Our Disability Confident Advisor, Fleur Patten, took to the road last week by going international with Disability Confident support when she visited Plas y Brenin, National Outdoors Centre in Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales, in storm Eowyn.
Fleur has been supporting Plas y Brenin with their Disability Confident journey for the last 6 months and working closely with Sam in HR. The team at Plas y Brenin were keen to develop their awareness from their level 2 self-assessment to in-person training delivered to everyone. Fleur delivered sessions over two days in order to work around the schedule of the team.
The teams were highly engaged and the sessions enabled a lively exploration of what being Disability Confident means to each staff member.
Papworth Trust was able to raise awareness of disability language and etiquette in the workplace, hidden disabilities, reasonable adjustments and Access to Work. Two members of staff felt comfortable to disclose their disabilities during the sessions and Fleur was able to offer advice in a safe space, and to signpost support.
The in-person sessions were essential to raise awareness in a rural, isolated area.
“Everyone I met was fully open to learning and developing their awareness of disability in the workplace. I was made to feel very welcome by the entire staff team. The team is very diverse: from leaders who coach climbing, hiking, paddling and cycling, to hospitality staff and others who enable the running of the centre. The team runs an extraordinary place. It was a privilege to meet everyone in-person and to connect by developing awareness. Hopefully other organisations will engage in free support so that Papworth Trust can enable everyone to see disabled people for who they are by recognising talents and making reasonable adjustments.” Fleur, Disability Confident Advisor.