Hertfordshire PASS

About us

Hertfordshire PASS is a ‘user-driven charity using employment and ‘being an employer’ (of their own care staff) to enable disabled people to live independently’.

We are a small, highly innovative social enterprise enabling disabled people to solve the challenges that matter most to them, those of unemployment, and the management of their own care – and who better to do this, than disabled people themselves?

Along the way we’ve published books written by disabled people on their experiences, and academic papers on our methods, as well as won awards, and attracted the attention of politicians and the media – however we still feel we have much more to learn, and to offer.

This is set in the context of a recession, plans for the ‘Big Society’, a reduction in public sector provision, the personalisation of care, and welfare and employment reforms, which we view more as opportunities than threats.

What we do:

We run two main projects:

• WorkABILITY – an employment preparation programme run by 6 young disabled people employed as apprentices, for their peers (‘think of it as a Jobcentre, run by and for disabled people’). Given Hertfordshire PASS was 10 years old in 2010 we set ourselves the ’10 PASS Ten’ Challenge of appointing 10 further apprentices and placing these, with support from a mentor, with local employers.

In addition to apprenticeships we also run a Job Forum as an introduction to employment which involves adults, some of whom are celebrities, sharing their work stories, and the use of creative media (theatre, song, dance, arts and crafts etc) to explore the reality of work.

• ‘Being an employer’ – enabling disabled people to be better employers of their personal assistants, or care staff. We currently provide
  • a payroll service, so ensuring that disabled people, as the employer of their care staff, deduct the correct tax and N.I.,
  • advice and support to disabled people who require personal assistance in the workplace,

And 2 projects in the early stage of their development:

• an internet based forum for the exchange of experiences of ‘being an employer’, and
• support to disabled people who set up and run their own social enterprise.

What Hertfordshire PASS is raising funds for

We don’t want people to give us money because they feel sorry for disabled people, rather we need investment to demonstrate that disabled people can make a return, often much more innovative and effective than the ‘returns’ others have made on their behalf up to now. Such investment will enable PASS to strengthen its existing work in getting disabled people into employment, and ‘being a good employer’, as well as develop more socially enterprising ways to sustain itself financially – beyond reliance on grants, and contracts.

Our target

We have set a target of raising £15,000 through the Allia Charitable Bond.

www.hertspass.com

Hertfordshire Pass - registered charity No. 1081277

Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Please note this page does not form part of the bond offer documentation and prospective investors should not rely on it when deciding whether to invest in Allia bonds. The information on this page has been provided by the cause as a summary of its activities. Allia accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this information and prospective investors should contact the cause directly if they require further information or verifications.

The cause is required to use any funds raised through Allia’s charitable bonds in line with the activities described on this page. However, the cause reserves the right to use funds where it considers them to be most needed in order to achieve the same or similar social outcomes.