SOS Kilkenny welcomed Minister of State at the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Anne Rabbitte, TD to their Callan Road campus on Tuesday, last.
Minister Rabbitte launched SOS Kilkenny’s Work4Life programme which supports people with intellectual disabilities from SOS Kilkenny to progress personally and professionally through paid, meaningful employment.
Work4Life is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Social Protection, and the European Union, under the Workability: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Rabbitte recognised the fundamental importance for all in having a job – for a sense of purpose, to make connections and to earn a living. She acknowledged and thanked local employers who engage with Work4Life, offering opportunities for work placement and paid employment to jobseekers with an intellectual disability. She also noted the importance of colleagues in supporting people to reach their full potential in the work place.
Speaking after the event, Brian Walsh, Chairperson of SOS Kilkenny said:
“We were delighted to welcome Minister Anne Rabbitte to SOS Kilkenny to officially launch our Work4Life programme. We also welcomed the opportunity to tell Minister Rabbitte about our other initiatives – The Access Academy, which supports jobseekers to develop the skills and confidence for employment; The Pod Learning Café, which teaches barista skills and Dreamtime Radio, Ireland’s only BAI licensed radio station where all of the presenters are people with intellectual disabilities.
SOS Kilkenny is proud to be one of only 30 organisations nationally to have received funding under the Workability programme and we are looking forward to continuing to engage with the supportive local business community to create opportunities for the jobseekers we support.”
SOS Kilkenny’s Work4Life programme supports jobseekers with intellectual disabilities to choose their career path through job tasters and work placements, links jobseekers with the relevant training to progress on their journey to paid employment and supports both the employer and employee to develop their professional relationship. For more information on Work4Life, visit www.work4life.ie.
If you would like to offer an opportunity for a job taster, work placement or a paid position, please contact the Work4Life team at [email protected]
