Shaw Trust UK Disability Employment Support Services
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/01/01 - Updated: 2026/02/12
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: UK - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information provides an overview of Shaw Trust, a registered UK charity dedicated to helping disabled and disadvantaged individuals secure employment and transition into independent living. The resource is useful for people with disabilities seeking work opportunities in the United Kingdom, as it identifies a key support organization that specializes in disability employment services. Shaw Trust offers practical assistance to those facing barriers to work, making this information particularly relevant for disabled job seekers, career advisors, and family members supporting someone with a disability who wants to enter or return to the workforce - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Shaw Trust - Helping Disabled Find Work In The UK
The Shaw Trust is a charity in the UK for helping disabled and disadvantaged people into employment and independent living.
The Shaw Trust was formed in the village of Shaw in Wiltshire in 1981. It now employs around 1100 people, and works with around 50,000 clients a year. Shaw Trust is the UK's largest third sector provider of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people.
Main Content
Shaw Trust is a national charity which supports disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for work, find jobs and live more independently. Shaw Trust helps people with disabilities move off benefits into employment and live more independent lives using government and other funded employment programs in areas such as:
- Finance and benefits advice
- Support to stay in work
- Help to find a job
- Work preparation and skills training
Shaw Trust believes that everyone has the right to work and live independent lives. As a national charity, their work is about empowering people to improve their lives and to believe in their own abilities. Shaw Trust have also compiled statistics on disability and employment in the UK, details of legislation affecting disability and employment, and information on relevant government programs.
It is estimated that 10 million adults in the UK have a disability. Aware of this, the council recognized that it makes good business sense if all customers can access its services. Warwick District Council (WDC) has worked with Trinity Expert Systems (Trinity) to ensure its website is
fully accessible to people with various disabilities. The council's website is already rated in the top 10 shire websites in the UK, and it is committed to ensuring the website not only meets all accessibility requirements but exceeds them.
Shaw Trust has recently started utilizing remote VPN equipment, alongside Citrix MetaFrame, so that members of staff can access their work from home. By combining this with an MPLS system provided by BT, it is now possible for some staff to work from their home offices.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Shaw Trust represents one of the UK's established pathways for disabled individuals seeking meaningful employment, addressing the persistent employment gap that affects people with disabilities across Britain. While employment rates for disabled workers have gradually improved in recent years, organizations like Shaw Trust remain vital in providing the tailored support, workplace accommodations advocacy, and employer education necessary to create genuinely inclusive workplaces. For those navigating the often complex intersection of disability benefits, workplace adjustments, and job searching, knowing that dedicated charities exist specifically to facilitate this transition can make the difference between isolation and economic participation - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.