15/05/2008: Thursday 15th May national learning disability charity United Response is hosting an employment summit

Despite the fact that two thirds of people with learning disabilities want to work, less than one in five are given the opportunity. That’s why on Thursday 15th May national learning disability charity United Response is hosting a unique two part event exploring the barriers people with learning disabilities face in finding employment and ways to support them. Phil Hope, minister for the third sector, Naomi Eisenstadt, director of the Social Exclusion Task Force and Susan Scott Parker, chief executive of the Employers' Forum on Disability, will be among the senior spokespeople from the public and private sector, while employers and employees will be sharing their real life experiences. The event, sponsored by Unum, will be held in London.

The event will begin with a Business Breakfast, including a roundtable for employers to share their experiences and to discuss the support they need in supporting people into the work place. This will be followed by the launch of an in-depth study of one of United Response’s supported employment schemes – what worked and what didn’t – and its findings. There will be discussion around policy implications, and how the Government, third sector and business can work together to make supported employment a success.

To attend this free of charge event, or to find out more, please contact Laura Golland by email (laura.golland@unitedresponse.org.uk) or telephone (020 8246 5221).

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For more information please contact Jaime Gill or Sarah Bartlett in the United Response Press Office on 020 8246 5122 or 020 8246 5237or email jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk or sarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk

Notes to editors:

United Response is a national charity that works with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs – including some of the most vulnerable people in our society.


We provide everything from 24 hour care to supporting someone to get a job. United Response is community based, working in many localities across England and Wales.


Our mission is to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to take control of their lives. We design our care and support around each person and work with them to achieve real inclusion, independence and citizenship for all. We support people across the whole spectrum of learning disability and mental health and have developed a range of specialisms in working with people with the most complex needs, particularly person-centred active support.


We are working towards a society where people with learning disabilities or mental health needs are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.


We have won several awards for our pioneering work and for being a top employer. In 2007 alone, we were highly commended by the Charity Awards for our “Good To Great” approach to providing support, while the Charity Times named us one of the best six charities to work for in the UK. We are experts in the development of accessible communications.


United Response was founded in 1973 by chief executive Su Sayer. We are a top 100 charity, supporting more than 1,500 people throughout the UK at any one time and employing more than 2,000 staff.

To find out more go to www.unitedresponse.org.uk