Lisa started her journey with Ready, Willing and Able in May 2023. She has recently celebrated her 50th birthday and was seeking paid employment for the first time. 

When our supported employment coach, Rhian, first discussed with Lisa what ‘employment’ meant to her, and roles she would like to explore, it became clear she was happy to try anything, including retail, animal care and cleaning. Lisa particularly loves cleaning: she often takes the initiative to clean the communal spaces in her block of flats and ensures the bins are always ready for collection. 

Rhian contacted one of our employment partners at Medequip to ask if they had any roles available for Lisa. Michaela, the General Manager for Southwest and Suffolk responded that they would love to support Lisa to secure a role. Rhian and Michaela had a meeting to discuss Lisa’s skills, especially her love for cleaning. An on-site visit was arranged for July, and she was offered a cleaning position! 

Supporting someone to enter employment can have a huge impact on their life. Lisa wanted to get out of the house, have her own money, and meet new friends, all of which is now possible. 

Lisa commented:

"I feel so proud and happy: I’m going to tell my family I have a job!”  

On Lisa’s first day at work, she was given a warm welcome by her teammates, all of whom have been friendly, accommodating and kind.  

Michaela, the General Manager for the Southwest at Medequip commented:

"Lisa’s first few days with us were centred around what would suit her abilities and ensuring everything was in place to make her transition into the working environment as smooth and enjoyable as possible. With the help of her support coach, Rhian, we have created a specific workspace for Lisa, and provided some bespoke training to ensure she is comfortable with the work she is asked to complete...We couldn’t be prouder that Lisa has chosen Medequip to be her very first employer!"

Having an inclusive and supportive workplace has many benefits and through Ready, Willing and Able, SeeAbility support induction, team integration, and adapting to unfamiliar workplace norms. 

Rhian commented:

"It has been heart-warming to witness the inclusive culture at Medequip. Thank you!"