Partnering 4 Success

‘Partnering 4 Success’ is an initiative funded by the European Unions Grundtvig Partnership Programme.

The purpose is to share good practice and ideas to help people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions progress into paid employment and independence.

It basically involves 3 supported employment agencies from the UK (Pluss), Spain and Finland undertaking exchange visits to see how each country operates when it comes to supported employment.
Visit the Partnering 4 Success website.

Pluss welcome Finland and Spain
January 2011
Four Finnish and six Spanish visitors arrived in Plymouth on Sunday 23rd January and spent three days visiting Pluss sites and employers across Devon. They visited Future Clean, Pluss’ environmentally friendly car washing business based in both Plymouth and Exeter, which employs over 18 people with disabilities. They also visited Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust to learn about an internship programme ‘Project Search’, an initiative designed to help people with learning disabilities into work.

The highlight of the visit was BURNS day, where Pluss hosted a special lunch of haggis, tatties and neats whilst being serenaded by a bagpiper, our very own Rod Burnett.

Pluss' visit to Finland
June 2011
Four Pluss employees visit Finland, and even the Finnish army on manoeuvres couldn`t prevent it from being a successful and enjoyable trip.

The hero of the hour was Esa, the Finnish host of this latest leg of Partnering 4 Success. Despite the need for Esa to make last minute changes to the schedule as a result of some surprise Finnish army manoeuvres in the region, the parties from Pluss and from the ASTRES Foundation in Spain were given a real insight into supported employment Scandinavian-style.

Ian, Michelle, Sarah and Mik spent four days on the trip in early June. They toured one of Finland`s six specialist vocational colleges for people with disabilities, took a close look at some Finnish social enterprises including a commercial laundry, and had the chance to discuss the challenges around social integration with some of Finland`s leading supported employment professionals and academics.

They arrived back with food for thought as well, having identified several potential areas for co-operation and shared research with Pluss`s Spanish and Finnish partners in the project.

Read Ian, Michelle, Sarah and Mik's diaries.

Pluss' visit to Spain
Will take place Autumn 2011.