Finding a job Easy Read
Finding a job
Finding a job or work experience
Finding a job can be hard but there is support for people with a learning disability who want to find work.
Mencap employment support
Mencap can provide
employment
Employment means having a job.
support in some parts of the UK.
You can use our
website
A website is a page you can go to on the internet like Google or YouTube.
to find out if Mencap can help you.
Or call our helpline on 0808 808 1111.
Other employment support
Other places can provide employment support, such as:
Your local job centre.
Your local
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
Your
social worker
A social worker is someone who can help you get the support you need. Social workers usually work for your local council.
.
What is employment support?
Employment support can help with:
Finding out what you need support with so that you can get a job.
Understanding job adverts.
Filling in application forms.
Writing a cover letter and
CV
A CV is also called a Curriculum Vitae. It is a document with information about: your skills, your qualifications and any jobs or volunteering you have done. You may have to send a CV when you try to get a job.
.
Preparing for interviews.
Getting ready to start a job.
Work experience
Work experience
Work experience is when you try out a job to help you learn new skills.
is a good way to learn about a job that you might like to do.
It is also a good way to get a reference if you have not worked before.
Getting work experience is a good way to help find you a paid job.
Work experience is where you try a job for a short amount of time.
You might try it for a number of weeks or hours.
You are usually not paid for doing work experience.
Volunteering
Volunteering is not the same as work experience. Usually you can volunteer for a longer time than work experience.
When you volunteer you can do lots of different things.
Mencap can help find people lots of different volunteering opportunities
For example:
Supporting people.
Working in a charity shop.
Mencap also runs our own charity shops that you might be able to volunteer in.
You can find out about where our shops are here. You can also ask about volunteering in one of our shops here.
https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/mencap-shops
Or you could email Mencap's volunteering team: volunteering@mencap.org.uk
Working in an office.
Gardening.
Most of the time you can be any age to volunteer.
For certain types of volunteering you might have to be at least 18 years old.
You have to be at least 18 years old to volunteer at Mencap.
Volunteering helps you to:
Get more involved in your
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
.
Keep busy doing something that helps people and your community.
Make new friends.
Learn new skills that help you get ready for work.
Get a reference to help you get a paid job in the future.
Getting benefits and volunteering or doing work experience
You can volunteer or do unpaid work experience and it does not affect your benefits.
It is always best to check with you job centre advisor before you start.
Where can I find a job?
Search online on job websites, such as Indeed and Reed.
Speak to your local employment services.
Speak to your local job centre.
You can get in contact with Job Centre Plus and find your nearest job centre here.
Speak with your local council.
Speak with your social worker.
Information and support
To find out more about Mencap’s employment services go on our website, email us, or phone our helpline.
Email: employment.support@mencap.org.uk
Call our helpline: 0808 808 1111
This
easy read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
was first published: 14/06/2023
Last updated: 14/06/2023.