We’re proud to announce that JIGSAW Thornbury is now a Disability Confident level 2 employer!
We have been working towards our Disability Confident Employer Level 2 status over the last 6 months and are delighted to now be recognised with the award.
“It has been fantastic to have the considerations we put in place for accessibility and inclusion being recognised with the level 2 Disability Confident Employer status. Developing a plan for continued improvements to achieve our level 3 Disability Confident Leader status is one of our goals for the 2025-6 business plan year. This aligns closely with our charity values of uniqueness, empowerment and compassion, so is an integral part of our identity as an employer.”
– Hattie, JIGSAW Chief Executive Officer.
Disability Employer Scheme
The scheme is a UK Government initiative developed by employers with disabled people’s representatives. It was created as a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
By signing up and creating our charity’s action plan, we are ensuring that disabled people have opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations as part of our JIGSAW Thornbury team. Our team includes paid staff, volunteers, young members who are part of our Youth Volunteering Scheme, and regular participants who join us for work experience.
“JIGSAW Thornbury is a safe and supportive place to work, I feel valued in my role and that I make a difference to the lives of the families I support and connect with. I feel like an important part of an amazing team and wider community.”
– response from our staff wellbeing survey 2025.
Being an inclusive employer offering truly accessible options for disabled people is extremely important to us as a charity with the core purpose to support and empower children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, and their families.
“Working at JIGSAW Thornbury has been a lifeline for me as an adaptable employer. They have supported me to be able to work around a tough year supporting my children’s additional needs and mental health whilst they have been off school by allowing me to change role and work primarily from home. I recently discovered that I have ADHD and have been overwhelmed by my home situation and can sometimes get over stimulated if the office gets busy. By being able to work flexibly has made it possible for me to keep working and doing what I love. No other workplace in over 20 years has made me feel so supported.“
– Lisa, Grants Coordinator at JIGSAW Thornbury.
“As someone returning to work after a long period of home educating my son, I was initially nervous about applying for a new job. JIGSAW Thornbury made it a seamless and supportive process. Being given the interview questions in advance empowered me to feel prepared and confident. I am really enjoying my new role and have felt fully supported throughout my induction, which has helped me settle in and thrive.”
– Bonnie, Community Fundraising and Participation Lead.
How did we achieve accreditation?
To achieve this important accreditation we undertook and completed the Disability Confident self-assessment, ensuring we are taking all of the core actions required to be a Disability Confident employer in actively attracting and recruiting disabled people to help fill our opportunities. We have committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and retaining people in their roles by offering ongoing reasonable adjustments.
Here are some examples of the measures we have in place:
- Our application form for both staff and volunteers specifies that the candidate should let us know if any reasonable adjustments can be made during both the application and selection process.
- We also send out the questions that we are going to ask in advance when we meet with a potential volunteer or new member of staff. This is to ensure applicants can prepare in advance and have the opportunity to plan or ask any questions before an interview.
- All staff and volunteers have access to a line manager who can go through a wellbeing action plan to make adjustments to their working environment where possible. This includes working downstairs if they cannot get upstairs easily. Working from home on busy office days, access to ear defenders or sunglasses if the environment in the office is too loud or bright. Flexible working such as swapping the days they are working that week. Offering an occupational health assessment if this would be beneficial.
- We have 3 team members who have completed mental health first aid training so that we can effectively support staff wellbeing at work.
- We score all application forms based on ability to do the job. This scoring is done keeping the applicants personal information anonymous, ensuring disability is not a factor in our selection process. We offer anyone who has identified as disabled and who meets all the minimum criteria outlined in the job description to interview.
- We provide volunteering opportunities for our young members taking part in Youth Empowerment Services. This helps them to experience a workplace and learn skills that will help them to progress into paid roles at JIGSAW and beyond.
Next steps…
We will be putting some more things in place throughout the year to work towards our level 3 status as a Disability Confident Leader. We will continue to identify and share good practice, and look to constantly grow and learn as a charity, taking advice from similar organisations, and the sector in general, from training networking events.
“Having level 2 Disability Confident Employer status is a true recognition of our own Charity goals. Documenting the evidence to the scheme questions to provide proof of our way of working, it’s clear that our established way of working at JIGSAW is already closely aligned. Having the status reinforces our continued commitment.”
– Anita Weidekamp, HR Administrator at JIGSAW.”
If you’d like to know more about our award, please get in touch with us at hr@jigsawthornbury.org.uk.
For guidance about signing up for the Disability Confident scheme, and how it can help your business, go to Gov.UK website using this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/disability-confident-how-to-sign-up-to-the-employer-scheme