#PurpleLightUp for International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Thursday 3rd December is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), which celebrates the achievements of people living with disabilities all over the world.

As a disability confident employer, we welcome the opportunity to celebrate the fantastic contributions made by our employees with disabilities. To raise awareness of the economic contribution of disabled people, Brunelcare is taking part in #PurpleLightUp across our social media channels.

IDPWD’s 2020 theme is ‘Not all disabilities are visible’. This theme aims to increase awareness of disabilities which may not appear obvious, such as mental health challenges, sight or hearing impairment, chronic pain and cognitive dysfunction.

Brunelcare is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, an accreditation which we have held for the past 7 years. This scheme is run by The Department for Work and Pensions and supports employers to adapt their values and culture to commit to inclusion and equality in the workplace. Some of the ways in which we do this include:

• Challenge attitudes towards disabilities
• Increase understanding of disabilities
• Remove barriers to disabled people and those with long term health conditions
• Ensure that disabled people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations

Last year, Brunelcare also ran 3 Mental Health first aid training courses for our employees, with 40 members of staff completing the course. This initiative was to raise awareness of and break the stigma surrounding mental health. Our involvement in these initiatives has enabled us to provide greater support to colleagues across our organisation, while creating a more inclusive work environment.

Brian Whittaker, Human Resources & Organisational Development Director, said:
"Inclusion cannot be an 'add-on' to how we work, it has to be a core part of how we do things at Brunelcare. Inclusion encourages success. Where employees feel valued and appreciated in a work environment and success seems attainable for everyone, regardless of a mental or physical disability, it encourages them to bring their best selves to work. It is essential that we can recruit and retain brilliant people to deliver 'person-centred' care to our tenants, residents and clients. Inclusivity ensures that we open the door to the widest possible pool of talent."

The IDPWD was first introduced in 1992 and aims to promote the rights and well-being of disabled people. As part of Brunelcare’s ongoing development, we are continuously looking at ways in which we can become more inclusive and accessible for both our employees and customers.