“Your first port of call should be Scope’s Support to Work programme.”

My career began in the pub industry, managing a pub at 20. Later, I managed various restaurants and a country club.   

After buying and running a pub with my wife in Croydon, we had to give it up because she was unwell, and she sadly passed away in 2010.   

I worked as an armoured van driver for 18 years after that, but entered redundancy in September 2022 because of the impact COVID had on the trade.   

I was initially positive about the redundancy, believing I could find something new.    

However, I soon discovered that applying for jobs had become more complicated. Being in my late 50s and unable to talk, I had to accept that there were many jobs I simply couldn’t do.   

By January 2022, after applying to various roles without getting interviews, I was feeling quite low. I was very conscious of saving the pennies from my redundancy payment.  

“I ended up on the Scope website and saw information about your Support to Work programme.”  

I was getting sick of the constant bombardment from job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. So, feeling desperate, I did a search for any inspiration on Google. Eventually, I ended up on the Scope website and saw information about the Support to Work programme, which supports disabled jobseekers.  

I had never really seen myself as disabled, just as an able-bodied person who couldn’t talk, so I wasn’t sure if I would qualify for the scheme.   

However, I received a swift response saying I definitely qualified, so I thought, “Well, nothing to lose.”  

“Dawn helped me feel more confident.” 

From the first minute, my Support to Work adviser Dawn and I hit it off on a personal level. It was an instant tonic for me, having someone to share my doubts with weekly, and who could focus my energies.  

Each week, Dawn scoured job sites for roles that might be suitable for me and referred me to the job board on the Scope website.   

One opportunity was a speculative application with an organization called the Pension Protection Fund (PPF). They initially had no suitable positions, but kept my details on record.  

Dawn set me "homework" to contact certain organisations. I completed various tasks, and she guided me through the modern job search process.   

She provided feedback on my applications, covering letters, and CV. Dawn helped me feel more confident, despite not being offered any interviews initially.  

“After using Support to Work, I felt much more positive about the future.” 

The mentoring helped me identify which skills were appropriate, which needed brushing up, and where to focus my energies. Dawn's advice on job descriptions and interview preparations made me approach interviews differently.  

After using Support to Work, I felt much more positive about the future. Although I still didn’t have a job, my modernized CV and application experiences gave me hope.   

Soon enough, I started getting interview invites, including one from the PPF for an apprenticeship. Dawn reviewed my application, suggested tweaks, and I ended up getting an interview.   

A week later, I received a magical email asking for a Teams video meeting, and I was ecstatic. I was going to become an apprentice at the age of 57!  

“Without the support from Dawn at Scope, I would not be in my current situation” 

I completed my apprenticeship with the Pension Protection Fund and am happy to say I was offered a permanent role as a Pensions Administrator. Recently, I was also shortlisted for the Pension Professionals’ Trainee of the Year award.  

The role is fantastic, and a refreshing change of direction for my career. The colleagues I’ve met are extremely friendly, and the office atmosphere is great. 

My employer is very accommodating with adjustments. We receive limited phone calls, and my colleagues are able to handle these. For video conference calls, I use the text option while others speak. They just have to be patient with my super-speedy two-fingered typing!  

Without the support from Dawn at Scope, I would not be in my current situation.   

“The personal support of the advisers offers motivation and comfort when needed most.” 

If you’re disabled and want work, your first port of call should be Scope’s Support to Work Scheme.   

It provides a foundation to build your job search in a planned, comprehensive way. 

The personal support of the advisers offers motivation and comfort when needed most. And the best part? It doesn’t cost a penny!

To find out if our Support to Work scheme is right for you, visit the Support to Work page.