club from the Vassall Centre Trust will offer classes on employability and computer skills. The free service is led and delivered by disabled people and will also offer career advice.