Working Age Activities

Employment rates for blind & partially sighted people are staggeringly low!

Just one in four people living with sight loss are in work (27% approx), a situation that has only worsened in the last few years.
In Croydon, only 10% are employed – we need to act fast…

So far, we’ve successfully supported 21 working age members into employment,
3 into self-employment with many doing volunteering roles, ready for work.

Why we want to do this:
>We want to transform lives, on the journey to independence.
>To improve inclusion of people with sight loss in the labour market.
>We want people to feel belonged by joining our vibrant community.

Our aspiration is for everyone to see their ability rather than defined by disability.

How we do this:
Our Employment Officer supports each person to step out and join the community, to unlock each person’s potential with an agreeable plan of action.

We work in collaboration with other organisations, so our employment advisers have a wealth of contacts, experience, and expertise:

Ancella George  – Employment Officer (ancella.george@croydonvision.org.uk).

Education Employment Trust – Local.
Croydon Commitment – Local.
Reed in Partnership – Local.
Job Centre Plus (DWP) – Local

What we do:
We provide one to one support for individuals as well as group activities as per below:

The above drives our five-step process because transformation is a journey…

Stage 1 – Rebuilding:
Connect with our community, peer support and active well being.

Stage 2 – Re-direction:
Walk alongside each person to design an agreed career pathway.

Stage 3 – Upskilling:
Improve social mobility, technology and digital exclusion, coaching or mentorship.

Stage 4 – Applying Skills:
Route into work; volunteering, mock interviews, business planning.

Stage 5 – From Survival to Thriving:
Employment or entrepreneurship, becoming a change agent for VI.

Come join us, to break barriers and transform more lives…