EUSE and NIUSE

EUROPEAN UNION OF SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

Background

EUSE logo The European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE) was established in 1993 to facilitate the development of Supported Employment throughout Europe. Supported Employment assists people with significant disabilities (physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory and hidden) to access real employment opportunities, of their own choice, in an integrated setting with appropriate ongoing support to become economically and socially active in their own communities.

EUSE works to achieve this through the promotion of the Supported Employment Model, the exchange of information and knowledge on good practice in Supported Employment and development of model services. EUSE provides a platform for networking with other organisations and associations at European and worldwide level.

Main Activities include:

  1. EUSE Conference held biennially:
    • Rotterdam, Netherlands 1994
    • Dublin, Ireland 1995
    • Oslo, Norway 1997
    • Italy, Rome 1999
    • Edinburgh, Scotland 2001
    • Helsinki, Finland 2003
    • Barcelona, Spain 2005
    • Forthcoming 8th EUSE Conference 2007 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  2. Information exchange via regular mailshots, newsletters, email and website.
  3. Policy work - influencing European social and economic policy.
  4. Networking with other National Associations in Europe and working with worldwide organisations.
  5. Developing new National Associations - assisting and supporting organisations to establish their own National Association in other European Countries.
  6. Campaigning and lobbying for the rights of people with significant disabilities to access vocational training and employment.
  7. Research into and development of models of good practice, staff training, quality standards, self-advocacy, capacity building and legislation.
  8. Membership services and support for National Associations.

EUSE is a non-Government organisation and is a member of the European Disability Forum (EDF) and European Association of Union of Service Providers for Persons with a disability (EASPD). For more information, please visit: www.euse.org

Membership

At present 17 National Associations are members of EUSE:-

  • Austria
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • England
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Northern Ireland
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Scotland
  • Spain
  • Sweden

NORTHERN IRELAND UNION OF SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

NIUSE logo NIUSE is an umbrella organisation representing organisations and individuals who promote vocational training and employment for people with disabilities through Supported Employment. The aim of NIUSE is "The promotion of good practice, dissemination of information and co-ordination of activities in the field of Supported Employment". This is achieved through a variety of services:

  1. Policy Development - working with government departments and agencies to promote vocational training and employment for people with disabilities.
  2. Staff Training and Development - NIUSE provides a variety of training courses from ½ day to 2 day courses on a range of specialist or generic issues.
  3. Information and Library Service - NIUSE circulates information to members on a regular basis as well as providing an opportunity for members to circulate information to other Supported Employment Agencies.
  4. Development Work - A key focus of NIUSE's work is to promote and develop the Supported Employment model in N. Ireland. NIUSE achieves this by working with organisations, which are at different stages of developing Supported Employment projects by providing technical support and advice.
  5. Conferences/Seminars/Workshops - NIUSE organises an Annual Conference each year and a number of seminars and workshops.
  6. Networking - NIUSE has developed links with vocational training and employment organisations from the voluntary and statutory sector and similar umbrella organisations on a local, national and international level.
  7. Local Branches - NIUSE has established 4 local branches North West, Causeway, Belfast and Southern. These provide an opportunity for practitioners to meet and exchange information and provide support for each other.
  8. Membership Services - NIUSE has 3 types of membership; Corporate, Individual and Affiliated.

For further information contact NIUSE:

Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment
58 Strand Road
Derry
Co Londonderry BT48 7AJ
Northern Ireland
Tel: 00 44 28 71377709
Fax: 00 44 28 71360125
Textphone: 00 44 28 71372077
Email: info@niuse.org.uk