THE potential for people with disabilities to find work and make progress into more fulfilling roles continues to improve, a recent training award event showed.

At the Jersey Employment Trust education and training awards held on 14 November, 180 certificates were given out to 90 of their clients by Social Security Minister Paul Routier, both for the achievement of individual goals as well as gaining accreditation in a comprehensive range of skills.

Trust education co-ordinator Jools Holt said that the courses, which take place at Oakfield, in the grounds of Highlands College, helped people with disabilities aged from 17 to the mid-50s to gain confidence and skills to become employed or move on to more stimulating work. Others can use their new skills to try work experience or carry out voluntary work.

The organisation’s in-house trainers help students to achieve skills in areas in which they need to become competent, including using the telephone, dealing with the public, filing, communication and interview skills, and using office equipment. There are also four levels of computer skills to work towards.

For those being trained in gaining accreditation, courses run by tutors from Highlands College include those in health and safety, food and hygiene and working with garden machinery. Members of St John Ambulance also run first aid courses for those learning a range of new skills.

At the awards ceremony Senator Routier, who is a member of the trust’s board, congratulated all those who had achieved the required level of skills.

Mrs Holt said that courses were more than ever before being tailor-made for the needs of clients. She said: ‘We adapt the courses so that they match clients’ requests for learning a new skill or if a need for development training is identified by their supervisor, key worker or potential employer.’

• Picture: Some of the proud winners of Jersey Employment Trust award. Picture by Tony Pike (00601079)