Wales Association of Supported Employment Agencies (Wales ASEA)
About us
The Association grew from the UK-wide Association for Supported Employment (AfSE) which was set up in the early 1990s. It was felt by Wales members that AfSE’s membership was too broad, and that an association of professional agencies, delivering a service for people who have a learning disability in Wales, would be more relevant and productive. ASEA is now registered as a charity. The association meets 4 times a year, two meetings in South Wales and two in mid Wales. Some North Wales members prefer to participate through receiving minutes, although Agoriad, the supported employment agency in Bangor, is an active participant.
ASEA has a membership of 23 organisations, which cover the whole of Wales. ASEA members have developed a Consortium in South Wales, stretching from Ceredigion to Gwent, which delivers a Work Preparation programme for Jobcentre Plus. With the advent of the Welsh Assembly Government and divergence in Wales from England in the provision of Education and Social Services, the association has proved to be invaluable. Wales ASEA is able to address issues that can be directly influenced by the Assembly.
In October 2006, ASEA members were invited to give evidence to the ELLS committee of the Welsh Assembly Government, which has recently conducted a review into Special Education provision. The third section of the Review – Transition- was the subject of ASEA members’ contributions. The case was presented by the agencies and by Learning Disability Wales for supported employment as a valuable alternative to further education for appropriate students, when moving from school to adult life.
ASEA’s value as an association was displayed to its fullest potential, when in January 2007, against tight deadlines, agencies from North, South and Mid Wales, met up and drew together a bid for funding from DELLS for Work Based Learning. Mencap took the role as Lead body. It is hoped that ASEA will in the future be able to develop a strong secretariat, which will increase membership and raise funds.
In the future ASEA will be working with the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) on issues that are pan UK, such as the re-organisation of the provision of employment services for disabled people, currently being reviewed by the Department for Work and Pensions, and the new Welfare Benefits which are due to come into operation in 2008.
Contact us
Please write to: Wales ASEA, c/o Quest, 433 Cowbridge Road East, Canton Cardiff, CF 5 1JH, Or
E mail: diane.Lloyd@innovate-trust.org.uk ; Kaynie McLellan (Chair) kaynie@wisewales.org.uk, Andrea Wayman (Treasurer) awayman@elitesea.co.uk
