Matthew Gatlish is an inspiration. Matt’s hard work and determination has not only seen him secure paid employment but a Lifelong Learning Award. Wednesday, March 18th 2009, Matt was presented with the Black Country Training Group Learning Towards Employment Award by the legendary comedienne Ruby Wax at the 11th Walsall Lifelong Learning Awards organised by Walsall Lifelong Learning Alliance. The award recognises individuals, groups or organisations whose efforts to learn have improved their prospects of finding a job or bettering their current occupation.

Born with cerebral palsy, thirty one year old Matt has found the search for full time paid employment long and difficult. Undeterred, Matt undertook several qualifications up to HNC level and in 2007 became involved with an organisation known as ‘Links to Work’.

Links to Work is a work preparation unit offering people with disabilities and/or social disadvantage opportunity to gain training and skills within
a supported environment. They provide their clients with work experience, support in applying for jobs and work to increase their confidence and self esteem.

It was through Links to Work that Matt was able to undertake a number of voluntary work placements and the end of last year Matt submitted an application form to us for paid work. Based on his skills Matt was invited to come in for an interview. What shone through at interview was Matt’s personality, skills and desire to succeed so when a request came in from Walsall Council for an administrative assistant Matt immediately sprang to mind.

Matt, his qualifications, skills and work experience all went towards him securing the role and he started work January 2009. Steps to Work in Walsall provided Matt with the icing on the cake as having accessed free advice and support via one of their many employment projects he received a £50 back to work bonus!

We are proud to have been able to play a part in helping Matt achieve his goal of paid employment.

“After completing several qualifications the one I am most proud of is my HNC in Computing which I completed at Walsall College in 2004.

I then started sending my CV and letters of application to lots of companies that I thought would be able to use my skills and abilities. After several failed interviews and coming close but not close enough I began to feel disheartened.

“I found the contact details for Links to Work on Walsall Council’s website and wrote them a letter of application. I had to wait a while but my patience was rewarded, I was given an interview and was successful.

“June 2007 I started with Links to Work and the staff soon realised my potential. After doing a few months in the different work experience areas - Manufacturing, Catering, Office and Admin - their Supported Employment Team started looking for suitable work placements to put my skills to better use.

“October 2007, I started a placement at Walsall Centre for Independent Living one day a week, working on their Front Desk and collating statistical information from their clients. After several months I felt that my abilities weren’t being stretched so March 2008 the Employment Team at Links to Work found me an additional placement at Walsall Housing Group (WHG), working within the Income Collection team. I started off doing one day a week, which soon became
two, then three.

“At the start of my placement I was data inputting Housing Benefit Decision Notices but it wasn’t long before I was given the task of investigating and dealing with former accounts as well as preparing the results from a survey by putting them onto a web based document for evaluation. Already doing three days a week at WHG, November 2008 Links to Work got me an additional day a week placement at Walsall Council’s Allen’s Centre, supporting the Occupational Therapy (OT) Team, answering the phones.

“December 2008 I had an interview with Starting Point Recruitment, and a few weeks later received the fantastic news that there was an opportunity for me to work full time on assignment at the Allen’s Centre. My main duties are inputting assessments and entering case notes onto their database.

“The success of my placements means that my confidence has increased 100%. I am so happy in my first ever paid job. I have achieved the goal I have wanted for so long. It’s great that so many organisations are working together to help people find work.”