The PURE Project, an employment support scheme for people facing multiple barriers, and its partner BID Services celebrated achievements of participants within education, training, and employment today at the Deaf Cultural Centre in Ladywood. Other key partners included the Prince’s Trust and the Aston Villa Foundation who ran wellbeing sessions.

The event was supported by participants living with these conditions. They shared their perspective on overcoming significant barriers which included challenges of accessing work for those who are deaf, with some also expressing having limited English language skills which further amplifies the challenges. Attendees were given the opportunity to experience what it’s like having a visual impairment.

The event was especially important as these conditions impact millions across the country.

  • 11 million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Only 65% of deaf people are in employment
  • 73% of people with hearing loss face limited work opportunities

The PURE Project, which led the event, is a unique scheme that supports people over the age of 25 facing complex barriers with securing employment, training, and education. It is a £20m project managed by Birmingham City Council, part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and delivered through nine community partners across the city.

The PURE Project Lead, Tabriz Hussain, said “Each person is facing their own complex barriers. We’ve been working with BID to make sure that people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a visual impairment get the support they need to move towards employment. PURE has supported more than 2,000 people in Birmingham with a range of disabilities and sensory barriers.”

The event was hosted at BID Services’ hub in Ladywood. Denise Sutton, Employment Team Manager at BID Services said “It can be really tough for our participants. This day is to celebrate their fantastic successes gaining skills and finding employment. We also want people with barriers to come down and say hello – there’s support out there. Let’s see what we can do for you.”  

BID Services provide a range of specialist support services for people living with sensory loss. It supports people to live independently and seeks ways to improve and expand the services offered.

The PURE Project supports people with a range of complex barriers. These include:

  • People who are homeless or vulnerably housed
  • Women fleeing domestic abuse
  • Offenders and those at risk of offending
  • People with learning disabilities and difficulties
  • People with mental health difficulties
  • People with physical and sensory disabilities