Finding work can sometimes be difficult if you have a disability. The organisations within this section will be able to guide and support you through the employment process.
Disability Employment Advisors
Job Centre Plus,
Southgate House, 449-499 Midsummer Boulevard,
Central Milton Keynes MK9 3BN
Tel: 0800 169 0190
The Disability Employment Advisors at Job Centre Plus offer help and advice for people with a disability in assessment, finding employment, training, and advice regarding equipment. They also help people to stay in employment through retention, by working with employers at employers’ request.
Disability Employment Advisors can help people with disabilities to find and keep suitable jobs and give advice on employment, assessment, rehabilitation, and training schemes.
Access: Wheelchair-accessible, lifts and automatic doors.
Access To Work
Tel: 0800 121 7479
Textphone: 0800 121 7579
Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479
Web: www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Access to Work can provide practical and financial support to help people who have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition to overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job.
Support depends on your needs, and you can apply for:
- a grant to help pay for practical support with your work
- support with managing your mental health at work
- money to pay for communication support at job interviews
Access to Work can help pay for support needed because of a disability or long-term health condition, for example:
- Aids and equipment in the workplace
- Adapting equipment to make it easier to use
- Money towards any extra travel costs to and from work if public transport cannot be used.
- An interpreter or other support at a job interview
- Other practical help at work, such as a job coach or sign language interpreter.
If someone has a mental health condition, they will be offered assistance to develop a support plan. This plan may include steps to support an individual go into, remain in, or return to work, and suggestions for reasonable adjustments in the workplace, for example:
- Flexible working patterns to accommodate changes in mood
- Providing a mentor to give additional support at work
- A phased return to work such as reduced hours or less days
For more information about how Access to Work could help, details about eligibility criteria, or to make an application, contact the customer service team on the above details.
Works for Us
The Skills Centre,
Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3ES
Tel: 07852 963744
Email: info@worksforus.org.uk
Works for Us is a Milton Keynes-based charity dedicated to providing free training, careers guidance and support for people in and around Milton Keynes.
Works for Us promotes social inclusion by helping people to make informed choices about employment and training needs, providing them with a pathway to paid or better paid work. They enable them to access vocational guidance, training, and work experience opportunities. They raise their skill levels, qualifications, motivation, and confidence to help them to compete more effectively in the labour market. As a specialist employability service, they look to provide tailored support to suit clients’ training and employment goals.
Through the delivery of free courses, training opportunities, workshops, and drop-in sessions, they are able to help clients by:
- Boosting confidence and interpersonal skills
- Helping to manage stress and anxiety
- Providing careers advice and guidance
- Assisting with CVs and covering letters
- Supporting to find suitable volunteering and work experience opportunities
National Careers Service (NCS)
National Careers Service
Cheylesmore House, Coventry, CV1 2WT
Freephone Tel: 0800 100 900
Web: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk
The National Careers Service (NCS) provides free and impartial advice, information and guidance. Service is available to anyone aged 13+ at no matter what stage of career journey they are.
They also provide information for parents, teachers, employers, coaches and advisors to support others in their career journey. They also work with organisations, employers and professional bodies to promote up to date careers advice.
There are tools available online as well as personalised careers guidance, telephone and web chat support. This may include participation in in webinars or group sessions, signposting towards specialist resources and support and individual guidance.
Community Action: MK – Volunteering
The Old Bath House, 205 Stratford Road
Milton Keynes, MK12 5RL
Tel: 01908 661623
Email: info@communityactionmk.org
Web: www.communityactionmk.org
Community Action: MK can help find and place volunteers for local charities and community groups that cover everything from children and young people, sports and hobbies, health and disability, campaigning, or working with elderly people to working in the environment.
Open: Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:30pm
Advice sessions are by appointment only, please phone to book.
Drop-in sessions are held every week:
Thursday at Acorn House, 10:00am-12noon.