Latest news

This is updated monthly by Hertfordshire PASS staff.

September ‘08

* WorkABILITY staff make presentation to Work Solutions staff team meeting – resulting in Jonathan being referred for work placement at WorkABILITY’s offices.
* WorkABILITY staff have Safeguarding Adults training – delivered by Adult Care Services.
* WorkABILITY staff meet with Nicole and David from Pro-Action – the new name for the youth service in Hertfordshire. They encourage us to establish user-driven ‘disability workshops’.

August ‘08

* Hertfordshire PASS moves from its offices at the Weltech Centre half a mile down the road to Unit 2, Brownfields (18th August)

July ‘08

* Last session of the Work Taster programme, run over the summer holidays (31st July). Katie Fraser accompanies Richard to interview with Shaw Trust for Welfare to Work interview.
* Katie, Andrew and Nigel meet with the Director of the Sylvia Adams trust.
* Katie Etherington ( - who set up her own social enterprise, with Hertfordshire PASS’s help) achieves Top 10 Eastern Finals ‘Trading Places Award’ with her website www.papool.co.uk
* Jeff Palmer starts on 2 days / week for WorkABILITY, as the Work Experience Agency Manager.

June ‘08

* Nigel Fenner and Arthur Bate present paper at UK Social Enterprise Research Conference in London
* Mark Harris finishes on work placement with Hertfordshire PASS having made a fantastic contribution, including editing the excellent User-Driven book published.

May ‘08

* Arthur Bate (trustee) and Nigel Fenner visit Paul Smith CEO of Spinal Injuries Association to view their purpose built offices in Milton Keynes, and discuss PASS’s plans
* Summer taster scheme starts led by Katie Fraser and Nigel Fenner – with 3 referrals

April ‘08

* Murray Bradburn (Employment Facilitator) leaves PASS to take up post with Shaw Trust.
* Joe Bush starts work experience, managed by Andrew Bird and supported by whole WorkABILITY staff team.
* Presentation by Andrew Bird and Nigel Fenner to Access-Ability (Connexions)
* Apply to Watford Jobcentre and achieve ‘supported employer’ status ( - one of only 2 in the county!)
* Arthur Bate and Nigel Fenner meeting with Paul Smith (Manager of Handelsbanken, St Albans)
* Andrew Bird, Katie Fraser and Patrick Fraser start as apprentices on 1.5 days each – on permitted earnings.

March ‘08

* Grant Shapps MP visits WorkABILITY and has closed meeting with Katie, Andrew and Patrick – with Owen Parry (Chairman of Trustees). Grant Shapps then ‘asks questions in Parliament’ regarding opportunities for disabled people for employment, resulting in letter from Ann McGuire – Minister for Disabled.
* Nigel Fenner visits the Disability LIB Alliance launch event held at Scope in London.
* Jeff Palmer, and Mark Harris design and build a work experience agency database.

February ‘08

* User-Driven book published – resulting in much local media interest (x 23 ‘hits’) + appearances.