Purpose, pride and belonging - work is not just a wage!

Tom Boyd, a 28 year old man with autism, volunteered at Waitrose for four years. He worked hundreds of unpaid hours supported by a support worker. His family said it gave him independence, a sense of purpose and belonging. For recognition for his effort and heart he had given, they asked if Tom could be offered 'just a few paid hours.' However, when this transition to paid work was proposed, corporate policy took over. Concerned about the volume of unpaid hours, head office suspended his volunteering while they investigated. The result left Tom without the structure he was used to, but also without so much more.  It raises many questions, including what paid work means for neurodivergent individuals.

In his column for The Times, Dominic Lawson reflected that Tom’s case illustrates how ‘top-down rules’ can sometimes override the lived reality for people like Tom. While these regulations exist for good reasons, they can unintentionally create barriers to meaningful inclusion.

There are 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the UK and 94% are unemployed. We don’t think it needs to be this way. There are opportunities for both the employee and employer and our aim is to facilitate these by developing relationships with key employers and training that helps everyone thrive.