From April this year, 2,000 people with learning disabilities and up to 1,500 people with mental health conditions will be guaranteed places on the Access to Work programme to help them stay in work.
Jonathan Shaw, Minister Disabled People used the 40th anniversary of the Chron ically Sick and Disabled Person's Act to announce an extension to the Access to Work fund which has been used extensively to support people with physical disabilities as they move into employment.
Jonathan Shaw said:
"Last year Access to Work helped over 32,000 people, and this number will continue to grow as the programme budget grows. But we know that a disappointingly low number of people with severe mental health conditions or learning disabilities are getting this funding which would help them stay at work.
"People with mental health and learning disabilities face complex barriers, finding it difficult to get into and stay in work and we recognise we need to do more to help them. But we know that by setting these ambitious targets and doubling the Access to Work budget to £138m by 2013/14, we will make sure that even more help reaches those who need it."
You can read the press release here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2010/march-2010/dwp039-10-040310.shtml
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