Past Events

Venue: Online Zoom meeting

Information and link via Dean Atkinson

Venue: This forum will be on Zoom. Contact Rachel for details.

Information: Rachel Jones

Presenter: Andrea Randall-Smith (Little Gate)

Little Gate has always been a supportive, hands on and person centred Supported Employment Organisation.  The pandemic has meant we had to find digitally safe and secure means to communicate and engage with the LD and Autistic community we serve.  We will explain how we assessed and changed our working practices quickly working together to deliver Supported Employment support in a different way; through Zoom, Facebook and telephone contact. 

Booking information: Eventbrite

Venue: This forum will be on Zoom. Contact Alex for details.

Information: Alex Seddon

Venue: This forum will be held on Zoom. Joining details from Ramsay Taylor.

Information: Ramsay Taylor

Presenter: Huw Davies (BASE)

What's working well with the Access to Work programme and what needs improving? 

We are in discussions with DWP about the Access to Work programme and need your support to highlight the issues faced by providers. This consultation session will give an overview of work to date and seek your views on potential solutions to solve the problems faced around:

• Communication with advisors, third party consent and the role of appointees
• Payment rates and advisors seeking copies of staff payslips
• Application and renewal processes
• job coaching and supported internships

Registration is free for this event but it is open to BASE members only. Registrations will only be accepted if a work email address is used. We will email your Zoom log-in details a couple of days before this event. We are limiting places to 2 per organisation.

Booking information: Eventbrite

Venue: This forum will be held on Zoom. Joining instructions from David Stenning.

Information: David Stenning

This meeting will take place on Zoom and is open to all BASE members in the Midlands.

Details and log-in: Dean Atkinson

Venue: Central Edinburgh, Live streamed
Cost: £325 to £595+vat

Holyrood Insight’s second Employability in Scotland Conference will explore the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce with an estimated 750,000* employees registered on the jobs Retention Scheme. Speakers include BASE NEC member, Alistair Kerr. 

Considering the achievements and opportunities of the Government’s flagship policy, Fair Start Scotland, we will review how employers can respond to the health crisis and what support is available at both a national and local level. 

You will hear innovative strategies that are helping to recover Scotland’s economy including utilising working from home, developing productivity and creating new opportunities.Gain insight from key stakeholders on the support projects designed to bridge the disability employment gap, reduce youth unemployment, reintegrate recovering individuals, and stimulate the social enterprise sector.

https://www.holyroodinsight.com/event/3467/Employability_in_Scotland__A_One_Day_Conference

• Public Sector Rate: £389.00
• Private Sector Rate: £575.00
• Voluntary Sector Rate: £315.00

The public sector has an important role in setting an example for other sectors in creating a truly diverse and inclusive workplace. Only then, by sharing best practice originating from the public sector will wider change occur in all forms of employment. At this event delegates will hear of leading initiatives from public institutions and the third sector alike. Providing visible disabled leadership, training and educating staff of the challenges disabled people face and pertinently, discussing the appropriate manner in which to support those with disabilities and long-term mental health conditions in the workplace.

At this conference, chaired by Julia Green (BASE Chair), attendees will hear updates from both the sectors on the current state of play for disabled employees and from ACAS on the legal implications of harassment and discrimination in the workplace. This will be complemented by case studies from across the public sector on creating a work environment in which disabled people feel truly welcome and supported.

Booking details: https://www.governmentevents.co.uk/event/disability-awareness-visibility-in-the-workplace/

Venue: This forum takes place on Zoom and starts bat 10am.

Information and the Zoom link are available from Dean Atkinson.

This free to attend event is for practitioners working in organisations that are members of BASE and operate across our Midlands region. BASE is keen to engage with service practitioners and this event is aimed at them rather than service managers.

We recognise that working on the frontline can sometimes be isolating and hope that this event will be the launch of what will become the BASE Midlands Practitioners Network, an opportunity for people involved in our sector to get together and meet with like-minded people.

Given the pandemic and the changes we have all had to make to the way we work then it seems really timely to take a little time out and get together to share ideas and learn from each other.

Why should you attend?

• Represent your service and promote the work you are doing
• Meet with people who experience the same challenges
• Share success stories and develop solutions together
• Hear from guest speakers
• Develop your network of contacts and ‘go to people’
• Continuous professional development

This training event is only open to staff working for organisations that are members of BASE. Registrations will only be accepted if made using a work email address.

Bookings can be made through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/base-midlands-practitioner-event-tickets-125500706993

Programme

2:00 Welcome Dean Atkinson (BASE Midlands)

2:10 BASE engagement with service practitioners Huw Davies (CEO, BASE)

2:20 Workshop - 3 ways to stand out from the crowd when calling employers Audrey Bodman (Outshine Telephone Training & Consultancy)

2:50 Comfort break

3:00 Workshop - Making the most of social media Gillian Parker (BASE)

3:30 Workshop – Supported Employment in a brave new world  Kathy Melling (BASE)

4:20 Review and close Dean Atkinson

Venue: Online using Zoom

Presenter: Mel Walls (BASE)

Guest speakers include Martin Davies, Chair of the Supported Business Steering Group

Following the success of our June workshop, BASE is organising a similar event on Thursday 10th December, from 2 to 3.30pm. The workshop will discuss the most recent developments from the Supported Business Steering Group and seek feedback from you on:

• The operation of TESG
• The ongoing challenges of Covid-19 
• Funding for Supported Businesses from April 2020
• The roll out of phase 2 of the Proof of Concept for future funding
• Future engagement with public sector procurement opportunities

Registration is free for this event but it is open to Supported Businesses only. Registrations will only be accepted if a work email address is used when making the booking.

We will email your Zoom log-in details a couple of days prior to the workshop. We may need to limit places to 1 per organisation.

Book now  

Venue: This forum takes place on Zoom and will start at 10am.

Information and the Zoom link are available from Dean Atkinson.

Venue: This forum takes place on Zoom and will start at 10am

Information and the online link are available from Petra Kennedy

We are excited to be able to bring you a National BASE Practitioners event hosted by BASE South East Region. This free to attend event is for practitioners working in organisations that are members of BASE and operate in any region. BASE is keen to engage with service practitioners and this event is aimed at them rather than service managers.

We recognise that working on the frontline can sometimes be isolating, given the pandemic and the changes we have all had to make to the way we work then it seems timely to get together to and learn from others.

We have put together a quality, packed programme of speakers and trainers within our industry and associated sectors. They will deliver engaging and interactive workshops aimed specifically at the needs of Supported Employment frontline staff who are working directly with job seekers and employers.

Why should you attend?

• Hear from quality guest speakers and trainers

• Recharge your batteries
• Learn new ideas
• Develop your network of contacts and ‘go to people’
• Continuous professional development

This training event is only open to staff working for organisations that are members of BASE. Registrations will only be accepted if made using a work email address. Maximum or two people from each organisation.

Bookings are via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/supported-employment-practitioner-event-tickets-136795291399

Venue: This meeting takes place on Zoom and will start at 10am

Information and the Zoom link are available from Dean Atkinson

Venue: This forum will take place on Teams and starts at 10am.

Information and the Teams link are available from Petra Kennedy.

Venue: This forum will take place on Zoom and starts at 10am.

Information and the Zoom link are available from Ramsay Taylor.

Venue: This forum takes place on Zoom and will start at 10am

Information and the online link are available from Petra Kennedy

Venue: This forum will take place on Zoom and starts at 10am.

Information and the Zoom link are available from Ramsay Taylor.

Apprenticeship training providers are invited to join Dynamic Training's fully funded webinar, delivered on behalf of the Education and Training Foundation, on 17th November 2021. 

There will be a focus on the training provider perspective and the importance of ensuring that your apprenticeship offer to employers is inclusive. 
To book this webinar, click the link that will take you to the Education and Training Foundation booking system:

https://lnkd.in/dkqJKpe5
 

Venue: Online

Information and the meeting link are available from Raph Taylor

In the next  Job Coach Cafe online meeting we'll be discussing that evergreen subject : Access to Work.

We'll be joined by BASE National Lead Mel Walls, who recently presented an interactive workshop about Access to Work at the BASE Conference in Leeds.

To register for the meeting please click on the link Job Coach Café | Groups | LinkedIn

Hosted by Hilary Fertig from Employment Autism and Judith Kerem from CareTradeUK 

Venue: This meeting is online (MS Teams) and will start at 2pm.

Open to BASE members who are in the Wales Region

Any organisation or individual who is interested in joining BASE we're happy for you visit a regional meeting to get an insight into what BASE does, please contact Gillian Parker to arrange this 

The joining link for members is available from Petra Kennedy.

David Barker was voted one of the UK’s top social entrepreneurs in 2022 by the Social Entrepreneur Index for innovating Techcentre Training, a social enterprise tackling UK unemployment in new ways.

He was also one of the UK’s first internet entrepreneurs in the early 1990’s, working with clients including Intel, Microsoft, Oxfam and Amnesty International.

During this excellent workshop,launched at the BASE Conference in 2022, David, will share insights and learning from his career journey as an entrepreneur and innovator in both business and social enterprise.

Utilising strong case studies, workshop attendees will learn to

• Identify and overcome challenges when trying to innovate
• Develop new ventures within long- or newly-established organisations
• Build successful business models to exploit new opportunities
• Take new approaches to stakeholder management, governance and funding
• Develop robust but flexible plans for strategic execution

BASE members can reserve a free place here  

Venue: Online 

Open to BASE members who are in the Midlands Region

Any organisation or individual who is interested in joining BASE, we're happy for you visit a regional meeting to get an insight into what BASE does, please contact Gillian Parker to arrange this 

The joining link for the meeting is available from Julia Green 

Venue: Online ( Teams) 

Open to BASE members who are in the North West Region

Any organisation or individual who is interested in joining BASE, we're happy for you visit a regional meeting to get an insight into what BASE does, please contact Gillian Parker to arrange this 

The joining link for members is available from Rachel Jones 

Venue: Online 

Open to BASE members who are in the South West Region

Any organisation or individual who is interested in joining BASE, we're happy for you visit a regional meeting to get an insight into what BASE does, please contact Gillian Parker to arrange this 

More information is available from Alex Seddon

The world of work has seen many changes over the last few years, including a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis. Disabled people, especially those with multiple and learning disabilities, are finding it harder to obtain meaningful employment, with fewer accessible jobs and increased barriers to work.  When thinking about non-traditional career opportunities, self-employment is often a serious consideration for disabled people but there needs to be a lot of support in place to make it sustainable.

Sam Everard founded SAMEE, a charity which meets the needs of disabled people and creates opportunities for them to fulfil their full potential. This lunch and learn session is about SAMEE’s journey into delivering entrepreneurship support which is relevant as well as our discovery into how the holistic needs of disabled people are just as important as the formal self-employment support on offer.  

Sam is also Chair of the South West Regional Stakeholder Network for the Disability Unit in Cabinet Office and is studying towards a PhD with the Centre of Seldom Heard Voices, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University.

The learning outcome is practical tips to consider when exploring next steps for those leaving supported employment or those considering a self-employed role.

More info about Samee's Steps Into Self-Employment programme

This session is open to BASE members only and you can reserve you place here (eventbrite) 

The Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework: how it can help you.

Join Lily Beyer, Project Manager for Inclusive Trading working in partnership with the British Association for Supported Internship, to learn more about the newly published Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework (SIQAF) and how it can help you and your supported internship (SI) provision.

Background to the SIQAF:

As part of the Internships Work programme the Supported Internship Quality Framework, developed for the Department for Education by the Education and Training Foundation and their centres for excellence in 2022, was reviewed and amended, after being trialled with ten SI providers. The revised version has now been published and is available to be used by all SI providers and their delivery partners.

The revised SIQAF has been designed as a self-assessment tool to support you to determine the quality and success of your SI programme. It will highlight your strengths and should be used as an annual continuous improvement tool.

For educators and SI providers and partners this session will outline the revised SIQAF, the new scoring system, using the new self-assessment tool and how you can use it to support your continuous improvement efforts. For local authorities, the session will help you understand how the SIQAF self-assessment process can be used to support your local action plans.

This session is also running on Tues 16 May and Weds 31st May visit our Eventbrite page and reserve your preferred dates Book tickets 

Become an Internships Work Peer Reviewer

In this session, Lily Beyer, Project Manager for Inclusive Trading working in partnership with the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) will outline the benefits of becoming a peer reviewer for the Internships Work programme and how you can get involved.

Context:

As part of the Internships Work programme a revised Supported Internship Quality Assurance Framework (SIQAF) has been published. We will be delivering over 200 peer reviewed self-assessments using this new SIQAF between April 23 and Mar 25. To deliver these we are looking to recruit peer reviewers.

Peer reviewing is an opportunity to develop your professional practice, build networks and share learning across the sector.

This lunch and learn will be delivered online and is designed for anyone involved in delivering Supported Internships who is interested in learning more about the Peer Reviewer role.

This free session will run on  Tuesday 23rd May 2023 12-1 and is open to non-members.

Please via our Eventbrite page

The Skills Builder Partnership

“Individuals with higher levels of essential skills are less likely to be unemployed, or out of work and education… For the most disadvantaged in our society, essential skills in a portfolio with basic skills are associated with social mobility and escaping the Skills Trap.”    Data from the Essential Skills Tracker 2023

The Skills Builder Partnership exists so that, one day, everyone will build the essential skills to succeed.

Essential skills as those highly transferable skills that almost everyone needs to do almost every job.  These are listening, speaking, problem solving, creativity, staying positive, aiming high, leadership and teamwork.  They unlock learning in the classroom and halve the likelihood of being out of work, increasing earnings across a lifetime.  They even boost wellbeing and life satisfaction.

But access to these skills isn’t fair.  And where they are missed, it undermines social mobility, productivity and wellbeing.  We think everyone, at every stage of their lives, should have the opportunities to build them. The Skills Builder Universal Framework makes it possible for everyone to teach, learn, and measure essential skills.

In this session, Tom Varley, Lead Associate for Inclusion at the Skills Builder Partnership will provide members with an opportunity to learn more about the Skills Builder Universal Framework and how this supports all individuals to reflect upon, apply, learn and measure progression in essential skill development.

Tom will share some of the research data behind the importance in these skills in education, employment and wider life outcomes.  He will also look at examples of best practice from a range of settings, as well as providing members with the opportunity to explore some of the free-to-access tools and resources to build essential skills in an inclusive way for all individuals.

This session is will give members an overview of the framework and some useful ideas and tools to take back and apply in their own practice.  It is intended for everyone with an interest in building and developing their own and/or others’ essential skills, including employment officers, training providers, apprenticeship managers and individuals doing this individually and/or with support.

Book your free place via Eventbrite

Part of the BASE Members -only,  Lunch & Learn Sessions we're delighted to host Phil Wade, founder of Breaking Cycles CIC to speak about ADHD: Motivation & Working Patterns.

Phil is passionate about cycling and the positive effect it has on physical and mental health and so he created Breaking Cycles in August 2019 to share his passion for 2 wheels and positive behaviour change with others. 

His background is education and he has expertise and qualifcations in neurolinguistic programming, cycle training , MTB leadership & teaching

During this session Phil will cover general information about ADHD, what (the current theories suggest) happens in the brain, how it impacts behaviour and motivation and common coping strategies. He will create as much opportunity as possible for people to ask questions about his own experiences of ADHD.

This session is suitable for anyone working with people with ADHD as an employer, educator, work coach, co-worker etc.

Book via Eventbrite 

Venue: This forum will take place on Zoom and starts at 10am.

Any organisation or individual who is interested in joining BASE, we're happy for you visit a regional meeting to get an insight into what BASE does, please contact Gillian Parker to arrange this 

Information and the Zoom link are available from Raph Taylor

One in five people in the UK have an impairment and in this engaging session led by Michael Grimmett gives the low down on the latest legislation, language and approaches to improving equity for Disabled People.  

Michael is a Disability Inclusion Specialist by experience who supports businesses to look at disability differently. Michael is a well-rounded practitioner with professional, academic and real-life experience of impairments. Michael has successfully delivered training to businesses in varying sectors including, Prezzo, Local Space and I-talk (NHS).

The aim of his session is to make BASE members feel confident in offering an exemplary destination for great service and inclusive facilities for customers with visible and hidden impairments.  You don’t need spend a lot of money to be accessible and inclusive – small things can make a big difference.  

The session will be very interactive, using a polling tool called MentiMeter, so please bring your laptop and smart phone.  If you only have one of these, you can still fully take part and interact.

Rather than focusing on people’s health conditions or impairments, Michael clearly highlights the barriers that exclude Disabled People from fully participating in our society, while understanding the nervousness many of us feel when talking about disability. Michael will share personal insight and practical guidance about how businesses can help make necessary change for the better, removing barriers so disabled people are fully included within mainstream activities both personally and professionally.

The session is suitable for anybody who wishes to develop and balance inclusive strategic development with the practical implementation of measures that deliver change within their organisation. Michael’s session offers a friendly, non-judgemental and welcoming learning environment bringing people together to support their professional learning.

Book your place on this free session via Eventbrite

Venue: Online 

Open to BASE members who are in the South West Region

Any organisation or individual who is interested in joining BASE, we're happy for you visit a regional meeting to get an insight into what BASE does, please contact Gillian Parker to arrange this 

More information is available from Alex Seddon