Centre for Mental Health

Centre for Mental Health welcomes Sayce Review's call for doubling of access to work scheme funding

9 June 2011

“The Access to Work scheme should be strengthened and expanded to help many more disabled people to get paid employment and fulfil their potential in work,” Centre for Mental Health joint chief executive Bob Grove said today.

Responding to the publication of the independent Sayce Review of disability employment support, Getting in, staying in, getting on, Bob Grove said: “The Review rightly describes Access to Work as ‘the best kept secret in government’. Access to Work funding can make all the difference for disabled people to take a job. It allows them and their employer to know that they will be supported when it’s needed.

“Just one per cent of Access to Work funding is used to help people with mental health problems into employment. Only one person in eight who uses mental health services is in paid work, yet eight out of ten want to work, and with the right support a great many can.

“Access to Work should be much more widely used. We welcome the Government’s commitment to ‘passport’ Access to Work funding before a job offer is made and endorse the Sayce Review’s call to make it easier to use, more widely known and more effective for people with fluctuating conditions.

“We also call for Access to Work funding to be used to help those who are most disadvantaged to get a foot in the labour market. Homeless people, prisoners and ex-offenders with mental health problems, for example, could benefit hugely from Access to Work.

 “The Sayce Review offers a compelling vision for the future of disability employment support, focused on the most effective forms of support and linked closely with the Work Programme. We call on the Government to implement the Review’s recommendations and help more disabled people to realise their potential in employment.”

To find out more about supporting people with mental health problems back into employment visit the employment section of our website