As Chief Executive of Hertfordshire PASS it is my role to ensure we achieve our aim of being a user-driven charity using employment and self directed support to enable disabled people to live independently.

Given our commitment to being user-driven, it’s been great seeing our young apprentices taking on increasing responsibility for running and managing WorkABILITY; they’ve done a fantastic job and given their potential, I look forward to them delivering much more.

I’ve spent most of my working life in user-driven work. Before Hertfordshire PASS I worked with young offenders in developing a relationships education programme they led themselves. Whilst extremely challenging at times, the outcomes were often remarkable. Before this I worked in residential work, youth work and sport / fitness including time as a PE teacher. At the same time as all this work I’ve been very fortunate to have a brilliant family: my wife and two lovely children, who I’m very proud of.

As far as what the future holds I hope we can develop more user-involvement in our Payroll service. We want this to include more sharing of stories and experiences by disabled people for disabled people in terms of ‘self-directed support’. As far as WorkABILITY is concerned I expect it to be entirely managed by our Senior Apprentices by the end of 2011.

Read Nigel’s paper on ‘User Driven Social Enterprise’ »