About us

Welcome to Forwards Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire’s first stop for disability employment. Whether you are looking for paid work and need help with job searching, or you’re an employer with job opportunities concerned about disability discrimination, we see the potential in disability, not the problem. 

Our vision is to enable people with disabilities and health conditions to achieve their employment aspirations. We do this by providing individuals with the structured support they need that promotes independence and fulfils their ambitions. Our service is defined by the success of our customers.

What we do

Forwards is an all age, all disability service; supporting people with disabilities achieve their employment dreams. Forwards can provide help to identify skills and job goals, improve confidence, manage anxiety and overcome barriers. Anyone can come to Forwards if they have a disability, health condition or need some support to gain confidence.

We work closely with a number of partners, from health providers to employers and voluntary bodies. Forwards provides access to all of the many organisations who can help with all aspects of returning to work, including money and budget management, debt advice and benefits advice. We’re also here to help those facing challenges whilst in employment or employers who have job opportunities or require advice on how to provide disabled access.

We're also here to help those facing challenges whilst in employment or employers who have job opportunities or require advice on how to make reasonable adjustments. To contact the Employment and Skills Hub, call 01452 425776. 

Our aims and raising aspirations

At Forwards, we recognise that disability comes in many forms, and it may not be the only barrier to employment. When financial, practical or emotional concerns stand in the way, we offer a wide range of resources and programmes to help increase diversity in the work place.

Many employers are not taking advantage of the talented pool of disabled candidates who are looking for work. Around 18% of the working population have a disability. Organisations are missing out on the many cultural and financial benefits of increased diversity in their staff.

We fully believe that everyone deserves a chance, and everyone deserves an opportunity. See what some local young people said when we asked what their work dreams were. We know that everyone has the same dreams about work and that we should be encouraging and helping them achieve their ambitions and aspirations.

Myth-busting

With so many myths surrounding disabled people, we aim to increase disability awareness.

• Directly affecting 1 in 5 people, and many more indirectly, disability is not a marginal issue.
• More than 75% of disabled people acquire their disability as adults and are at risk of losing their jobs. In fact, keeping a newly disabled person in employment has a cost benefit of over 2½ times an employer's investment.
• Organisations that cater for the needs or disabled people have 30% less sickness absences than the national average.
• Disabled people are a consumer group that spend £80 billion a year in the UK alone. Organisations that are disability friendly open themselves up to this powerful marketplace.
• A graduate with a work-limiting disability is more likely to be lacking, but wanting work than an unqualified person with no disability.
• A society that works together to embrace disability benefits everyone.